GCC region a global hub for tech innovation, says X Mena executive

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region’s young, tech-savvy population and rapid pace of innovation make it a prime market for technology growth, according to X (formerly known as Twitter) Mena managing director Antoine Caironi."A lot of things” set the GCC apart. First one is, the audience, the demographics – young, well educated, high purchasing power – which means this population is quick to adopt new technologies and drive a big impact, so again that is extremely interesting for tech and for X,” Caironi said at a talk with Rishi Iyengar of Foreign Policy Magazine at Web Summit Qatar 2025 yesterday.The session focused on the unique opportunities and challenges facing the GCC’s growing tech landscape, where Caironi shed light on the region’s distinct characteristics. He cited the significance of events such as the Web Summit and noted that they signal the region’s readiness for further technological advancements."When you say smart cities emerging, when you are saying major global events like Web Summit for example, it is a sign that the region is really ready for more, and if the region is ready for more it is a great opportunity for tech and for X, in particular, again, to drive change, to drive innovation in the region,” Caironi said.About the region’s fast-paced technological development he gion, Caironi stressed the need for companies to keep up, saying: "The speed of change in the tech world is unique. When you combine that with dynamism, in the GCC, like the region is going superfast, we’re seeing new initiatives emerging every single day."When you combine the two things, the tech brings a challenge, the main challenge is how can you keep (up) with the speed that is required to deliver”.Caironi pointed out that artificial intelligence plays a key role in connecting people and providing valuable tools: "Our job is to bring the options to users in the best way possible. I think when you combine AI and tech, it is actually a way to bring people together, bring the tools to the users to make this connection quite unique through X”.