Smart Data 2026

22-23 April 2026
JW Marriott Hotel Marina Dubai

Smart Data Summit & Awards 2026

Celebrating its 10th Edition, the Smart Data Summit & Awards 2026 returns to Dubai on 22–23 April 2026 as the Middle East’s most influential platform for data, analytics, and artificial intelligence.

This landmark edition brings together over 400 senior decision-makers, data strategists, and technology innovators to explore how intelligent data and AI are transforming organizations, accelerating innovation, and driving measurable business outcomes.

Featuring visionary keynotes, hands-on case studies, and the prestigious Smart Data Awards, this 10-year milestone celebrates excellence and the future of data-driven transformation across the region.

SMART DATA SUMMIT & AWARDS 2026

Featured Speakers

Umar Hassan

Head of Data & AI Governance Department of Government Enablement

Reeham Al Mutawa

Director of Data Management Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

Manish Vaidya

Head of Artificial Intelligence Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi

Dirk Jungnickel

Senior Vice President of Enterprise Data & Analytics Emirates Group

Prakash Logaiya

Group Head of Data & AI Al-Futtaim

Sam Shah

Director of Health Data Management NEOM

Waqas Butt

Group Head of ICT & AI Alpha Dhabi Holding

Alaa Elayyan

Executive Director / AVP of Information Technology Relaam


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Strategic Focus Areas

Smart Data Summit brings senior leaders together to turn data and AI into practical growth. Expect real stories, actionable frameworks, and cross industry lessons focused on strategy, customers, trust, and measurable outcomes without getting overly technical.

 
Smart data and AI abstract
Strategy & Culture +

Building a data first culture through clear ownership, decision rights, and leadership alignment across business and technology.

Setting goals that link strategy to execution, using incentives, skills development, and change management to drive daily adoption.

Defining value streams, prioritization routines, and review rhythms that keep teams focused on outcomes.

Human + Machine Intelligence +

Combining expert judgment with assistive models, human in the loop reviews, and clear accountability for outcomes.

Agentic AI and AI agents for goal driven workflows, orchestration across tools, monitoring, approval gates, and audit trails that protect customers and the brand.

Quality and safety practices including testing, evaluation, bias checks, and responsible prompt and tool governance.

Real-Time Decisioning & Customer Experience +

Using real time signals for next best action, journey orchestration, proactive service, and streamlined digital experiences.

Privacy first personalization with consent management, first party data quality, and transparent customer choices.

Measuring impact through conversion, retention, lifetime value, and time to resolution.

Governance, Trust & Responsible AI +

Establishing policy, privacy, security by design, and ethical review so innovation remains safe and compliant.

Managing model and data lineage, monitoring performance and drift, and running incident response with clear roles and playbooks.

Vendor oversight, third party risk controls, transparency to customers, and accessible explanations for critical decisions.

From Pilot to Value: The ROI of Data & AI +

Defining value hypotheses, success metrics, and benefits tracking across growth, efficiency, quality, and risk reduction.

Productizing use cases, building reusable components, and maturing machine learning operations and data operations for scale.

Funding models, stage gates, and executive storytelling that unlock sustained investment.

Data Integration & Smart Infrastructure +

Unifying data with modern platforms, data products, APIs, and trusted metadata to speed up discovery and reuse.

Building reliable pipelines for real time and batch needs, with strong observability and automated recovery.

Cost awareness, performance tuning, and capacity planning that balance speed and spend.

Industry Convergence & Emerging Trends +

Cross-industry data collaboration, AI marketplaces, and ecosystem value creation across banking, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.

Exploring new frontiers—edge AI, autonomous operations, synthetic data, quantum readiness, and continuous learning architectures.

Preparing for the next decade of transformation driven by data-driven intelligence and ethical innovation.

Insights & Innovations

Smart Data Summit features a diverse lineup of regional and international keynote presentations, in-depth case studies, interactive panel discussions, and engaging fireside chats, all focused on data analytics, artificial intelligence, and intelligent technologies transforming business decision-making and driving innovation across industries.

Keynote Presentations & Fireside Chats

Strategic Insights & Leadership Vision

Hear from global and regional visionaries sharing how data and AI are driving transformation. Gain practical leadership insights through one-on-one fireside chats exploring real challenges, lessons learned, and future priorities.

Case Studies & Best Practices

Real-World Success Stories

Discover how leading organizations are using data to solve real business problems. Each case study reveals practical frameworks, KPIs, and outcomes that prove measurable value and inspire cross-industry learning.

Panel Discussions & Industry Trends

Collaborative Debates & Cross-Industry Insights

Engage with diverse experts as they discuss the future of AI and analytics across sectors. Panels uncover how different industries tackle common challenges like customer experience, risk, and digital transformation.

Latest Innovations & Emerging Technologies

Technology That Transforms

Explore next-generation tools, platforms, and intelligent solutions redefining analytics and automation. See how innovation is enabling smarter decisions and faster value creation across business ecosystems.

Where Innovation Meets Opportunity

Smart Data Summit offers a premier platform for professionals across industries to delve into the latest advancements in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and intelligent technologies. The event combines expert knowledge with practical insights, while fostering meaningful networking opportunities with innovators, thought leaders, and key decision-makers driving data-led transformation.

Networking
Network

with top minds in data, AI, and analytics

Meet innovators, thought leaders, and decision-makers who are shaping data-led transformation across the region and beyond.

Explore trends
Explore

cutting-edge trends and emerging technologies

See what’s next in AI and analytics, understand real adoption curves, and discover solutions that accelerate business outcomes.

Uncover opportunities
Uncover

new opportunities through smart data strategies

Learn practical approaches to identify high-value use cases, remove delivery bottlenecks, and translate insight into impact.

Gain insights
Gain

powerful insights from industry pioneers and experts

Take away playbooks, metrics, and leadership lessons you can apply immediately in your organization.

Audience at a Glance

Smart Data Summit serves as a premier platform bringing together over 400 senior professionals from leading organizations across industries, all dedicated to leveraging data, AI, and intelligent technologies to drive innovation and business transformation. Attending Smart Data Summit gives you the opportunity to connect directly with decision-makers and thought leaders from key functions such as:

Data & Analytics
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Digital Transformation
Business Intelligence
IT & Technology Strategy
Innovation & R&D
Cybersecurity & Data Governance
Risk & Compliance
Marketing Intelligence
Customer Experience (CX)
Operations & Automation
Strategy & Planning

Sectors Represented

 
Retail
Retail & Ecommerce
 
Travel
Travel & Hospitality
 
Finance
Finance & Insurance
 
Education
Education & Research
 
Utilities
Utilities & Telecom
 
Healthcare
Healthcare & Fitness
 
Automotive
Automotive & Transport
 
Real Estate
Property & Real Estate
 
Government
Government & Public Sector
 
Manufacturing
Manufacturing & FMCG

A Curated Audience of Decision-Makers

Smart Data Summit is exclusively designed for senior professionals leading the future of data, analytics, and AI across industries. Every attendee is carefully reviewed through our delegate pre-qualification process to ensure meaningful conversations and valuable connections.

Our team personally engages with applicants to verify their seniority and involvement in AI and data initiatives, ensuring a focused, high-quality audience of decision-makers and innovators shaping the region’s data landscape.

 
Smart Data Summit networking

Why Smart Data Summit Stands Out

Smart Data Summit brings together data leaders, technology experts, and business innovators from across industries to explore the transformative power of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and intelligent technologies. With visionary keynotes, interactive sessions, and real-world case studies, the summit offers a unique platform to learn, network, and uncover actionable strategies for data-driven success.

400+
attendees every year
50+
expert industry speakers
10+
hours of networking
>75%
of attendees are decision makers or influencers
150+
top institutions represented

Smart Data Awards 2026

From bold strategy to measurable outcomes, the Smart Data Awards recognise organizations redefining excellence in data & AI. We celebrate vision, craft and impact, honouring teams that transform industries through breakthrough AI, data-driven innovation and rigorous governance, raising the bar across the region.

RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN DATA & AI

Submit by 31 March 2026 · Shortlist announced 10 April 2026 · Winners revealed 22 April 2026
 
 
Award icon Smart Data Champion Award
 
Award icon Smart Data AI Innovation Award
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Retail
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Travel & Hospitality
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Healthcare
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – eCommerce
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Government
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Telecom
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Real Estate
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Education
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – Automotive
 
Award icon Smart Data Excellence Award – BFSI
 

Hear It from the Experts Who Attended

 

 
 
FRANK MICHAEL
Business Intelligence Manager
Sell Any Car


"Very well organized event. Good time management and interesting speakers."      

 
 
ALI SHABDAR
Director of Strategic Growth
Zoho

Very good combination of content and vendor. Awesome organizing team – looking forward to next year."


Register Today!

22-23 April 2026

JW Marriott Hotel Marina Dubai

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