Doing Business in the Middle East: Top Five Considerations for AI Joint Ventures

26 March 2026

As organisations across the Middle East take a thoughtful approach to the months ahead, many are continuing to progress with strategic AI initiatives in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Indeed, the UAE ranks among global leaders in AI adoption, with nearly 65% of its working-age population using AI tools, according to a recent Microsoft report. Meanwhile, Stanford University ranks Saudi Arabia third place worldwide for developing AI models, trailing only the United States and China.

To keep up with this momentum, companies are increasingly turning to joint ventures (JVs) as a strategic way to combine resources, grow funding, share expertise, and accelerate AI innovation in the region. While traditional considerations like structuring and funding remain important, AI-focused JVs bring unique challenges.

This article explores five key legal considerations for AI joint ventures in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and provides practical insights to help businesses navigate this fast-evolving landscape.

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