CEO Insights Magazine

Across the Middle East, a wave of AI leadership is reshaping the technological landscape. Economies once driven by energy are now embracing intelligence led innovation, autonmous systems, and advanced data capabilities. Leading this DeepTech revolution in the Kingdom is Dr Majed Algarni, Chief Executive Officer of Wakeb, whose leadership embodies innovation and national progress.

Over the past seven years, Wakeb has been built entirely from the ground up, developing sophisticated autonomous systems, robust data infrastructure, AI solutions, and seamless software integration. Long before these technologies gained global prominence, Wakeb invested in in house R&D, Physical AI and all autonomy layers by the infrastructure and talent to scale. While much of the Kingdom’s digital market relied on resold or software only solutions, Wakeb pioneered fully integrated autonomous systems enriched with AI and data intelligence.

This strategy has produced more than thirty market ready products and sustained an annual growth rate of one hundred to one hundred twenty percent. The company has also cultivated a talent pool exceeding five thousand skilled professionals. Notable achievements include the creation of the leading Arabic generative AI language model, alongside advanced AI agents deployed across multiple sectors. By integrating AI, data, autonomous systems, software, and human expertise, Wakeb has emerged as a defining force in the Kingdom’s ICT and AI sectors.

Driving this momentum is Dr Majed Algarni, a DeepTech authority with over twenty two years of experience across healthcare, sports, and defense. A PhD holder in Machine Learning Chief Executive Officer of Wakeb, he co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Council at the World Economic Forum Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and has earned recognitions including TIME100 AI, TIME Magazine’s one hundred Most Influential People, and WIRED twenty-five icons.

His accomplishments include MIT AI strategy programs, international innovation awards, and certifications such as CMMI. The company has adopted the latest international AI frameworks, including ISO/IEC 42001 for AI management systems and ISO/IEC 5259-5 for AI data quality, positioning itself at the forefront of responsible and trustworthy AI. Under his leadership, Wakeb continues to elevate the Kingdom’s global stature and advance an AI driven future for the Middle East.

Could you share an insight into your professional journey and the inspiration that continues to drive you forward?

I would describe my professional journey as a steady and purposeful evolution that has moved through several defining stages. I began as a freelancer, transitioned into entrepreneurship, and later blended this entrepreneurial path with an academic role. I then advanced into a leadership position within a major private organization before ultimately taking on an executive role in a prominent government sector. Each stage added depth, direction, and momentum to my overall development.

What motivates me most is the privilege of working with advanced technologies and contributing to the creation of indigenous systems that serve national interests. I believe true innovation is defined by execution and real-world impact rather than by ideas alone. Throughout this journey, we have led the region in several high-tech areas, enabling modern and sensitive national capabilities while developing more than thirty fully local products now deployed across multiple government entities.

Watching the company grow from a small startup into a rapidly expanding organization has been profoundly inspiring. Over the past seven years, I have dedicated myself to shaping it into one of the top companies in its field within the Middle East, guiding everything from technology and product development to strategic planning and partnerships. These achievements and their lasting impact continue to fuel my passion and drive for progress.

What approaches have you implemented to embed AI into existing workflows in a way that enhances productivity rather than disrupts it?

For us, AI is a tool to enhance productivity by reshaping workflows rather than causing disruption. We continuously evaluate emerging technologies and integrate them through rapid exploration, prototyping, and swift implementation. This approach allows us to adapt business models quickly, reduce dependence on traditional manual tools, and improve speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

As technologies mature, we embed them gradually, transforming both products and human interaction with machines. Our AI labs enable fast testing and validation, ensuring optimal adoption. We also develop agentic AI systems that automate complex workflows, strengthening mission critical operations and driving exceptional efficiency across government entities.

What steps do you take to ensure data privacy and security throughout the entire AI lifecycle?

We begin by aligning strategies, OKRs, and KPIs within a clear management framework to ensure transparency and unified direction across research, innovation, and delivery. In our innovation environment, we balance flexibility with governance, prioritizing practical outcomes over excessive documentation.

We also integrate technology, product, and business streams into a single iterative cycle where technological strength drives product excellence and business growth. Alongside this, we maintain a forward looking vision by identifying niche technologies and mapping them to future products, building a cohesive, scalable portfolio that reinforces our technical leadership and market competitiveness.

Tell us about your leadership style and the key principles or methodologies that guide you as a leader.

My leadership approach has been shaped by a career spanning data management, big data, data science, and AI across sensitive sectors including aviation, government, and healthcare. This experience led to the creation of a comprehensive data lifecycle framework encompassing collection, operations, machine learning, and large language models, supported by a robust technology stack across fifteen data management domains. I prioritize data quality, diversity, and trustworthiness, adhering to national and international standards and certifications. At the same time, we implement modern privacy preserving techniques and advocate minimal yet effective AI regulation to ensure both innovation and safety.

We begin by aligning strategies, OKRs, and KPIs within a clear management framework to ensure transparency and unified direction across research, innovation, and delivery. In our innovation environment, we balance flexibility with governance, prioritizing practical outcomes over excessive documentation. We also integrate technology, product, and business streams into a single iterative cycle where technological strength drives product excellence and business growth. Alongside this, we maintain a forward looking vision by identifying niche technologies and mapping them to future products, building a cohesive, scalable portfolio that reinforces our technical leadership and market competitiveness.

How do you stay current with evolving industry trends to guide your organization toward the future?

I stay ahead of industry trends by combining broad technological awareness, data driven insights, and proactive capability building. I regularly review technology radars, trend reports, and foresight studies to track emerging signals and applications. To enhance this, I developed a Technology Foresight capability that integrates data, expert analysis, and automation to spot early opportunities. By monitoring trends across entrepreneurship, research, investment, supply chain, and training, our AI driven framework allows us to anticipate changes, keeping the organization agile and strategically positioned for the future.

What vision or future goal are you striving to achieve?

Our vision goes beyond running a company in AI and autonomy. We aim to build organizations with dedicated research, development, and innovation centers that consolidate expertise and amplify impact on technology, economy, and society. We focus on fostering an innovation ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs and stakeholders in emerging technologies, driving strategic objectives and tangible outcomes.

Looking ahead, our approach balances breadth by expanding AI across life to boost productivity, performance, and societal readiness and depth by advancing core technologies, breakthrough innovations, intellectual property, and human capital. Together, these paths ensure sustainable, impactful, and future ready technological growth. 

Dr Majed Algarni, Chief Executive Officer, Wakeb

Dr Majed Algarni is a distinguished DeepTech authority with more than twenty two years of experience across healthcare, sports, and defense. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Wakeb, a leading Saudi company in artificial intelligence and autonomous defense systems, and holds a PhD in Machine Learning. He has Co-Chaired the Artificial Intelligence Council for the World Economic Forum and is globally recognized among the TIME100 AI Leaders, WIRED Icons, and top global influencers.