MENA AI market projected to grow tenfold by 2030

The MENA agentic AI market is projected to expand roughly tenfold by 2030, growing from $213 million in 2024 to an estimated $2.2 billion, as startups and global tech firms double down on autonomous AI agents and locally adapted open‑source models. Meta has partnered with accelerator Startupbootcamp to launch a new three‑month edition of the Llama Design Drive, a programme that helps startups build agentic AI solutions using Meta’s open‑source Llama family of large language models. Selected startups receive up to $25,000 in AWS credits, mentorship from Meta engineers, and a structured build‑and‑launch track culminating in the Llama Summit.

“This isn’t just about AI for the sake of technology,” said Joulan Abdul Khalek, Policy Programs Manager at Meta. “We’re co‑creating AI agents with the region’s brightest founders to solve MENA‑specific challenges in mobility, healthcare, energy, and beyond.”

The Llama Design Drive targets agentic AI — systems that take initiative and solve problems autonomously rather than merely responding to queries. Examples cited include virtual health advisors that schedule appointments, smart learning companions that adapt lessons in real time, and AI public service agents that process government forms without human intervention. Organisers argue that Llama’s open‑source, natively multimodal capabilities (processing text, images and other data types) make it well suited to building agents tailored to regional languages and contexts.

Startupbootcamp’s CEO Hani Murad framed the programme as a practical bridge between early‑stage teams and large institutional partners. “From conversational healthcare bots to digital tutors and public service assistants, agentic AI is uniquely positioned to unlock regional potential,” Murad said. “We’ve seen past participants deliver real impact, and this year we’re doubling down.” The last Llama Design Drive drew more than 200 applications from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with 43 startups selected across two cohorts.

• Corporate collaborators on prior editions include the Roads and Transport Authority, Emirates Airline, Chalhoub Group, MBC Group, and Dubai Holding, which helped define real‑world challenges and gained early access to pilotable solutions.
• Notable alumni and participants include UAE companies Indigo Hive, Carbon Sifr, and Fitch Technologies, alongside Saudi innovators Mugafi and Labib Technologies; their projects spanned sustainability, accessibility, content creation and predictive analytics.
• Programme support packages include up to $25,000 in AWS credits, hands‑on mentorship from Meta’s engineering team, and workshop schedules over three months that guide founders from design to launch.

Regional dynamics favour open models: governments and startups prefer systems they can customise and control rather than opaque proprietary platforms. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are already developing national models such as Falcon and ALLaM, while investments in infrastructure and digital skills continue to prepare the workforce for AI integration. One recent figure cited notes that 86 percent of professionals in the region expect AI to reshape their roles within the next five years.

Outlook

With a projected market increase to $2.2 billion by 2030, agentic AI is positioned to influence services across healthcare, education, mobility and public administration in MENA. The Llama Design Drive and similar initiatives aim to accelerate commercially viable, locally attuned agents by combining open‑source modelling, corporate problem statements and accelerator support. The programme’s Llama Summit will offer participating teams a stage to pitch to regional and global stakeholders, potentially turning prototype agents into live deployments that address practical needs in the region.