American International University (AIU) hosted an executive forum on October 5, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Al Bidaa Ballroom in Kuwait City, marking Day 1 of the AI & Cybersecurity GCC Forum 2026. The event brought together government, industry, and academic leaders to explore artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the policies shaping responsible innovation across the region.

The forum was attended by distinguished members of AIU’s Board, including Dr. Fayza Al-Kharafi, Chair of the Board; Mr. Bader Al-Sayer, Managing Director of Musaed AlSayer & Partners; and Mrs. Areej Al-Ghanim, Vice Chair, Executive Committee of the Board.

The event was made possible through the support of AIU’s strategic sponsors: the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Kuwait’s National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), and Zain. Their partnership supported a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration on the future of AI and cybersecurity.

Opening Perspectives from Regional Leaders

The forum opened with a welcome address by Prof. Yousef Haik, President of American International University, followed by remarks from H.E. Abeer Anwar Al-Awadhi, Chief of Kuwait’s National Cybersecurity Center; Dr. Maitham Safar, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences; and Mr. Waleed Alkhashti, Chief Corporate Affairs & Relations Officer at Zain. H.E. Sheikh Mohammad Al Sabah, representing the Association of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AAIOT), also delivered welcome remarks.

Their participation brought national cybersecurity, scientific advancement, industry, and emerging technology perspectives into the opening program.

Connecting AI Innovation with Governance and National Security

Ms. Peggy Tsai, AI and Data Executive Leader and faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, presented “Data-Driven AI Security & Privacy: Building Governance That Keeps Pace with Innovation.” Her session placed governance, security, and privacy at the center of the conversation on AI adoption.

The national security dimension was addressed by Dr. Bassam Maharmeh, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberatos LTD and former President of Jordan’s National Cyber Security Center, in “AI Sovereignty as a National-Security Capability.”

AIU’s own engagement with artificial intelligence was featured in “AI at AIU: A More Intelligent Tomorrow Begins Here,” presented by Prof. Mohammed Almulla and Dr. Ali Fenjan, connecting the university’s academic and research activities with the broader forum agenda.

A panel on “AI Policy and Governance: Shaping Responsible AI Adoption” brought together Prof. Timothy Baldwin, Ms. Peggy Tsai, Brig. (Rtd.) Eng. Muhammad S. I. Al-Yaseen, and Ms. Hind AlAmiri. Moderated by Prof. Mohammed Almulla, the session focused on the policy and governance considerations surrounding responsible AI adoption.

Advancing Cyber Resilience and AI Safety

The program continued with H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the United Arab Emirates Government, presenting “Cyber Resilience in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” This session placed the protection and resilience of digital systems within the wider discussion of AI-driven change.

Prof. Timothy Baldwin, Professor of Natural Language Processing at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), then presented “AI Safety in an Era of Large-scale Agentic Applications,” bringing attention to safety considerations as AI systems become increasingly capable and autonomous.

The final panel, “Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Building Resilient Digital Ecosystems in MENA,” featured H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Dr. Bassam Maharmeh, Mr. Nayef Alawadhi, and Prof. Mohammed Almulla. Moderated by Dr. Meshal Alobaid, the discussion brought regional cybersecurity and academic perspectives together around digital resilience.

Creating Space for Collaboration

Networking opportunities throughout the day, including a closing lunch, gave participants space to connect beyond the formal sessions.

With the support of KFAS, NCSC, and Zain, AIU brought education, research, public policy, and industry into a shared conversation on the future of AI and cybersecurity. The Executive Forum established a foundation for the wider GCC Forum, with responsible adoption, regional cooperation, and secure digital development at the heart of its program.