AI agents could generate up to US$450 billion in economic value globally by 2028, but only 2% of organisations have successfully scaled agentic AI across their operations, highlighting a gap between AI investment and implementation, according to the Capgemini Research Institute.
The figures come as Middle East organisations increasingly shift their focus from experimenting with artificial intelligence to deploying it in operational environments.
Abu Dhabi-based AI company Outworks has launched Sprint 30, a programme that challenges governments and large enterprises across the Middle East and Africa to deploy governed AI agents in live business environments within 30 days.
The programme is designed to move organisations beyond lengthy pilots and proof-of-concept projects towards production deployments, with a focus on measurable outcomes, security, governance and data sovereignty.
Hamda Al Mansoori, Founder and Chairwoman of Outworks, said, “The Middle East is entering one of the most significant technology transformations in its history. The conversation has moved beyond whether organisations should adopt artificial intelligence; today the real question is how quickly they can put it to work.
“We believe the organisations that will lead the next decade are those that operationalise AI responsibly, securely and at scale, creating environments where people and intelligent agents work together to unlock entirely new levels of productivity, innovation and value.”
Sprint 30 follows a structured process covering assessment, solution design and deployment, with AI agents intended to operate within existing business workflows by the end of the 30-day period.
The programme also allows organisations to deploy AI agents on infrastructure they own and control. Outworks said this is intended to help organisations meet data sovereignty, security and regulatory requirements while maintaining governance and human oversight.
Ahmed Ashoor, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Outworks, said, “We have already built the deployment architecture, governance framework and operating model, allowing organisations to focus on transforming their operations rather than spending months building technology foundations. By the end of Sprint 30, AI agents are already delivering measurable work inside production environments.”
The initiative comes as the UAE continues to promote AI adoption through national strategies, while organisations across the region increasingly seek to integrate AI into everyday operations rather than limiting its use to experimentation.
Outworks said its approach combines advising organisations on potential AI applications, building technology infrastructure and operating AI systems as business needs evolve. The company also positions sovereign infrastructure as a key component of its deployments, allowing organisations to retain control over their data.
The broader shift towards agentic AI is expected to affect how employees work, with AI agents increasingly being used to automate repetitive and complex processes and support decision-making. Rather than replacing human expertise entirely, their use is expected to allow employees to spend more time on higher-value activities.
The low rate of scaled deployment, however, suggests that organisations still face challenges in moving from AI ambition to operational implementation. As AI adoption accelerates, the ability to deploy systems securely, govern their use and demonstrate measurable business value could become as important as access to the technology itself.