The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is poised for substantial growth in IT spending, with projections indicating a rise to $230.7 billion in 2025, a 7.4 percent increase from 2024. According to Gartner’s latest forecast, this growth is largely attributed to heightened investments from both governments and private sector enterprises, all aiming to position the region as a global leader in AI innovation. Critical to these advancements are strong cybersecurity measures and the adoption of cloud platforms, essential for building a flexible and scalable infrastructure.
Investments In Research, Development, And AI
Local organizations across MENA are ramping up investments in research and development to foster new business models, enhance customer experiences, and develop a competitive, skilled workforce for the global stage. These strategic investments are driving the surge in IT spending. Among the standout sectors, data center systems are expected to lead the pack with the highest annual growth rate, projected at an impressive 14.9 percent in 2025. This surge is propelled by the growing demand for AI adoption, cloud services, and an increased need for data storage and processing capabilities.
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As organizations continue to embrace AI and cloud-based solutions, several major hyper-scalers are investing heavily in data center systems, which will be crucial for delivering sustainable, scalable AI-powered cloud infrastructures. These efforts will further accelerate the growth of the data center segment.
Software Investments Driven By Generative AI
The software sector is also set to see significant growth, with a 13.7 percent increase expected in 2025. This surge is largely fueled by a focus on generative AI (GenAI) applications. CIOs in the region are directing their investments toward digital workplace enhancements, improving customer experiences, and boosting the quality of products and services. The integration of GenAI, cloud services, and cybersecurity is empowering organizations to innovate more quickly while ensuring that these advancements are secure.
Starting in 2025, CIOs are anticipated to adopt a more strategic approach to their GenAI projects, leveraging lessons learned from previous trials to better address challenges related to data management and the balance between costs and value. To achieve success, they must align business outcomes with their organizational priorities, focusing on data and analytics (D&A) and AI literacy to move from theoretical knowledge to practical application. This approach will maximize the return on their GenAI investments, ensuring sustained innovation and competitive advantage.
Forecast Methodology
Gartner’s IT spending forecast methodology is rooted in rigorous analysis of sales data from over 1,000 vendors across all categories of IT products and services. This comprehensive outlook provides valuable insights into spending patterns across hardware, software, IT services, and telecommunications, helping businesses identify emerging market opportunities and navigate potential challenges.
