Understanding Sovereign AI and why governments are racing to build it

Understanding Sovereign AI and why governments are racing to build it

Author: The National News February 11, 2026 Duration: 21:52
A new phrase is quietly reshaping how governments, businesses and even militaries think about the future of power: Sovereign AI. The term is appearing in policy papers, billion-dollar infrastructure deals, and national strategies from Washington to Beijing and increasingly across the Gulf. But what does it actually mean? Is Sovereign AI about governments owning data and AI power? Is it about controlling data centres and chips? Or is it something larger – control over the intelligence systems that will run future economies, influence societies and shape geopolitics for decades to come? In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid speaks to Ahmed Abdulla, co-founder of the Sovereign AI orchestration platform Haimaker.ai, which is based in San Francisco. Mr Abdulla brings experience from Silicon Valley chip start-ups, Neom and global consulting to help explain what Sovereign AI really means, why it is becoming a national priority, and whether we are entering an era in which AI becomes a defining feature of economic and political power.

Tune into Business Extra for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping commerce in the Middle East and beyond. Produced by The National News, this podcast moves past the headlines to deliver substantive conversations with the analysts, executives, and innovators driving change. Each episode leans on the deep regional expertise of our editors and reporters, who translate complex developments in markets, energy, and technology into accessible insights. You’ll hear grounded discussions that connect local trends to global patterns, offering a necessary perspective on one of the planet's most dynamic economic landscapes. Whether it's a shift in oil policy, a tech startup's rise, or a new trade agreement, this series provides the context often missing from daily news cycles. For anyone with a stake in understanding how business really works in this pivotal region, Business Extra is an essential listen, blending authoritative journalism with genuine curiosity. The result is a consistently informative podcast that feels less like a briefing and more like a series of insightful conversations with people who have their finger on the pulse.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Extra
Podcast Episodes
How Adnoc Distribution is scaling profits and sustainability [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:54
This episode was produced in partnership with Adnoc Group In this special episode of Business Extra, host Khaled Abuljebain speaks to Ali Siddiqi, chief financial officer of Adnoc Distribution. Mr Siddiqi shares how the…
Behind the Bitcoin drop: Are we entering a new era for crypto? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
Bitcoin lost over $18,000 in November, triggering one of the sharpest monthly declines since 2021. With nearly $3 billion in forced liquidations, headlines declared a crash. But is that the whole story? In this episode o…
What you need to do to retire comfortably in the UAE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:23
Millions of people move to the UAE for higher incomes, but after working hard for years and even decades, they face the big question: "How much do I need to retire comfortably?" Living costs are rising and foreign reside…
Inside the UAE’s SME strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:10
In this episode of Business Extra, Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, joins host Salim Essaid to discuss how the country is positioning itself as the global capital for start-ups and small and medium ente…
How Adnoc L&S became a global logistics power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:25
This episode was produced in partnership with the Adnoc Group Capt Abdulkareem Al Masabi, chief executive of Adnoc Logistics & Services, joins this episode of Business Extra to explore the rise of the UAE’s largest integ…
Why more wealth is leaving the UK and landing in the UAE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:35
A quiet transformation is reshaping the global wealth map. High net-worth individuals are moving their assets from the UK to the UAE. The Revolut co-founder Nikolai Stronsky's recent change of tax residency from the UK t…
TikTok's new owners and what is at stake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
As TikTok faces a high-stakes restructuring to divest from its Chinese ownership, a new deal is emerging. Major US players including Oracle and Silver Lake are in the mix, along with MGX, a UAE-based company that could b…