Live at LEAP: From AI sovereignty to Esports 2.0: What the GCC needs to control, and monetise next

Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC are making major investments in AI and esports, but the next challenge is turning that momentum into lasting economic value. Recorded live at LEAP 2026, Scott Armstrong speaks with Sreedhar Nair, Principal at Strategy& Middle East, about a pragmatic approach to AI sovereignty, and Jad El Mir, Partner at Strategy& Middle East, about the evolution of esports in Saudi Arabia, its growing global influence, and the economic model needed to sustain the industry’s growth.