It’s a familiar feeling. You open a translation app, type out a message, or ask a virtual assistant a question, and the technology struggles to understand the nuances of your language or context. For many in the Middle East, it’s a reminder that while technology is impressive, it often falls short when dealing with languages outside the global mainstream.
Mohammad Abu Sheikh recognised this gap and set out to change it. And, today, at just 23, he’s one of the Middle East’s most promising voices in AI innovation, driving technology that speaks to the region’s unique needs.
“Data is the new oil,” he says, with the conviction of someone who has unlocked something transformative. For Abu Sheikh, this phrase isn’t just a slogan. It’s the foundation of his mission – to build an AI infrastructure as vital to the Middle East’s future as oil has been to its past.
Rather than adopting others’ technologies, Abu Sheikh is creating AI from the region, by the region, and for the region – bringing its untapped potential to the world. He’s not just building solutions for today he’s building technology that will be exported globally, placing Arabic-language AI at the forefront of a worldwide digital transformation.
Disrupting education, AI’s impact on learning
Abu Sheikh’s journey began with a curiosity to solve a problem he clearly saw in his own life. Growing up in Amman, Jordan, he noticed a significant gap in the accessibility of knowledge in the Middle East. “I saw a gap in the region’s educational ecosystem,” he recalls, reflecting on his first venture – a knowledge-sharing platform that connected students and teachers across the Middle East.
This platform was the first step in Abu Sheikh’s mission to use technology as a unifier in a region where access to information and resources often lags behind demand. His next move was creating Lamha, a micro-learning platform that offered easy access to bite-sized knowledge. As he built Lamha, he discovered the potential of AI not as an imported product but as a technology that could serve the specific needs of Arabic-speaking users.
This led him to launch CNTXT, a company born from a question he felt few were asking: What could an AI ecosystem built for the Middle East accomplish?
CNTXT, the GCC’s AI powerhouse
CNTXT was Abu Sheikh’s response to a challenge he saw clearly – the GCC needed technology that went beyond translation and spoke directly to its people. “The UAE’s strong commitment to AI created an ideal environment for CNTXT,” he notes. The UAE’s decision to appoint the world’s first Minister of AI marked a turning point, showing Ab u Sheikh that the region was ready to lead the digital era. This was the signal he’d been waiting for.
The UAE, located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, wasn’t just a launchpad for CNTXT. It was a bridge into the future, allowing Abu Sheikh to create solutions that reach beyond regional borders. “We wanted to prove that the GCC can develop its own advanced technologies,” he explains, outlining CNTXT’s mission to provide the region with home-grown solutions.
At the core of CNTXT is the belief that strong data infrastructure is essential for AI success. Without quality data, AI solutions can’t be built effectively, yet it’s often an overlooked foundation. CNTXT’s Data Engine exemplifies the company’s commitment to building robust data infrastructures — a powerful, carefully curated platform designed to address the unique challenges of the region’s ecosystem and to drive the future of AI operations.
For Mohammad Abu Sheikh, data isn’t just about technology; it’s a way to preserve and amplify culture. By developing a digital library that centres on the Arabic language, he ensures that Arabic remains a core component of the AI revolution — a field traditionally dominated by English. This library serves not only as a tool for AI but as a vehicle for advancing regional identity in the digital age.
With its focus on creating high-quality, region-specific data, CNTXT is empowering AI solutions across critical sectors like healthcare, finance, and more throughout the GCC. As valuable as oil, this data is fueling local innovation while positioning the Middle East as a global powerhouse in AI, enabling the region to not only adopt but also export world-leading AI technologies.
Honouring culture through AI innovation
For Abu Sheikh, CNTXT’s focus on data is more than a business decision – it’s a personal mission. “The GCC region offered a significant opportunity in data labelling for AI, particularly for Arabic language models,” he explains, reflecting his commitment to positioning Arabic as a core language in AI.
Language goes beyond mere words; it embodies history, culture, and identity. Abu Sheikh realised that conventional, imported AI models would never be able to fully capture the depth and nuance of Arabic. This understanding shaped his vision for CNTXT – to make Arabic integral to AI by building technology that not only interprets words but also understands context and meaning, creating a truly authentic digital companion.
However, it’s not just about the language; it’s about localising the entire AI ecosystem. While the west continues to develop AI without fully considering the Middle East’s specific needs, Abu Sheikh recognised that to truly harness AI’s power, the region must build its own infrastructure. Data is the foundation of AI, and without it, AI solutions remain incomplete. By prioritising data sovereignty, Abu Sheikh is ensuring that the Middle East is not merely a consumer of foreign technology but an innovator in its own right.
Through CNTXT, Abu Sheikh has developed AI applications tailored to key sectors across the GCC, including law, medicine, and education, ensuring that AI is practical and culturally aligned with the region’s needs. Abu Sheikh envisions a future for AI in the GCC that goes well beyond the immediate impact of CNTXT.
He sees himself as part of a larger movement, one dedicated to shaping the region’s AI landscape for generations to come. “The region’s young, tech-savvy population offers a rich pool of talent,” he says, pointing to the untapped potential of the Middle East’s youth. His goal is to build a sustainable AI industry that the next generation can continue to grow. He imagines a future in which a new wave of AI experts will not only drive innovation but also position the Middle East as a global leader in technology.
For those entering the field, his advice is simple and effective: “Start by understanding the needs around you before diving into a solution. Building something impactful requires empathy and a genuine understanding of the problems you want to solve.” He also urges aspiring business leaders to see challenges as opportunities for growth.
“Every problem you encounter has the potential to be a catalyst for growth,” he says. For Abu Sheikh, a successful entrepreneur is defined by resilience and adaptability, qualities that allow them to evolve and learn continuously. “The most effective leaders know they don’t have all the answers but are willing to learn from those who have walked the path before them.”
Beyond CNTXT, Abu Sheikh launched SMPL AI, a platform dedicated to supporting start-ups across the Middle East and North Africa. For him, this initiative is about much more than funding; it’s about creating a collaborative network of innovation. Recognising the unique challenges start-ups face – particularly with access to resources and financing – Abu Sheikh designed SMPL AI to help bridge these gaps.
“Funding is often an obstacle,” he explains, emphasising that SMPL AI aims to provide start-ups with not only capital but also the support they need to thrive. Aside from financial backing, SMPL AI connects start-ups with investors, facilitates partnerships, and provides mentorship, all to foster an ecosystem where new ideas can grow and flourish.
Balancing vision with execution
As a leader in AI, Abu Sheikh’s responsibilities extend across many roles – CEO, founder, investor, and board member – each contributing to his broader mission. “Balancing these roles requires clear prioritisation and delegation,” he says, acknowledging the support of his team, which allows him to focus on the bigger picture. His leadership style is collaborative, emphasising alignment across his ventures under a unified vision. With a strong team behind him, he ensures that his companies don’t just grow, but do so in harmony, reinforcing one another’s strengths.
Investing and legacies
When selecting start-ups to support, Abu Sheikh considers several key qualities. He places a high value on a start-up’s vision and the market demand for its product. “I look for companies that understand the problem they’re solving and have a clear, scalable approach,” he explains. In a fast-evolving field like AI, companies need to show that their products are not only relevant but adaptable to changing demands.
The strength of the team is equally important. Abu Sheikh seeks out founders who exhibit resilience, adaptability, and dedication to their mission. “A talented team with strong leadership is essential. It’s the people who make or break a start-up,” he says.
He also stresses the importance of ethical innovation, particularly in AI, where the impact on society is significant. Abu Sheikh prioritises companies that are conscious of their impact and committed to transparency and responsible practices.
When asked about his legacy, Abu Sheikh’s vision is straightforward yet profound. “I hope my legacy will be one that helped shape the future of AI in the Middle East,” he says. For him, this legacy is about technological advancements and creating a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into daily life across the GCC.
He imagines a Middle East where young people grow up not only as consumers of technology but as creators, where start-ups have access to the resources they need to succeed, and where Arabic stands as a foundational language in AI development, as essential as any other.
The AI visionary of the GCC
In a region where technology often feels like an import, Mohammad Abu Sheikh stands out as a creator, an innovator, and a champion in the Middle East. Through CNTXT and SMPL AI, he’s building an ecosystem that speaks directly to the region’s needs, honours its culture, and anticipates its future.
As the GCC stands on the brink of an AI-powered transformation, Abu Sheikh isn’t just rewriting the rules. He is coding an entirely new framework for the future. In this ecosystem, data isn’t just information, it’s the source code for progress. He’s not just playing the game – he’s creating an entirely new game. And in this game, the stakes are high, the potential is vast, and the story has only begun.