AMMAN — Jordanian technology companies are increasingly well positioned to develop competitive artificial intelligence (AI) products and services and expand into regional markets, industry representatives said, highlighting the importance of innovation, skilled human resources and intellectual property. 

 

Speaking at the national AI forum, entitled “AI: From Adoption to Impact”, organised by the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j), Doha Abdel Haq, managing partner and co-founder of ESKADENIA Software, said Jordanian companies were demonstrating growing readiness to compete in regional AI markets.

 

“All the signals show that Jordanian companies are forging ahead through innovation, structure and manpower towards the world of AI and entrepreneurship,” she said.

 

Abdel Haq added that the quality of locally developed products and services, coupled with the protection and readiness of intellectual property, could enable Jordanian companies to export competitive solutions and serve markets across the Middle East.

 

She also stressed the importance of updating the national AI strategy to reflect the evolving capabilities of Jordanian entrepreneurs and technology companies.

 

Abdel Haq pointed to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act as an important reference for governance, risk management and the development of national regulatory frameworks.

 

Meanwhile, Chief Technology Officer at Jo Academy Amal Al Saadi said the technology sector in Jordan had undergone significant transformation over the past decades, moving from a period when access to the latest technological knowledge was limited to one in which companies could rapidly adopt emerging tools and methodologies.

 

Al Saadi, who has 26 years of experience in the information technology sector, said Jordanian technology companies were increasingly attracting international demand for their expertise.

 

“Maybe the experts are going abroad, but the young people are finding opportunities here,” she said, highlighting the growing potential of young Jordanian professionals.

 

Jo Academy develops technological solutions for the education sector and has expanded its operations into the Iraqi and Saudi markets, she said, noting the importance of technology in serving Jordan’s approximately three million students.

 

Al Saadi also highlighted the value of the forum in bringing together technology companies, industry leaders and emerging entrepreneurs, providing opportunities to exchange expertise and establish professional networks.

 

Discussions at the forum highlighted AI’s potential to improve business productivity and support the development of new products and services across several sectors, including banking, telecommunications and construction.

 

In the telecommunications sector, participants discussed the use of computer vision to monitor outdoor network equipment, identify signs of deterioration and support preventive maintenance. Such applications can help companies reduce errors, improve operational efficiency and manage maintenance costs.

 

However, speakers stressed that businesses needed to assess AI investments against measurable outcomes rather than focusing solely on adoption. They highlighted the importance of identifying specific operational challenges, establishing performance benchmarks and measuring the financial returns of implemented solutions.

 

The discussions also addressed the importance of intellectual property, local expertise and digital infrastructure in enabling Jordanian companies to retain the value generated by their innovations and compete internationally.

 

Participants highlighted opportunities for stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors, including the use of government procurement to support locally developed solutions and provide companies with opportunities to test and scale their products.

 

The discussions underscored Jordan’s potential to build on its technology talent and growing AI adoption to develop export-oriented products, attract international demand and strengthen its position in regional technology markets.

 

The forum concluded with the announcement of the winners of “Fast Forward to 2033”, an AI video competition launched for the first time as part of the forum.

 

The competition invited university students across Jordan to showcase their creativity and share their vision of how artificial intelligence could shape the Kingdom’s future by 2033 through short videos.

 

Al Balqa Applied University secured first and third place, while Middle East University came second.