HEC Paris has delivered its Making Artificial Intelligence Real Specialization in the Middle East for the first time, bringing 25 Executive MBA participants to Doha for a five-day programme on AI adoption and business transformation.
Held from October 25 to 29, 2026, the programme brought together participants from the Doha, Riyadh and Paris cohorts. It combined academic learning, practical workshops and engagement with Qatar’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
The specialisation forms part of the nine specialisations available to participants in the HEC Paris Executive MBA. Its focus was on helping business leaders move beyond AI experimentation and identify opportunities to apply the technology across their organisations.
For GCC businesses, this reflects a wider shift in the role of AI. As organisations pursue digital transformation and economic diversification, executives must understand how AI can support business strategy, workforce capabilities and operational performance.
HEC Paris examines AI adoption beyond experimentation
The programme explored the evolution of artificial intelligence, from machine learning to generative AI and agentic AI.
Peter Mathias Fischer, Associate Professor of Marketing at HEC Paris and Academic Director of the HEC MBA, led the specialisation alongside David Restrepo Amariles, Professor of AI in Regulated Markets at HEC Paris.
Participants examined four foundations of successful AI adoption: strategy, data, technology and skills. The programme also highlighted the role of human capital in helping organisations integrate AI into their operations.
This approach placed organisational readiness alongside technical knowledge. Leaders explored how to identify suitable AI applications, mobilise talent and connect technology investments to business objectives.
Carnegie Mellon University collaboration adds practical AI training
The Doha programme also marked HEC Paris’s first collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
The two-day component introduced participants to large language models, generative AI, agentic AI and automation workflows. Participants also explored how to develop applications supported by artificial intelligence.
In addition to classroom sessions, the programme included practical workshops. Participants developed AI concepts and examined how organisations could apply them to real business challenges.
The collaboration brought an additional academic and technical dimension to the specialisation. It also connected executive learning with Qatar’s growing technology and research ecosystem.
Programme connects executives with Qatar’s innovation ecosystem
Beyond the academic sessions, participants visited several organisations and institutions across Qatar.
These included:
- Ministry of Communications and Information Technology: Participants explored AI readiness and the country’s digital transformation priorities.
- Msheireb Smart City: The visit offered insights into smart city operations and the use of emerging technologies.
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University: Participants engaged with the role of research and academic institutions in supporting technological innovation.
The programme concluded with a venture capital panel featuring Dr AlHasan Alsammarrai, Founding and Managing Partner of Applab, and Sharifa Albarami, a technology entrepreneur, investor and digital transformation leader.
The discussion brought investment and entrepreneurship perspectives into the wider conversation about AI adoption and innovation.
HEC Paris professor highlights the importance of strategic AI adoption
Commenting on the programme, Peter Mathias Fischer said:
“The challenge facing leaders today is no longer simply understanding that AI matters. It is knowing where it can genuinely create value, how it should connect to business strategy, and how organizations can develop the skills and structures required to implement it successfully.”
He added:
“Making AI real means moving beyond experimentation and ensuring technology serves a clear strategic purpose.”
The Doha session concluded with participants presenting their Making AI Real projects.
The programme highlights the growing emphasis on AI capabilities within executive education. For businesses across the Middle East, the challenge now extends beyond access to AI tools. It also involves preparing leaders and employees to integrate these technologies into business decisions and everyday operations.
