Gulf News Cybersecurity Forum 2025: Communicating AI’s ROI remains the real test

As the region grapples with an increasingly complex digital landscape, the Gulf News Cyber Forum 2025 convened top tech leaders and security experts at the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Palm Jumeirah, on Tuesday. The high-profile summit spotlighted emerging cyber threats, breakthrough solutions, and best practices for safeguarding critical information and infrastructure.

At the first panel discussion titled ‘AI Business Value: Communicating Impact and ROI to the Board’, industry leaders agreed on one thing: AI is no longer a peripheral technology but a core driver of business strategy across the UAE and the wider GCC. Yet, as organisations accelerate adoption, a critical challenge persists: how to translate AI’s technical outcomes into clear, measurable business value that boards can confidently act upon.

Opening the session, moderator Peter Ling noted that while companies are investing heavily in automation, machine intelligence, and predictive analytics, “the ability to articulate AI’s impact in a language that resonates with CEOs and CFOs will ultimately determine whether initiatives scale or stall.”

For James Wiles, Head of Cyber Security for Middle East & Africa at Cigna Group, the first step is defining the why behind every AI initiative. “If leaders can’t articulate the core problem AI is solving, they will never be able to measure success. Clear objectives anchor both risk management and value creation,” he said.

Establishing those anchors requires discipline in measurement which is something financial and technology leaders echoed. Philip Westgarth, Group CISO at Network International, stressed that cybersecurity-focused AI needs KPIs that go beyond alert volume. “The board doesn’t want to know how many anomalies the system flagged,” he said. “They want to know how much risk was reduced and how that translates into operational resilience.”

From the insurance sector, Sreedhar Suragouni, Group Chief Operations & Technology Officer at Sukoon Insurance, emphasised realistic expectations. “AI is powerful, but it is not magic,” he said. “Setting achievable milestones is how you build trust with leadership. Under-promise and over-deliver;  not the other way around.”

Building a compelling business case, panellists agreed, requires speaking in terms of revenue, efficiency, and customer outcomes. Sayantan Dev, Global Head of Software Solutions Group at Redington Group, noted, “Executives respond to numbers tied to business performance-  faster underwriting, fewer fraud losses, higher customer retention. Translate AI outputs into these metrics, and your narrative becomes irresistible.”

Highlighting financial accountability, Lambotharan Sellavel, Group Financial Planning Analyst at Triliv Holdings, added that boards are increasingly demanding defensible ROI. “AI investments must show payback timelines just like any capital expenditure. When cost, risk, and benefit are clearly outlined, decision-making becomes straightforward.”

As the speakers summed it up succinctly, AI may be the engine of the future, but communicating its value convincingly and consistently is what will truly drive it forward.