Building AI Capability Across the Group

Juma Al Majid Holding Group has begun a structured, Group-wide initiative to put Artificial Intelligence to practical use — not as a technology experiment, but as a new way of working. The goal is simple: find where AI can genuinely improve the quality, speed and accuracy of the Group’s work, and build that capability deliberately, business by business.
The initiative was formally launched at a Group-wide Executive AI Briefing, bringing together Directors, General Managers and Senior Managers from across the organization. Hosted by Mr. Tarig Shalabi, Group Chief Executive Officer, with a presentation by Mr. Jawad Farha, Group Chief Information Officer, the session covered AI fundamentals, the Group’s approach to adoption, the pilot underway in Contracting & Services (C&S), opportunities across other business units, and the governance, security and platform considerations — including the role of Microsoft Copilot — that will guide the journey ahead.

Starting where the impact is clearest
The initiative begins with a focused pilot in the C&S sector, where the team is identifying specific opportunities to strengthen analysis and decision-making, reduce manual effort, cut errors and improve efficiency across everyday business processes. The lessons from this first phase — what works, what doesn’t, and why — will shape how AI is rolled out across the rest of the Group.

A capability, not a project
Mr. Tarig Shalabi has made AI adoption a personal priority for the Group this year, and used the briefing to set out why.
“The objective is to understand where AI can genuinely help us work better, make better decisions and improve efficiency across our businesses. The most valuable opportunities will come from the people closest to the work itself, and we want to encourage teams across the Group to actively identify those opportunities as we continue this journey.”
He was direct with participants about the stakes of standing still.

“I believe it will be very difficult for any company in our industry and of our size to survive the next five years without building AI capability into the core of how it operates. This cannot be an afterthought — it has to become part of how we run our business.”

He was equally direct in addressing a concern he knows is on people’s minds.

“I want to be clear about what this is not: it is not about headcount reduction. It is about doing much more with the same talent we already have — giving our people better tools to do their best work, not replacing them.”

And he was clear that this is not a fixed undertaking with a finish line.

“I want everyone to understand this is not a project with a start and an end date. It is a journey — it has a starting point, but no fixed end. It should keep growing and evolving as our business and the technology itself evolve.”

The Group already uses AI-enabled capabilities in select areas today, and will continue to evaluate new opportunities as the initiative matures — with governance, data security and responsible use remaining central at every stage.

Why now
AI is rapidly becoming part of how organizations improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making and enhance the quality of their work. As the technology continues to evolve, developing AI capability across the Group will become increasingly important to the way we operate and compete.

For Juma Al Majid Holding Group, the objective is not simply to adopt new technology, but to understand where AI can deliver meaningful value across its businesses and support better outcomes for employees, customers and the organization as a whole.

Through a structured, business-led approach, the Group is building the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to use AI effectively and responsibly. The initiative reflects a recognition that AI is not a passing trend, but an important capability that will increasingly shape how organizations operate in the years ahead. By starting now, the Group is positioning itself to learn, adapt and realize the benefits of AI while ensuring it remains competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment.