Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Inmā Emirates Holdings, is deploying cloud-based digital systems across emerging markets as a scalable alternative to traditional infrastructure finance. Through Nawa Technologies, Oracle's exclusive government digitization partner, he is helping governments adopt AI-enabled administrative tools without the prohibitive capital expenditure that typically constrains development projects.
Over the past decade, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum has delivered digital transformation projects spanning national identity systems in Guyana, smart classroom technology in Pakistan, and device manufacturing facilities across Nigeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. These initiatives demonstrate how digital infrastructure can accelerate government modernization while creating measurable economic impact through technology transfer and local job creation.
Why Digital Infrastructure Appeals to Emerging Market Governments
Emerging markets face persistent challenges in modernizing government systems. Legacy infrastructure requires substantial capital investment, lengthy procurement processes, and ongoing maintenance costs that strain public budgets.
Cloud-based digital systems address these constraints by reducing upfront expenditure and enabling rapid scaling.
According to PwC analysis, AI can boost emerging markets' growth by enhancing fiscal balance, public services, and prosperity through smarter government adoption. The World Economic Forum's GovTech Network identifies a $10 trillion opportunity as governments come under increasing pressure to modernize their systems.
The global AI governance market stands at approximately $12 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach $36 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent, according to Exactitude Consultancy. This growth is driven by mounting regulatory requirements and demand for robust compliance frameworks.
Digital infrastructure also enables governments to leapfrog traditional development pathways. Rather than building physical systems requiring decades to mature, emerging economies can adopt proven cloud platforms that deliver immediate functionality while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades.
How Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum Structures Digital Partnerships
Nawa Technologies operates as Inmā's government-focused technology arm, partnering with Oracle to deploy cloud-based systems across emerging markets. The model emphasizes technology transfer rather than simple service provision, building local capacity while maintaining long-term operational partnerships.
The approach differs from traditional IT services contracts in several ways:
- Ongoing support and continuous system updates rather than turnkey solutions
- Training programs for local technical staff to build institutional capacity
- Performance metrics including system uptime, user adoption rates, and efficiency improvements
- Outcomes-based evaluation aligned with multilateral lender standards
Projects address financing constraints by leveraging cloud infrastructure. Governments avoid capital expenditure required for data centers and telecommunications backbone while gaining access to enterprise-grade systems that would otherwise be financially prohibitive.
What Digital Transformation Projects Deliver in Practice
Recent Nawa Technologies projects demonstrate how digital infrastructure translates into tangible government capacity. The national ID program in Guyana delivered secure identity solutions that improve service delivery across government agencies while reducing fraud and administrative overhead.
Smart classroom technology deployed in Pakistan through a partnership with Huawei equipped schools with digital learning tools, internet connectivity, and teacher training programs. The initiative addresses educational capacity gaps while building technical literacy.
Device manufacturing facilities in Nigeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea combine infrastructure development with technology transfer:
- Local assembly plants for smartphones and tablets
- Technical training programs for manufacturing staff
- Supply chain development for component sourcing
- Quality control systems meeting international standards
Each facility creates direct employment while building domestic capacity in electronics manufacturing, reducing reliance on imported devices and fostering technology ecosystems.
The economic impact extends beyond immediate job creation. Manufacturing facilities generate demand for supporting services including logistics, maintenance, and retail distribution.
How Cloud Systems Change Development Finance Economics
Traditional infrastructure projects require substantial upfront capital, lengthy construction timelines, and ongoing maintenance costs. Cloud-based systems invert this model. Governments pay subscription fees based on usage, accessing enterprise infrastructure without capital expenditure.
The global IT services market is anticipated to grow to $3.19 trillion by 2033, from $1.47 trillion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate of 8.93 percent, according to Research and Markets. Growth is propelled by escalating digital transformation, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity requirements across industries, including government.
Cost comparisons favor cloud deployment in most emerging market contexts. Building domestic data center capacity might require $50 million to $100 million in initial investment plus ongoing maintenance, while cloud subscriptions typically cost a fraction of this amount annually.
Security and reliability also improve. Enterprise cloud providers invest billions in cybersecurity, redundancy, and compliance frameworks that individual governments cannot match.
Why Technology Transfer Matters for Long-Term Impact
Nawa's approach emphasizes building local technical capacity rather than creating dependency on external providers. Projects include comprehensive training programs that equip government IT staff to manage systems, troubleshoot issues, and implement upgrades.
This capacity building addresses a critical challenge in emerging market development. Technology projects often fail when external contractors depart, leaving governments unable to maintain systems independently.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, now Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, noted at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2025 that "how to understand, master and harness technology is the single biggest thing for government to get its head around today." He argued that properly harnessing AI will "transform everything" including healthcare, education, and other vital services.
What This Means for Development Finance
Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum's digital infrastructure approach represents a template for how Gulf capital can engage emerging markets without the complexity of traditional infrastructure finance. Digital projects deploy faster, scale more efficiently, and generate measurable outcomes that satisfy institutional investors requiring performance benchmarks.
The model also addresses concerns about development project sustainability. By building local capacity and using subscription-based pricing, digital infrastructure projects avoid the debt accumulation and white elephant risks associated with large physical infrastructure investments.
As Western development finance contracts and emerging markets seek alternatives to traditional lending, digital infrastructure offers a scalable model that aligns commercial and development objectives. Governments gain modernized systems, local populations benefit from improved services, and investors can measure impact through concrete performance metrics.
The question for other Gulf investors is whether they can replicate this approach at scale while maintaining the partnership focus and capacity building that distinguishes Nawa's model from conventional IT services contracts.
