Emaar and Noon Founder: AI Breaks Big Tech’s Dominance and Reshapes Enterprise Software
Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar and Noon, revealed that the rapid acceleration in artificial intelligence applications is threatening the absolute dominance of tech giants—led by Microsoft and Oracle—over the digital systems and services market. He noted that these shifts open the door to modern alternatives, reducing corporate reliance on traditional providers.
Speaking during a panel discussion at Dubai Future of Finance Week, Alabbar explained that the control of the enterprise systems market by a limited number of companies has given them vast leverage to dictate terms to clients and restrict their flexibility in negotiating prices, services, and updates.
Tech Alternatives and East-West Competition
Alabbar mentioned that he uses China’s Alibaba as an alternative during negotiations with Microsoft—a practical step to demonstrate that options exist. He stressed that businesses should not accept tech monopolies, especially after these giants have generated massive profits from clients over the years.
He emphasized that the fierce competition between U.S. and Chinese AI companies directly benefits the business sector, expressing his hope to see new tech entities emerge from the UAE and Europe to break the current market concentration.
A Radical Shift in Enterprise Software via AI Agents
In a related context, Alabbar predicted a reshaping of the enterprise software market as the adoption of AI Agents expands to execute operational and administrative tasks, thereby reducing the need for traditional systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
He announced that his companies have already begun operational trials of AI Agents across various departments, while developing advanced supervisory systems to oversee their performance in order to accelerate processes, boost operational efficiency, and minimize errors.
Alabbar warned of the ultra-fast pace of change, which now compresses shifts that used to take months or years into just two weeks. He pointed out that commercial growth does not immune companies from the risk of falling behind technological progress.
Noon’s Experience and Breaking E-Commerce Monopolies
Alabbar addressed the motivations behind founding the "Noon" platform, explaining that countering monopolies in the region's e-commerce market was the primary drive to launch it, ensuring a single player would not dominate the sector.
He added that the Noon project went beyond financial returns to focus on supporting the regional digital economy, creating real competition, and empowering young talent. He concluded by calling on entrepreneurs to focus on solving existing problems and delivering value without fearing competition in markets dominated by major corporations.