Gamechangers: AI | EDGE Group's Daniel Jurado On Why AI Demands A Holistic Approach

Daniel Jurado is the Director of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center of Excellence at the UAE-based defense and advanced technology company EDGE Group, and it’s a role that sees him focused on driving the adoption of AI across both its products and business processes, with a particular emphasis on security and sovereignty. Jurado brings more than 25 years of experience across software engineering, digital innovation, and product delivery processes to this position, with a career largely shaped in the financial sector across four countries, over the course of which he designed and implemented technological systems for startups, hedge funds, and some of the biggest banks in the world.

In the past four years though, Jurado was focused on leading teams devoted to designing, implementing, and delivering AI-powered products, primarily within the cybersecurity and defense sectors—work that, it’s safe to say, now informs his work at EDGE Group. That said, when outlining how organizations should approach AI today, Jurado’s perspective reflects the full span of his career. “My advice would be to think about AI holistically, not overlooking ‘traditional’ best practices and the solid foundations of software engineering,” Jurado says. “AI is not magic, and without solid engineering foundations, high-quality data, and the appropriate security posture, it can become a very expensive, counterproductive exercise.”

Pictured in the lead image is Daniel Jurado, AI Center of Excellence of EDGE Group. Image courtesy EDGE Group.

Jurado was one of the innovators celebrated in the 2026 edition of Gamechangers: AI, an annual Inc. Arabia showcase of the business leaders driving the AI revolution in the MENA. Check out the full list by clicking here.