Gamechangers: AI | Technology Innovation Institute's Dr. Hakim Hacid Says The Next Phase Of AI Will Be Defined By Efficiency And Accountability

As the Chief Researcher of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Science Research Center at the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Dr. Hakim Hacid leads a broad portfolio of AI and machine learning initiatives, including Falcon, the open-weight large language model (LLM) the center launched in 2023.

Its latest iteration, Falcon-H1 Arabic, came out in January 2026, in response to the MENA region’s lack of high-performing, deeply contextualized Arabic LLMs capable of operating at global standards. “The performance results have been outstanding,” Dr. Hacid tells Inc. Arabia. “On the Open Arabic LLM Leaderboard, Falcon-H1 Arabic leads across model sizes... This demonstrates that Arabic AI can achieve global leadership, while running on smaller, more efficient parameter sizes.”

For Hacid, these wins point to a broader shift in how AI will be both built and governed in the MENA in the future. “The next phase of AI will be defined by efficiency and accountability,” Dr. Hacid says. “For the region, this means building sovereign capability and having the ability to adapt and govern AI systems independently, while participating in global collaboration. Falcon-H1 Arabic is an example of this approach, as it proves that regional research ecosystems can produce models that compete globally, while serving local linguistic and institutional needs.”

Dr. Hacid also points to a shift from foundational development to real-world deployment, with AI increasingly embedded across sectors. “When models are efficient enough to run on diverse infrastructures and capable enough to process long, domain-specific documents, they become part of operational systems,” he says. “In economic terms, this reduces dependence on external platforms and supports local startup ecosystems, while enabling data-sensitive sectors to deploy AI responsibly.”

Pictured in the lead image is Dr. Hakim Hacid, the Chief Researcher of the AI and Digital Science Research Center at the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Courtesy of TII.

Hacid 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.