Gamechangers: QSS AI & Robotics' Dr. Elie Metri

As the founder, CEO, and Executive Board Member of the Saudi Arabia-headquartered QSS AI & Robotics, Dr. Elie Metri is focused on building local solutions from the Kingdom for the world. Under his leadership, QSS AI & Robotics debuted a female humanoid robot, Sara, in 2023, and it went on to launch a male robot, Mohammad, at the DeepFest conference in 2024. It has since also unveiled Saud, a robot that can communicate in the Saudi dialect and multiple other languages, as well as the humanoid industrial robot, Mosaed. Notably, all of them were built at the company’s manufacturing facility at Sudair Industrial City in Saudi Arabia.

But perhaps what’s most significant about Dr. Metri’s achievements with QSS AI & Robotics is his journey through it all—as he puts it, “I didn’t follow the path, I built one. From a US$5,000 loan to founding the first robotics factory in Saudi Arabia, I’ve led projects that were once seen as impossible: humanoid robots made in the Gulf, artificial intelligence (AI) solutions built locally, and industrial technologies that are now competing globally.”

Dr. Metri—who, by the way, is a Top Voice on the social media platform LinkedIn—thus has a clear-cut goal governing all that he does at QSS AI & Robotics: he wants to help position the GCC as a leader in advanced technology and cutting-edge humanoid robotics.

“We’re solving three main challenges in the GCC: overdependence on imported tech, gaps in industrial labor, and the lack of localized AI solutions,” Dr. Metri says. “By building fully Saudi-made robots like Sara, Mohammad, and Mosaed, we’re shifting from being consumers to creators of advanced technology.”

According to Dr. Metri, as a homegrown brand with global aspirations to build technology for a better future, QSS AI & Robotics is uniquely positioned to play a definitive role in the future of tech in the region. In addition to humanoid robots, the company has also launched an autonomous mobile robot that can fulfill tasks like inspection, facility management, delivery, surveillance, and transportation, as well as autonomous drones.

And by pairing robotics with AI, Dr. Metri believes that the company’s solutions will play a role in shaping the region’s future.

“Our solutions are designed for the region, from language and culture to climate, and they’re already deployed in airports, factories, and smart city projects,” Dr. Metri explains. “This isn’t just about automation; it’s about building national capability, and making sure the future of tech in our region is shaped by us.”

From Dr. Metri’s perspective, the MENA region is becoming a driving force in AI, especially as the GCC ramps up its investments in the technology. “The MENA is no longer a follower in AI, it’s becoming a serious contender,” he points out. “With the level of investment we’re seeing, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the region is positioning itself as a global innovation hub, not just a market. But what makes it different is that we’re building, in-house from Riyadh, AI with purpose, tailored to local challenges, cultures, and economies. That gives us an edge. I believe that the MENA will play a defining role in shaping responsible, inclusive AI that reflects the diversity of the world, not just the West.”

Looking forward, Dr. Metri believes that pairing AI with robotics and automation presents a unique opportunity for the world at large—and the Arab world especially.

“We’re moving toward a future where AI won’t just assist industries, it will drive them,” he says. “I see humanoid robots, autonomous systems, and AI-driven infrastructure becoming part of daily operations across sectors, from logistics to security to public services. What excites me the most is the shift from importing solutions to exporting them. The GCC has the talent, vision, and capital to lead—not follow—in the global AI race. Economically, this means new industries, more high-value jobs, and a shift from oil-based to innovation-based growth. That’s the real transformation AI can bring to the region, and we’re already seeing the foundation being built."

Pictured in the lead image is founder, CEO, and Executive Board Member of the Saudi Arabia-headquartered QSS AI & Robotics, Dr. Elie Metri. Image courtesy QSS AI & Robotics.

This article first appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Inc. Arabia magazine. To read the full issue online, click here.