AI in Lebanon Conference
Dr. Kamal Shehadi.
Dr. Kamal Shehadi: Lebanon Needs Public-Private Partnership to Lead Its AI Renaissance
As Lebanon finds itself at a critical crossroads, the man spearheading the country’s digital transformation believes the answer lies in more than government policy or technology alone.
For Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Lebanon’s Minister of the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, the key to progress is collaboration, a renewed public-private partnership that can harness artificial intelligence to restore public trust, transform institutions, and build a competitive, resilient nation.
“AI is Lebanon’s opportunity not just to catch up, but to lead, if both government and private sector act boldly, together,” says Dr. Shehadi, who will deliver the opening keynote at the AI in Lebanon Conference 2025.
Dr. Shehadi is no newcomer to national-scale innovation. A globally respected figure in telecommunications and governance, he previously served as:
•Chairman of Lebanon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, where he introduced landmark telecom regulations and oversaw the public auction of cellular licenses.
•Chief Strategy Officer at e& Group (formerly Etisalat Group), the largest telecom conglomerate in the MENA region and one of the top ten globally.
•Chair of the Policy and Regulation Committee at the GSM Association, representing the global mobile industry.
His career includes top consulting roles for the World Bank, leading regulatory and privatization projects across more than ten MENA countries, including civil aviation reform in Saudi Arabia and port operations in Lebanon.
“With an investment of just $30 to $50 million,” he told The National, “we can digitize key services over the next year, launch a national digital identity, streamline key citizen services, and foster a new standard of public accountability.”
Dr. Shehadi holds a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Harvard University and a PhD from Columbia University, where he later taught — as he did at Harvard and the American University of Beirut.
He co-founded the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections and served on the board of the Lebanese Transparency Association.
“Startups, universities, private investors, and the diaspora must be full partners. This is not about catching a trend. This is about rebuilding the republic — together.”
At VivaTech 2025 in Paris, Dr. Shehadi signed a strategic MoU with Sofrecom Group, a French digital transformation powerhouse. The agreement will fast-track AI-powered public services — from permits to payments — and develop Lebanon’s national digital infrastructure.
His message is clear:
“AI is not a luxury. It’s Lebanon’s path to survival and sovereignty. Let’s not miss this window. Let’s build together.”