Dubai: BlackBerry Chief Executive Officer John Giamatteo said the company is excited about investing in the United Arab Emirates and building a special relationship with the UAE Government, citing the Government's pioneering approach to technology.
According to Emirates News Agency, Giamatteo made these statements on the sidelines of the World Government Summit. He highlighted the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BlackBerry and the UAE Cyber Security Council on cybersecurity as a tangible example of how government and the private sector can partner to bring enhanced technology to the UAE market. This MoU was signed during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to the UAE in November 2025.
Giamatteo emphasized the UAE Government's role through its focus on partnerships, business-friendly policies, and collaboration with technology companies to introduce new innovations. He noted that his meetings over the past few days reflected a forward-thinking approach to embracing newer solutions and exploring how technology can impact daily life.
Regarding artificial intelligence, Giamatteo stated that BlackBerry is leaning into AI significantly, while adopting a thoughtful and pragmatic approach supported by a disciplined framework, considering the mission-critical nature of BlackBerry's communication solutions. AI is being used in development cycles to accelerate innovation and in test environments to improve overall quality, with caution about the extent to which AI is embedded in products.
Giamatteo also highlighted the strategic importance of the Middle East, describing it as central to geopolitical activity from trade, government, and financing perspectives, including banking. He mentioned BlackBerry's end-to-end encrypted technology, emergency notification capabilities, and mobile device management platform as areas through which the company can contribute to the region's growth and be part of its ecosystem.
Reflecting on the summit, Giamatteo expressed his growing impression each year by its expanding size and scope, noting its role in bringing together heads of state and government, their deputies, ministers, alongside leading thinkers, global experts, and technology companies. He acknowledged it as a key venue for dialogue across industries.
Giamatteo concluded that BlackBerry is proud to be part of the summit and looks forward to continuing to contribute to its success in the years ahead.
