Experts in iron and steel product manufacturing systems have stated that the digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence systems will bring seven benefits to these industries, representing a new transitional phase for the sector. On the sidelines of the Middle East Iron & Steel 2025 conference and exhibition, which recently concluded in Dubai, they explained to 'Emirates Today' that these benefits include: improving productivity and operational efficiency, supporting safety and security plans, enhancing sustainability indicators, expanding production monitoring processes, predictive maintenance, creating databases that support decision-making, and enhancing cybersecurity for companies. Omar al-Laham, Sales Director for the Middle East and Africa region at 'Prime Teles', said that 'the UAE is one of the countries witnessing a remarkable acceleration in adopting comprehensive digital transformation initiatives and artificial intelligence systems in the iron and steel manufacturing sector'. He explained that 'the most prominent benefits resulting from digital transformation processes and the adoption of AI systems are focused on improving productivity and operational efficiency, enhancing sustainability indicators, creating databases to support appropriate decision-making in production processes, and providing systems that enable predictive maintenance in production lines'. He added that 'digital transformation is progressing gradually in the iron industry in the region, facing some challenges related to the cost of transformation for some companies, and a lack of awareness among other companies in the Middle East and Africa about the feasibility of spending on transformation processes'. In turn, Michael Ryon, Chief Executive Officer for Commercial Affairs at the Emirati 'Emsteel' group for iron production, stated that 'the group is implementing extensive digital transformation initiatives and adopting AI systems, which offer multiple benefits in improving operational efficiency in production processes'. He clarified that 'for example, the group is implementing 30 initiatives this year for digital transformation and AI adoption in areas related to energy saving, sustainability support, and cybersecurity, in addition to initiatives to support safety and security standards, data provision, and monitoring'. In the same context, Karan Khmika, Chief Executive Officer of 'Robosoft', said that 'the UAE is witnessing an acceleration in digital transformation processes and the adoption of AI systems in the iron industry sector, which allows for an improvement in productivity and operational efficiency, expansion of production monitoring processes, creation of databases to support decision-making, and sensor systems for required maintenance schedules'. Meanwhile, Ahmed Hammam, Technical Managing Director at 'Hadeed Al-Ashari', considered that 'digital transformation initiatives and the adoption of AI systems in the iron and steel industry are important future requirements for the sector, especially as they provide a qualitative transition for the sector, whether in terms of improving productivity and operational efficiency, increasing production rates, or supporting the expansion of sustainability plans, rationalizing consumption, creating comprehensive databases, and transitioning to more extensive automation systems'.
