The advent of AI agents is building capabilities that can overtake today's cloud service software used by the majority of global companies. These intelligent systems act autonomously, directly interfacing with core databases and bypassing outdated workflows, ushering in a new era in operational efficiency that will upend the massive Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry that has been relied on for decades.
The SaaS industry was valued at more than $250 billion globally last year, according to US technology consultancy Gartner, and is a cornerstone of how online companies function. However, as industries continue to evolve, the SaaS model – built on static applications layered over databases – is giving way to a transformative paradigm: Agentic AI.
Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella recently predicted that traditional apps such as e-commerce platform Shopify or project management platforms like Trello or Monday.com, would give way to intelligent agents. This would shake up the foundational framework of the more than 84 per cent of technology companies that depend on SaaS for their operations.
Mr Nadella announced his plan to put AI agents into the mainstream as he introduced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat in January.
“It's about unleashing a swarm of intelligent agents to supercharge your productivity and unlock the full return on investment in AI," he said in a video.
Similarly, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has outlined a future where AI agents perform complex tasks, from writing code to optimising workflows.
These advancements signal the dawn of an agentic era, where AI systems directly interact with core databases, bypassing static interfaces and delivering exceptional operational efficiency, precision and adaptability. For businesses, this means rethinking strategies to fully harness these capabilities effectively, with a focus on optimising infrastructure as a key enabler for future AI transformation.
Generative v Agentic AI
Traditional SaaS applications rely on Create, Read, Update and Delete operations, with complex layers of software that intervene between users and databases. Agentic AI fundamentally redefines this dynamic. Rather than static interfaces, these agents act as intelligent orchestrators, autonomously executing tasks and transforming static applications into dynamic, purpose-driven systems. By migrating decision-making and automation to the AI layer, businesses can achieve greater innovation and adaptability.
These breakthroughs are largely driven by advanced transformer-based technology, according to Stanford’s 2024 AI Index, that are enabling the realisation of Agentic AI. Developers face challenges adapting to this design paradigm, but businesses stand to unlock significant opportunities.
The distinction between generative and agentic AI lies in their approach to tasks and decision-making. Generative AI powers popular tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, but their capabilities remain reactive, relying on user prompts. In contrast, agentic AI operates autonomously, setting goals, strategising, and adapting in real-time. While generative AI serves as a skilled assistant, agentic AI functions as an independent collaborator, managing workflows, making decisions, and driving outcomes without constant supervision.
For example, generative AI may draft an email upon request, while agentic AI would proactively monitor the inbox, prioritise messages, draft responses, and schedule follow-ups – all while learning and adapting to user preferences.
Real-world applications and implications
Agentic AI holds transformative potential across industries by redefining operational efficiency and delivering intelligent solutions. In customer support, it moves beyond static, script-driven chatbots to dynamically adapt to tone, context, and subtle cues, offering empathetic and personalised interactions. For instance, an AI agent addressing a product availability query can check inventory, consider the customer’s location, and suggest the nearest store or delivery timeline. It even recalls prior interactions to provide a seamless and tailored experience, allowing human agents to focus on complex, strategic challenges.
Similarly in manufacturing, Agentic AI goes beyond programmed routines by actively optimising production lines in real-time, responding dynamically to challenges, and enhancing overall efficiency. Additionally, in workflow management, these AI agents anticipate bottlenecks, suggest process improvements, and autonomously handle tasks, ensuring streamlined operations and maximising productivity. By enabling adaptability and precision across industries, Agentic AI transforms how businesses operate and innovate.
With AI agents poised to transform operational workflows by redefining how data is managed and productivity is achieved, these agents will act as engines of enhanced performance, mediating digital interactions and evolving as repositories of human knowledge. As businesses identify new AI use cases across industries, ethical frameworks and governing will become critical to ensure responsible AI deployment.
Companies must evaluate their readiness by assessing talent, processes, technology, and partnerships, emphasising foundational processes to train, test, and optimise AI systems. By prioritising business processes over technology, organisations can unlock AI’s full potential, achieving transformative outcomes.
As the SaaS era draws to a close, agentic AI emerges as the defining force shaping the future of business technology. Businesses that invest in assessing their readiness across talent, infrastructure, processes, technology, and partnerships will unlock transformative potential. The question is no longer whether businesses will adopt Agentic AI but how soon they can harness its limitless possibilities to reap its rewards.
Trevor North is the Chief Operating Officer at Core42
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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The%20specs
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STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
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MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
