BigBear.ai Expands Into Middle East with Abu Dhabi Office Launch

BigBear.ai has taken a notable step into the Middle East, opening its first office in the region at the World Trade Center in Abu Dhabi. The move was announced during the Global AI Show, where the company’s President and CEO, Kevin McAleenan—who previously served as Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security—spoke about the UAE’s growing role in using artificial intelligence to streamline travel and trade. I’ve seen first-hand, through various Arageek-related community meetups, how startups here treat innovation as a daily habit rather than a buzzword, so the timing feels spot on.

McAleenan said the company shares the UAE’s “ambition and bias for action,” pointing to BigBear.ai’s long experience supporting both government and commercial clients in the US. He added that launching an office in Abu Dhabi marks the beginning of what they expect to be a multi-year collaboration across different sectors. And believe it or not, the company has already been busy in the region, forming partnerships with Vigilix and Easy Lease, both part of International Holding Company.

He also touched on the importance of building a strong talent base locally, saying the company aims to offer attractive opportunities for Emirati professionals while fostering a diverse and high-performing workforce. Having watched countless founders in the Gulf try to source AI talent—sometimes a bit of a faff, if we’re being honest—I reckon moves like this could eventually help ease the pressure.

McAleenan didn’t shy away from framing technology leadership as a long game. He explained that during his DHS years, he learnt that being first to adopt new tech only matters if it’s backed by consistent execution. As he put it, AI’s promises count for little without follow-through, and BigBear.ai intends to bring that execution-focused mindset to its UAE partners.

The company, which specialises in mission-ready AI for defence, national security and critical infrastructure, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BBAI. Its capabilities revolve around artificial intelligence and predictive analytics designed for complex operational environments—areas where precision, reliability and scale are everything. On the flip side, as with any big expansion, there are the usual uncertainties tied to global markets and government budgeting, though none of that seems to be slowing their ambitions here.

Walking around Abu Dhabi recently, I couldn’t help but think how quickly the tech landscape is shifting. It’s the sort of change that leaves you both energised and a little overwhelmed… well, I mean, in a good way. And with players like BigBear.ai planting roots, the region’s momentum in AI feels even more tangible—even if I’m not a fan of every corporate buzzword being thrown around. Still, it’s clear the UAE aims to stay ahead, and this latest move fits neatly into that broader push, or atleast that’s how it looks from here.

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