In a modern tower overlooking the Gulf skyline, a quiet revolution is underway. At the heart of a bustling AI lab in the Middle East, a group of data scientists is reimagining how banks understand risk, detect fraud, and serve people — all powered by machine learning and real-time intelligence.
We sat down with Dr. Lina H. Kareem, the Chief Data Scientist at a leading Advisory Group-partnered bank in the GCC, to explore how AI is not just supporting banking — it’s reshaping it from the inside out.
Meet the Expert: Dr. Lina H. Kareem
With a background in computational statistics and finance, Dr. Kareem leads a cross-functional team responsible for developing AI models that power everything from loan approvals to customer service automation.
“In today’s world, data is not just valuable — it’s the new currency,” she says.
“But raw data is nothing without purpose. Our job is to turn it into trust, speed, and fairness.”
Q&A: Behind the Algorithms
Q: What’s your lab currently working on that excites you most?
Dr. Kareem:
Right now, we’re focused on adaptive risk modeling — that means building AI systems that adjust in real time based on market shifts, customer behavior, or even local events. For example, if a customer travels or changes spending patterns, the model shouldn’t flag that as fraud — it should learn.
We’re also experimenting with generative AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance customer interaction — especially in multilingual contexts like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Q: How do you balance speed with compliance in AI?
Dr. Kareem:
It’s a myth that you must choose between the two. Through Advisory Group’s smart AI architecture, we’re able to run real-time screening on transactions, customer profiles, and even document scans — all while logging every action for regulatory review.
We call it “invisible compliance” — it happens behind the scenes, without slowing anyone down.
The Role of Advisory Group in AI Innovation
Advisory Group plays a strategic role by offering pre-trained, customizable AI modules that are plug-and-play for financial institutions. These include:
- KYC document analysis (Arabic + English)
- Predictive lending models for underserved customers
- Multilingual chatbots with emotional recognition
- Fraud detection using behavioral biometrics
Their tools help banks accelerate AI adoption without needing to build infrastructure from scratch — a key advantage for mid-sized banks in the region.
“We focus on the model. Advisory Group handles the pipelines, integration, and scalability,” Dr. Kareem explains.
Advantages of In-House AI Labs in Banking
| Advantage | Real-World Impact |
| Custom Algorithms | Tailored to the bank’s risk appetite & local data |
| Real-Time Testing | New features can be A/B tested before going live |
| Privacy Control | Sensitive data doesn’t leave internal environments |
| Strategic Agility | Banks can pivot AI priorities as needed |
Labs like Dr. Kareem’s enable banks to innovate faster and smarter — without losing control.
Challenges: Not All That Glitters Is Code
Despite the excitement, AI integration has its share of hurdles.
“People think AI is about math. It’s really about change management,” Dr. Kareem observes.
Typical pain points are:
•Aligning compliance, IT, and business teams
•Refactoring legacy systems to support real-time AI workflows
•Getting staff in to trust algorithmic suggestions
•Minimizing overfitting or bias in data models
Advisory Group empowers clients through the provision of model explainability dashboards and regulatory sandboxing to facilitate easier adoption.
Culture Note: Why MENA Needs Humanized AI
In the Middle East and North Africa, financial behavior is deeply tied to family, religion, and social norms. AI systems must reflect that sensitivity.
Dr. Kareem emphasizes:
- Names and document structures vary across countries (e.g., bin, bint, tribal surnames)
- Multilingual NLP must understand Arabic dialects, not just formal Arabic
- Creditworthiness can’t rely only on salary slips — many people earn informally
“We don’t just build models,” she says.
“We build models that respect people.”
What Advice Would You Give to Banks Starting Their AI Journey?
“Start small. Choose one use case.
Make sure it solves a real pain point — then scale.”
She adds that executive sponsorship is critical. AI isn’t just an IT project; it’s a business strategy.
A Glimpse into the Future
When asked what the next 5 years might look like, Dr. Kareem smiles:
“AI will be the invisible brain of every bank.
But the heart? That will always be human.”
She believes the future lies in collective intelligence — computers doing volume and humans providing empathy and strategy.
Conclusion: Inside the Lab, Outside the Box
The revolution in banking isn’t unfolding in boardrooms — it’s unfolding quietly in research labs like Dr. Kareem’s. By vision, local expertise, and collaborations such as Advisory Group, MENA region banks are not merely catching up with the future — they are creating it.
