Meta has teamed up once again with Startupbootcamp to launch a new edition of the Llama Design Drive — a three-month accelerator program aimed at fast-tracking the development of agentic AI startups in the Middle East and North Africa.

At the heart of the initiative is Meta’s open-source Llama large language model, designed to help startups build intelligent AI agents capable of making autonomous decisions to solve real-world problems. These could range from virtual tutors and healthcare bots to energy efficiency tools and smart mobility assistants.

The program offers selected startups a complete support package: up to $25,000 in AWS cloud credits, mentorship from Meta engineers and AI specialists, and a series of workshops designed to help teams build and scale their products. The journey will culminate at the Llama Summit, where startups will pitch their solutions to regional stakeholders and international investors.

“Through Llama Design Drive, we’re co-creating with the region’s most promising founders, building AI agents that reflect the priorities, challenges, and opportunities of the MENA region,” said Joulan Abdul Khalek, Policy Programs Manager at Meta.

This year’s focus on agentic AI — autonomous AI assistants — comes as the MENA region sees a surge in digital transformation. Governments are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, and enterprises are looking to automate more services across healthcare, education, public administration, and green transport.

Hani Murad, CEO of Startupbootcamp, emphasized the growing relevance of AI agents. “From conversational healthcare bots to digital tutors and public service assistants, agentic AI is uniquely positioned to unlock regional potential,” he noted.

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The 2024 edition of the program proved popular, drawing over 200 applications. 43 startups were selected across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including Indigo Hive, Carbon Sifr, and Labib Technologies — each building AI solutions across sectors like sustainability, content creation, and accessibility.

Startupbootcamp’s timing couldn’t be better: The enterprise agentic AI market in the MEA region generated $102.2 million in 2024 and is projected to hit $1.07 billion by 2030. On a broader scale, the MENA agent market is forecast to grow from $213.1 million to $2.2 billion in the same period.

With regional AI models like UAE’s Falcon and Saudi Arabia’s ALLaM gaining ground, and workforce readiness initiatives accelerating, MENA is positioning itself not just as a consumer of AI — but as a global innovator.