Government Affairs Lead for the Middle East (AI)

Location: Hybrid; Dubai or Riyadh, United Arab Emirates

Company

Cohere is a security-first enterprise AI company developing foundation models and end-to-end AI products for real-world business applications.

What you will do

• Develop and execute Cohere's government affairs and stakeholder engagement strategy across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Gulf region.
• Build trusted relationships with ministries, regulators, government authorities, public-sector organizations, sovereign entities, and innovation agencies.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments covering AI, cloud computing, data governance, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
• Prepare consultation responses, policy submissions, briefing materials, executive talking points, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Support public-sector business development across government, financial services, telecommunications, energy, and other regulated industries.
• Represent Cohere in industry associations, public-private partnerships, conferences, and policy forums while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in government, public policy, diplomacy, regulatory affairs, corporate government affairs, public-sector consulting, or a leading industry association.
• Strong understanding of the policymaking, regulatory, and public-sector landscape in the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
• Experience building trusted relationships with senior government officials and public-sector stakeholders.
• Familiarity with AI policy, digital transformation, innovation policy, cloud technologies, public procurement, or technology regulation.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required.
• Strong analytical, stakeholder management, collaboration, and project execution skills, plus a relevant undergraduate degree or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to have

• Professional proficiency in Arabic.
• Existing government stakeholder relationships in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Experience with GCC institutions, enterprise software, cloud computing, AI, government procurement, digital transformation, or national AI initiatives.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid and remote-friendly work environment with coworking support for employees away from offices.
• Full health and dental benefits, including a separate mental health budget.
• Six weeks of paid vacation and up to six months of fully topped-up parental leave for either parent.
• Learning, enrichment, wellness, workspace improvement, and home office stipends.
• Lunch stipend, office lunch programs, community events, annual company offsite, and travel budget for visiting other offices.