On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Beirut Digital District (BDD) hosted the fourth edition of AWS Community Day Lebanon, organized by AWS User Group Lebanon. The event welcomed over 500 attendees, bringing together developers, engineers, students, tech professionals, and AWS enthusiasts to explore emerging technologies, exchange expertise, and connect with like-minded individuals.
With a packed agenda of technical sessions, keynote talks, and panel discussions, the event explored some of the technologies shaping today’s industry, from artificial intelligence and cloud architecture to software engineering and practical applications of AWS technologies.
Exploring What’s Next in AI and Cloud Technologies
The event kicked off with an opening session by Awedis Keofteian, AWS Hero and Senior DevOps Engineer at Washmen, setting the stage for a day of technical discussions and knowledge-sharing.
The keynote sessions brought together industry experts to explore different aspects of today’s evolving technology landscape.
Peter Bardawil, Director of Engineering at Aboard (formerly Speedlane), presented Data Collaboration Without Exposure, while Tarek Swaidane, AI Engineer at White Stork, explored the evolution of AI Voice Agents, including the challenges of developing effective voice interactions in Arabic.
Darko Mesaroš, Distinguished Developer Advocate at AWS, also took the stage with Build, Learn, Explore: Be an Engineer!, sharing perspectives on engineering, continuous learning, and technological exploration.
The discussions continued throughout the day, covering topics such as software engineering, cloud deployment with Claude and Terraform, AI agents, agent evaluations, token economics, and cloud cost optimization.
Among the highlights were two panel discussions titled “AI in Action: What’s Next for Builders?”, bringing together industry professionals to exchange perspectives on how AI is transforming software development and what these developments mean for engineers and technology teams.
The first featured Jean-Pierre Fakhry, Head of AI at Chizl, as moderator, alongside Alexi Akl, SVP of Solution Delivery at Aboard Lebanon; Antoine Kanaan, CEO and Founder of HAQQ Legal AI; and Hussein El Hajj, CEO of Htech.
The second brought together Mohammad Omar, Chief Technology Officer at Darb by Terra; Elite Kyriakos, Data Engineer & Consultant at Select Exterminating Co.; Sam Shouman, Senior Android Developer & Co-Founder of Develeb; and Rashid Mantash, Founder of Code Mind sarl.
Together, the sessions offered attendees an opportunity to go beyond the AI conversation and explore how emerging technologies are being applied in real-world environments.
Bringing Lebanon’s Tech Community Together
Beyond the technical sessions, AWS Community Day provided a space for students, experienced professionals, and technology enthusiasts to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
From conversations between sessions to networking opportunities throughout the day, the event highlighted the importance of creating spaces where knowledge and experiences can be shared across different levels of expertise.
Led by AWS User Group Lebanon, the initiative reflected the value of community-driven events in making technical knowledge more accessible and encouraging collaboration within Lebanon’s technology ecosystem.
The event was also supported by industry partners, including Platinum Sponsors Aboard and White Stork, alongside Gold Sponsors SE² and Supportful, contributing to bringing the community together for another edition.
Supporting a Growing Tech Ecosystem at BDD
Hosting initiatives such as AWS Community Day is part of BDD’s ongoing commitment to fostering an environment where talent, businesses, and innovators can connect, collaborate, and grow.
By bringing together industry professionals, emerging talent, and technology communities, these events create opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development, and connections that extend beyond the event itself.
As AWS Community Day Lebanon 2026 came to a close, it once again highlighted the energy and expertise within Lebanon’s technology community and the importance of creating opportunities for people to learn and build together.
BDD looks forward to continuing to welcome community-driven initiatives that contribute to the growth of Lebanon’s technology ecosystem.
