The University of Dubai, in collaboration with MEA-Comm UAE, a leading technology company committed to advancing the region’s digital economy, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first-ever 5G testbed in the region. This partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in the UAE and the broader MEA (Middle East and Africa) region.
The initiative, named the Industry 4.0 and Future Connectivity HUB, is the UAE’s and MEA region’s pioneering 5G-based Industry 4.0 testbed. It offers a live private 5G network for testing and validating cutting-edge Industry 4.0 applications. This includes technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and edge computing, empowering industries to harness these transformative solutions for enhanced operational efficiency.
At the launch event, attendees witnessed live demonstrations of various use-cases leveraging the operational 5G testbed on the University of Dubai campus. These demonstrations showcased innovative solutions across several sectors, including safe and smart cities, port automation, digital helmets for improved worker safety, smart education platforms, and other groundbreaking applications.
These live demonstrations not only highlighted the testbed’s ability to validate real-world solutions before full-scale deployment but also illustrated its role in driving innovation tailored to the unique needs of industries in the UAE and MEA region.
Dr. Eesa AlBastaki, President of the University of Dubai, emphasized the importance of this partnership in creating an environment for academic and research excellence, directly aligned with real-world industry needs. He remarked, “This initiative positions the UAE as a global leader in technology, providing students and researchers with practical, hands-on experiences that bridge academic theory with industry demand.”
Dr. Abdulhadi AbouAlmal, CEO of MEA-Comm and head of the Industry 4.0 and Future Connectivity HUB, referred to the collaboration as a strategic milestone for the region. He stated, “The HUB bridges the gap between academia and industry, offering a vital platform for industries to test and validate solutions on state-of-the-art 5G infrastructure. It also ensures compliance with regulatory and security standards set by government authorities and ICT regulators. This initiative will accelerate the pace of Industry 4.0 adoption across the MEA region.”
