Saudi Arabia is transforming its industrial cities into smart cities as part of its national diversification plan. The country is embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, and 3D printing to drive economic growth, enhance manufacturing efficiency, and establish itself as a regional hub for technological innovation and research.
Egypt has unveiled its updated National AI Strategy for 2025–2030, aiming to become a regional AI leader in the Middle East and Africa. The strategy focuses on key areas like governance, technology, and talent, with plans to grow AI’s GDP contribution to $42.7 billion by 2030 and foster AI companies and experts.
At the World Economic Forum, experts discussed the “AI divide” in developing countries, emphasizing challenges such as limited energy, computing power, and talent. Deemah Al-Yahya stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to bridge the gap, while promoting access to emerging technologies through digital assets.
Oracle is significantly expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure in the UAE to meet the region’s rapidly growing demand for digital transformation. The company is increasing its capacity in Abu Dhabi, adding GPUs to its data centers, and focusing on sovereign cloud solutions, including its Alloy platform, for government and public sector clients.
du, the Dubai-based telecom operator, plans to launch its sovereign cloud and AI services in the UAE by July 2025. Leveraging Oracle Alloy, the company aims to cater to government and public sector clients, entering a competitive market with major players like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to reduce wastewater and redesign systems for water recycling, as discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Experts highlighted how AI can help manage water resources more efficiently, reduce energy usage, and create sustainable solutions for the growing global water crisis.
President Trump has launched the “Stargate Project,” a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative aimed at building a network of data centers across the US. The project will create over 100,000 jobs and enhance US competitiveness in AI, with key tech partnerships from OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, and Microsoft.
Abu Dhabi has launched the “Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027” with a focus on AI-driven government services. The strategy includes significant investments in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, aiming to establish the emirate as a global leader in digital innovation, contribute to the economy, and create thousands of jobs.
Qatar Airways has launched its first AI-powered virtual cabin crew member, Sama, at ITB Berlin 2024. Active on Instagram, Sama will provide personalized travel recommendations, engage users with destination content, and promote sustainability efforts. This initiative marks a significant shift toward AI-driven marketing in the airline industry.
Nepal’s surplus clean energy, particularly from hydropower and solar, presents an opportunity to attract global AI data center investments. As generative AI drives rising energy demand, Nepal could position itself as a key destination for AI infrastructure, leveraging its renewable resources to power data centers for regional markets.
