Dubai’s AI Retreat, hosted at the Museum of the Future on June 11, will gather over 1,000 AI experts to discuss AI adoption strategies. Organized under the DUB.AI initiative, the event aims to cement Dubai as a global AI hub, enhance the digital economy, and support Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 with significant economic contributions.
HSBC has launched Omni Collect, a new e-commerce digital payment platform in the UAE, in partnership with Saudi-based FinTech Geidea. Omni Collect allows HSBC business clients to access card receivables and gain insights into collections data, simplifying payment processes across multiple channels and enhancing business decision-making.
At GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori of Digital Dubai emphasized the shared ambition of Morocco and the UAE to promote the knowledge economy. The event, organized by Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and KAOUN International, features 15,000 exhibitors and 800 startups, aiming to boost Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurial economy.
The TDRA has released an updated Telecommunications Network Box Specification Manual, reducing costs and space for telecom infrastructure by up to 50%. The manual supports UAE’s smart city initiatives and maintains its global leadership in FTTH. It benefits telecom operators, developers, and users by standardizing specifications and enhancing service delivery.
World Wide Technology (WWT) and NXT Global have partnered to establish the UAE’s first AI integration center in Masdar City. The facility aims to position the UAE as a global leader and exporter of AI infrastructure, enhancing the nation’s technological capabilities and supporting sustainable development and innovation.
MBRIF and AzurX have partnered to boost innovation in the space and strategic technologies sector. This collaboration aims to attract high-potential space startups to the UAE, providing them with resources, mentorship, and support through a customized accelerator programme, aligning with the UAE National Innovation Strategy and Oman Vision 2040.
Dubai-based Holo secured pre-Series A funding to expand its digital mortgage platform in the UAE and GCC, starting with Saudi Arabia. The platform offers mortgage comparisons and application assistance, earning revenue from banks for client referrals. The funds will support regional growth and product expansion.
AWS executive Kevin Miller emphasizes the UAE’s potential as a global tech leader, driven by AI models like Falcon. The UAE’s focus on AI and foundational research, combined with regional investments, fosters digital transformation and innovation, positioning the Middle East as a significant player in global technology.
The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) launched Transform 4.0, an initiative under Operation 300bn to fast-track digital transformation in manufacturing. The programme aims to support 100 manufacturers in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, enhance sustainability, and position UAE-based manufacturers as global leaders in digital transformation.
Smart home devices are booming in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with six million devices integrated into Alexa users’ lives. In 2023, users initiated 130 million smart home actions and 100 million music requests. The region saw a 50% YoY increase in smart home customers and a 90% increase in connected devices.
