Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest!
Lots of news to share in today’s newsletter. Scale AI expands across the Gulf, with a newly registered office at DIFC in the UAE and a new 2,000 sqm office in Doha as its Qatar team approaches 100 employees; more than $4 billion of Omani data centre projects have been announced during the UK state visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik; Snowflake announces a projected $300 million investment in Saudi Arabia; and Dubai AI Campus announces ambitious expansion goals for 2030!
Scroll down for more news.
We also have a new Feature of the Week from Karl Crowther is Vice President - Middle East Africa, India and Southeast Asia at UiPath: Why business orchestration is key to AI success for GSI organisations. Read it here!
And if you haven’t yet got your pass for next month’AIDC Expo and Cairo ICT, you can register for the event here.
Thanks for reading!
/Carrington
Oman Focus
Oman consortium plans $3B AI data centre
#Oman #datacentres - Mubbadrah Investment is leading an Omani consortium developing a $3 billion AI data centre with up to 400MW capacity. US-based Crusoe has expressed interest as a potential customer. Announced during His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s UK State Visit, the project includes 400MW of solar generation and battery storage. (Middle East AI News)
Yamna plans £1+ billion AI data centre in Oman
#Oman #datacentres - UK-founded Yamna has signed an agreement with Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology to develop a hyperscale AI data centre in Salalah. Its first phase is expected to exceed £1 billion, creating more than 100 skilled British jobs and strengthening Oman’s AI infrastructure ambitions. (Middle East AI News)
Oman’s PDO launches autonomous oil programme
#Oman #energy - Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has launched an Autonomous Production Programme combining AI, drones, robotics and real-time analytics to improve operational safety and efficiency. The company also unveiled digital twin and agentic AI initiatives, alongside a five-year partnership with SLB and Halliburton for digital well construction. (Middle East AI News)
Phaze Ventures launches two AI funds targeting $75M
#Oman #venturecapital - Oman’s Phaze Ventures has launched two AI-focused funds targeting over $75 million combined, securing more than $40 million in commitments. Backed by ITHCA Group, Ominvest and Future Fund Oman, the funds will support global deeptech startups and homegrown AI businesses. (Middle East AI News)
Oman advances drone trials across six key sectors
#Oman #drones - Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is advancing a national drone and air mobility testing programme covering six sectors, including healthcare, logistics and agriculture. Conducted within a regulatory sandbox, live trials are scheduled for December. (Oman Daily Observer)
Investment
Scale AI opens Dubai office, expands Gulf presence
#UAE #investmnet - Scale AI has established its UAE operation at Dubai International Financial Centre, completing expansion into the Gulf’s three largest digital economies in under two years. Its regional workforce now exceeds 130 across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while it explores agentic AI opportunities with Presight. (Middle East AI News)
Scale AI expands Doha office as team nears 100
#Qatar #investment- Scale AI has signed an agreement for a nearly 2,000-square-metre office at The Pearl in Doha. (Middle East AI News)
Snowflake plans $300m Saudi investment, cloud expansion
#Saudi #invesmtnet - Snowflake has announced a projected $300 million investment in Saudi Arabia through 2030 and inaugurated its Riyadh regional headquarters. The company plans two additional Saudi cloud regions in 2026 and will partner with MCIT to train 25,000 people. (Middle East AI News)
Brookfield opens Doha office amid $20B AI venture
#Qatar #investment - Canadian investment manager Brookfield has opened an office in Doha, expanding its presence in Qatar’s growing technology and investment market. The move supports a planned $20 billion AI infrastructure joint venture with Qai, a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority. (Middle East AI News)
Funds
Alpha Dhabi commits $1bn to global AI fund
#UAE #investment - Alpha Dhabi Holding has committed $1 billion to Alpha Wave III, a global fund targeting AI and high-growth tech ventures. The investment follows its participation in Alpha Wave Ventures II. (Middle East AI News)
Dubai AI
Dubai Chambers launches 22 AI business agents
#UAE #AgenticAI - Dubai Chambers has launched Chamber AI Hub, a marketplace offering 22 ready-made AI agents to support businesses across Dubai. The initiative aims to expand its catalogue to 100 agents within two years, making AI tools accessible to more than 295,000 companies. (Middle East AI News)
Dubai AI Campus targets 1,000 firms by 2030
#UAE #FDI - Dubai AI Campus aims to attract over 1,000 companies and create 5,000 skilled jobs by 2030. Approved by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the targets follow the campus attracting more than 500 companies and $270 million in funding since May 2024. (Middle East AI News)
Dubai launches AI Sandbox to ease regulatory barriers
#UAE #sandboxes - Dubai Future Foundation has launched an AI Sandbox allowing companies to test AI products under real-world conditions with regulatory guidance and potential exemptions. Open to startups, SMEs and established firms, applications close on 18 December 2026. (Middle East AI News)
Data Centres
Egypt plans seven mega data centres by 2030
#Egypt #datacentres - Egypt plans to develop up to seven mega data centres over the next five years, strengthening its digital infrastructure and international service export capabilities, according to the government. (Africa AI News)
Workforce
82% of GCC professionals use AI weekly
#GCC #workforce - A survey by Dubai-based Al-Futtaim finds 82% of GCC professionals use AI at least weekly, but only 39% feel highly confident. Just one in five organisations provides extensive training, although trained employees are 2.5 times more likely to feel confident using AI. (Middle East AI News)
Justice
Legaline launches AI virtual courtroom in Dubai
#UAE #law - UAE-based Legaline has launched an AI-powered virtual courtroom at Dubai AI Festival, enabling law students to practice simulated trials with AI judges, lawyers and witnesses. (Middle East AI News)