$7.9 billion in deals signed at WDS 2022; Insider closes $121m Series D
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
Saudi Arabia's inaugural World Defense Show stole the headlines this week, with nearly $8 billion in defence deals and a number of new drones and drone production plans introduced during the event.
Among the products announced, was a new AI-enabled interceptor UAV from Monaco-headquartered defence technology firm MARSS. The UAV has been developed to counter hostile drone attacks in urban areas. At a cost of $30,000 to $40,000, the UAV comes at a fraction of the cost of the surface-to-air missiles that have been used by Saudi Arabia over the past year to shoot down Houthi drones.
Scroll down for more stories below.
Meanwhile, the Riyadh Global Summit for AI in Healthcare & Biotech took place virtually this week. You can still register to view videos of the presentations and discussions here.
Stay safe and have a great day!
/Carrington
Startups
Wamda portfolio Insider achieves unicorn status after $121 million Series D round — www.wamda.com
#UAE #funding - Turkey-founded and Singapore-based AI-powered marketing platform Insider, has closed a $121 million Series D funding round led by Qatar Investment Authority, with participation from Sequoia, Riverwood Capital, 212, Wamda, Esas Private Equity, and Endeavor Catalyst. (Wamda)
AI recycling startup COO ‘energized’ to be selected for UAE accelerator — english.alarabiya.net
#Norway #UAE #startups - Waste management technology company Cycled Technologies AS has been selected for PepsiCo’s UAE-based Greenhouse Accelerator, which is run in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. (Al Arabiya)
R&D
Abu Dhabi students develop AI-powered solution for food security, reducing waste — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #foodsecurity - Two students of Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have developed an algorithm that could revolutionise the UAE’s agriculture industry while reducing food waste and enhancing food security. The AI model attempts to create a two-way conversation between farmers and supermarkets. (Khaleej Times)
Education
Abu Dhabi's AI university launches second edition of Executive Program — www.zawya.com
#UAE #education - Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has announced the second edition of its Executive Program, which will begin at the end of March. The programme aims to enhance the capacity of executives AI capacity. (Zawya)
AI Diplomacy
Saudi Arabia, Egypt sign MoU on digital transformation — www.arabnews.com
#Egypt #Saudi #DX - Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority has signed an MoU for digital transformation with the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission. The MoU serves to work on cooperation and exchange of experiences in the field of smart cities, frequency spectrum management and human capacity building. (Arab News)
Smart Cities
Dubai Police’s smart system returns 80,000 lost items to owners — gulfnews.com
#UAE #smartsecurity - Dubai Police Force’s lost and found smart system has returned more than 80,000 lost items to owners at home and abroad. Developed by the force's General Department of AI, the system is integrated with government, public and private entities across the emirate. (Gulf News)
Corporate
MicroStrategy enters into a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi based Magnoos — gulfbusiness.com
#UAE #MicroStrategy - US business intelligence company MicroStrategy has signed a strategic partnership with Magnoos Information Systems, part of Midis Group. (Gulf Business)
World Defence Show
Lockheed Martin to invest $1 bln in manufacturing in Saudi Arabia — www.reuters.com
#Saudi #FDI - Lockheed Martin will invest more than $1 billion in manufacturing in Saudi Arabia, a senior executive said on Tuesday, as the kingdom looks to use its clout as a major arms buyer to help diversify its economy away from oil. (Reuters)
Airbus deal in Saudi Arabia to prepare UAM craft and services - DroneDJ — dronedj.com
#Saudi #UAMs - European aircraft manufacturing gian1320t Airbus has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia covering cleaner helicopters, and preparing future UAM networks. (Drone DJ)
Saudi Arabian ACES partners with China's CETC to produce UAV payload systems — www.defenseworld.net
#Saudi #UAVs - Leading Saudi technology and infrastructure group Advanced Communications & Electronics Systems Company (ACES) announced an agreement with China's biggest defence electronics conglomerate, state-owned CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation). (Defense World)
Saudi Arabia signs 12 agreements to increase investments in its defence sector — www.thenationalnews.com
#Saudi #WDS2022 - The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) signed 12 MoUs with a range of defence industry leaders from around the world at this week's World Defense Show (6-9 March) in Riyadh. (The National)
Drones take center stage at Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show in Riyadh — english.alarabiya.net
#Saudi #WDS2022 - Drones, primarily defense but many commercial, were showcased in plenty by most exhibitors at this week's World Defense Show. (Al Arabiya)
Saudi firm Intra unveils Samoom UAV — www.flightglobal.com
#Saudi #UAVs - Saudi Arabian UAS company INTRA Defense Technologies has unveiled the design of its new Samoom medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV, displaying a half-scale model at this week's World Defense Show. (Flight Global)
MARSS targets Middle East market for C-UAS interceptor — www.shephardmedia.com
#Saudi #UAVs - An AI-enabled interceptor UAV from MARSS is designed to engage up to three targets per sortie - will Saudi Arabia be the first to order it? (Shephard Media)
CMN NAVAL debuts world’s fastest Autonomous Interceptor — www.seanews.co.uk
#Saudi #WDS2022 #USVs - French group CMN NAVAL has unveiled the fastest autonomous interceptor in the world, the UHSI32, at the World Defense Show. The autonomous abilities and features have been developed by CMN in cooperation with Sea Machines Robotics. (Sea News)
Defence
Drones are re-engineering the geopolitics of the Middle East — www.mei.edu
#MENA #geopolitics - According to the Middle East Institute, the region is experiencing a seismic shift in its geopolitics: the dawn of the era of drones. (MEI)
Environment
Oman's Environment Authority uses drones to sow 250,000 wild tree seeds in Amerat — www.muscatdaily.com
#Oman #forestry - Oman's Environment Authority (EA) has carried out a project to sow 250,000 wild tree seeds using drones in Al Amerat, in the capital area of Muscat. The EA launched an initiative in January 2020 to plant 10 million wild trees over a ten year period. (Muscat Daily)
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About Carrington Malin — www.carringtonmalin.com Carrington Malin helps large organisations, digital brands and fast growing tech ventures with brand, communications and go-to-market strategies.