AI boosts Dubai's water efficiency; UAE's new digital transformation committee
Middle East AI News weekly news digest...
Good morning!
I hope that your summer is going well! Here’s your roundup of this week’s AI and emerging tech stories!
After the Dubai government announcement last week announcing the formation of a new Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy, the UAE federal government has now announced the formation of a Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation.
No one who knows the UAE could miss the fact that government in the UAE has had a strong focus on digital transformation for many years, resulting in a wide range of digital government services. The past 6-7 years has seen this effort pick up pace. So, the formation of a new high-level committee suggests that there's a lot more yet to follow!
Scroll down for this story and more,
Stay safe and have a great day!
/Carrington
Smart Cities
DEWA uses smart meters and AI to dramatically reduce water network losses
#UAE #utilities - Big data and AI have made Dubai's public water network one of the most efficient in the world. Dubai Electricity & Water Authority's network of 1 million smart meters have allowed the authority to reduce water network losses to 5.3 percent (2021). (Gulf Business)
Dubai Smart Police Stations process 48,462 transactions in H1 2022
#UAE #smartpolice - Dubai Police Force has revealed that 48,462 transactions were processed through unmanned Smart Police Stations (SPS) during the first half of 2022. All Smart Police Stations, including drive-thru and walk-in, welcomed 413,540 customers during the same period. (MSN)
Sharjah's taxis to use AI to monitor drivers' behaviour
#UAE #transport - Sharjah Taxi, the main operator of taxis in the emirate will introduce smart taxis that use AI to monitor driving habits in real-time in a bid to reduce accidents. (The National)
Education
Saudi tourism, AI among final proposals for Misk Leaders 2030 program
#Saudi #executiveeducation - Twenty-seven Saudi leaders from government, business and non-profit sectors presented their final proposals for the Leaders 2030 program this week. The program isoverseen by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, or MISK. (Arab News)
C4IR UAE launches 2nd Smart Toys Competition
#UAE #smarttoys - The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE (C4IR UAE) has launched the second Smart Toys Competition. The competition aims to promote the use of AI in smart toys to boost children’s learning. (Emirates News Agency)
Alef Education-Coders HQ Summer Program attracted more than 1800 students
#UAE #coding - Alef Education's virtual boot camp (25 July to 2 August), organised in collaboration with the National Program for Coders' Coders HQ and supervised by Minister of state for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office concluded after training 1800 participants from schools across the country. (Zawya)
Egypt wins gold medal at Thailand’s RoboCup Junior 2022
#Egypt #robotics - Egypt's Mawaheb BG and Mawaheb Fire teams arrived back home last week, after winning the first place and the 12th place respectively in the RoboCup Junior International 2022 competition. The two teams were sponsored by the Misr El Khair Foundation. (Egypt Independent)
Digital Transformation
UAE to establish higher committee to drive digital transformation of government
#UAE #government - The UAE Cabinet has approved the formation of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation as the country presses forward with plans to develop a digital economy and make use of future technology. (The National)
Environment
Falcons.AI sets up in Ras Al Khaimah
#UAE #poultry - US startup Falcons.AI has set-up in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). The AI developers notable applications include PreciseAG, which provides monitoring and insights on poultry health. (Zawya)
UAE research program studies advanced AI cloud seeding capabilities
#UAE #cloudseeding - A coalition of researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Colorado State University, and the University of Khalifa is developing algorithms to power advanced cloud seeding programs. The work is being done under the UAE’s Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science. (The Medialine)
Data Centres
Saudi's MIS signs $45.14 million deal with SDAIA
#Saudi #security - Al Moammar Information Systems Company (MIS) has signed a contract with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) worth SAR 169.33 million ($45m). MIS will equip, build, and configure infrastructure capabilities for a disaster recovery environment, apparently for Rakeeza (a national data centre project in Jeddah). (Zawya)
Startups
NEOM’s OXAGON to launch hackathon and startup accelerator to support Saudi talent
#Saudi #accelerator - NEOM’s city of OXAGON will soon launch “Hackathon” and “Accelerator”, in conjunction with Blossom Accelerator. Participants will be encouraged to draw on key areas that are important for OXAGON: Big Data analytics and AI, advanced sensing and Internet of Things (IoT), material science, nano technology and robotics, and automated guided vehicles and Drones. (Al Arabiya)
Metaverse
Dubai's metaverse strategy positions city as 'global pioneer' in tech ecosystem
#UAE #metaverse - Dubai’s metaverse strategy, which aims to create 40,000 jobs and add $4 billion to the emirate's economy in the next five years, has positioned the city as a “global pioneer”, offering the world’s most advanced and connected ecosystem according to the Dubai government. (The National)
Defence
Iran ramps up drone production
#Iran #UAVs - Iran has stepped up the production of military-capable drones, delivering its technology to militant groups across the Middle East as well as to countries such as Venezuela and Sudan, the US has warned. (Arab News)
First published via Revue.