AI drives $4B value for Aramco; TII leads STX standards body
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
Lots of news to share today! Aramco CEO shared in a Bloomberg interview aired on Sunday that the energy giant had derived $4 billion in value in 2024 from digital transformation; Borouge, Honeywell to build first-of-its-kind AI control room for petrochemical plants; Presight selects 10 AI startups for new accelerator; and Abu Dhabi’s TII joins the Linux Foundation in forming a new foundation to create STX wireless protocol standards.
Scroll down for these stories and more!
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Industry
AI drives Aramco’s tech returns to $4bn
#Saudi #energy – Saudi Aramco has achieved $4 billion in technology realisation for 2024, doubling last year’s figure, according to a Bloomberg interview with the energy giant’s CEO Amin Nasser. AI-led efficiencies across Dhahran operations, 6,000 AI-enabled staff, and reduced emissions are driving the energy giant’s tech transformation. (Middle East AI News)
Borouge, Honeywell to build first-of-its-kind AI control room
#UAE #manufacturing – Abu Dhabi petrochemical giant Borouge has partnered with US-based Honeywell to develop the industry’s first AI-driven autonomous control room. Targeting Borouge’s Ruwais site, the project supports the firm’s AIDT programme, expected to deliver $575 million in value this year. (Middle East AI News)
Startups
AppliedAI raises $55 million to scale enterprise platform
#UAE #funding– Abu Dhabi’s AppliedAI has closed an oversubscribed $55 million Series A, with MEVP joining G42, e&, and Bessemer Venture Partners. Its AI platform, Opus, automates workflows in highly regulated sectors, with funding to drive global expansion and product innovation. (Middle East AI News)
Presight selects 10 AI startups for new accelerator
#UAE #startups – Abu Dhabi’s Presight has chosen 10 AI startups for its inaugural AI-Startup Accelerator. The cohort, selected from 120 applications across 17 countries, spans eight key sectors, supporting AI-driven innovation and growth. (Middle East AI News)
Kneron wins $2 million grant for Saudi expansion
#Saudi #semiconductors – US AI chip startup Kneron has secured $2 million from Saudi Arabia’s National Technology Development Program (NTDP) to open a Riyadh R&D hub. The move supports chip localisation, AI talent growth, and the kingdom’s smart tech ambitions. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt gets new deep tech venture studio with $1m fund
#Egypt #deeptech – Cairo-based Aria Ventures has launched a $1 million fund to accelerate AI, biotech, robotics, and other deep tech startups. The venture studio plans to scale to $4 million by 2030, offering end-to-end startup development and launching DeepTecher, a competition for early-stage innovators. (Middle East AI News)
Standards
Abu Dhabi launches global foundation for wireless standards
#UAE #wireless – Technology Innovation Institute (TI) and The Linux Foundation has launched OpenSTX Foundation, a global foundation to develop open standards for Synchronous Transmissions. Backed by the Linux Foundation, the initiative will deliver ultra-secure, energy-efficient wireless communications for industrial and AI-enabled systems. (Middle East AI News)
Digital Transformation
Abu Dhabi unveils AI-powered building permit platform
#UAE #construction – Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport has launched Binaa, the region’s first AI-driven system for building permits. Built on AI and BIM tech, Binaa promises to cut approval times by 70%, streamlining processes across 15 government bodies. (Middle East AI News)
Elm opens Oman office to drive digital transformation
#Oman #technology – Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed digital leader Elm has opened its first regional office outside the Kingdom, in Muscat. Partnering with Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and ITHCA Group, Elm aims to support national digital transformation and expand tech services across sectors. (Middle East AI News)
Entertainment
HUMAIN, Luma AI launch CREATE for gaming, content
#Saudi #media – Saudi AI firm HUMAIN and US-based Luma AI have launched HUMAIN Create, a new platform combining Arabic AI models with video generation to deliver culturally authentic entertainment, gaming, and advertising content across Middle Eastern and global markets. (Middle East AI News)
Compute
AIREV, Tenstorrent partner to create sovereign AI stack
#UAE #semiconductors – UAE AI startup AIREV and US AI chip designer Tenstorrent have partnered to co-develop a sovereign-grade agentic AI stack for regulated industries. A UAE-based development node will integrate AIREV’s OnDemand platform, supporting global expansion across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. (Middle East AI News)
KSA Expansion
Strategy (a.k.a. MicroStrategy) opens Saudi office
#Saudi #software – AI software and bitcoin treasury firm Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has opened a new office in Riyadh. The move reflects growing Saudi demand for AI and digital asset expertise. Saudi Arabia’s central bank holds shares in the company. (Strategy)
South Korea recruits 27 SMEs for Saudi market entry
#SouthKorea #SMEs – South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups is seeking 27 companies to join a Saudi market entry programme. Backed by a $160 million Korea-Saudi fund, the initiative targets AI, bio-health, tourism, and smart city sectors, with support from HUMAIN, Red Sea Global, and Wa’ed Ventures. (Middle East AI News)
Quantum
Dubai RTA explores quantum tech for smart mobility
#UAE #Quantum – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has formed a dedicated team to explore quantum technologies. The programme focuses on quantum communication, computing, and cybersecurity to enhance traffic prediction, autonomous vehicle guidance, and public transport optimisation. (Middle East AI News)
Education
UAE teachers face AI assessments to close skills gaps
#UAE #education – Thousands of UAE teachers are undergoing AI-driven assessments to identify skills gaps and better prepare students for an AI-powered future. The move supports national efforts to boost education outcomes and workforce readiness. (Khaleej Times)
AI Diplomacy
Egypt joins board of Italy’s AI for Development Centre
#Egypt #policy – Egypt has been invited to join the board of Italy’s new AI for Sustainable Development Centre in Rome. Backed by UNDP and the European Commission, the initiative will advance AI solutions for global development priorities. (Egyptian Gazette)
[ This newsletter was AI edited & human edited ]