Anghami moves HQ to Hub71; BIGO to hire over 400 in Jordan
Good morning,
Here’s this week’s roundup of Middle East AI News!
Lots of news to share this week, including a long list of tech news from the education sector. Also, the Arab world's first legal music streaming platform and digital distribution company, Anghami, moves its HQ to Lebanon to Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. And Israel's Airobotics seeks drone deal in Dubai.
Meanwhile, if you scroll to the end of this week's newsletter you'll find an interview by The National with the incoming new president of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Eric Xing.
Lastly, check out Damian Radcliffe's roundup on ZDNet on what 2021 will mean for tech in the Middle East, with comments from me and others from around the region on cybersecurity, data and AI, fintech and mobile.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Startup News
Anghami establishing global headquarters and R&D centre at Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 — www.wam.ae
#UAE #funding - The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is partnering with the leading music streaming service in the Middle East and Africa (MENA), Anghami, to establish the technology pioneer’s global headquarters and research and development centre in Abu Dhabi at Hub71. (Emirates News Agency)
Healthcare
G42 Healthcare opens Omics centre in Abu Dhabi — www.tradearabia.com
#UAE #genomic - G42 Healthcare, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42, has opened its Omics Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi. The centre will be home to the Emirati Genome Programme, which will explore the genetic makeup of Emiratis, using cutting-edge DNA sequencing and AI technologies. (Trade Arabia)
UAE-based Prognica Labs uses AI to detect masses in mammography screenings — www.entrepreneur.com
#UAE #cancerdiagnosis - UAE-based healthtech startup Prognica Labs is building a smart screening solution that analyzes medical images and generates insights to help predict and detect early cancer signs using AI and machine learning. (Entrepreneur)
Robots helping in the pandemic — english.ahram.org.eg
#Egypt #healthcare - A prototype CIRA 03 medical robot has been launched by its inventor, Egyptian electronic engineer Mahmoud Al-Koumi, for use in the city of Tanta. The robot's main function is to test for Covid-19 among patients. (Ahram Online)
Energy
Saudi Aramco uses AI to increase recovery rate from oil reservoirs, says CEO — www.arabnews.com
#Saudi #digitaltransformation - Saudi Aramco has used advanced analytics and simulation models to manage oil reservoirs and increase its recovery rate to 70 percent, according to Amin Nasser, Saudi Aramco’s president and CEO. The oil giant has also signed an augmented reality deal with Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed startup Magic Leap. (Arab News)
Smart Cities
RTA to start smart screening of paid public parking in Dubai — www.mediaoffice.ae
#UAE #transport - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commissioned a smart screening vehicle to monitor paid public parking. The vehicle uses digital cameras powered by AI technologies to monitor and inspect parking spaces for paid parking violators. (Dubai Media Office)
Entertainment
BIGO Technology plans to recruit over 400 Jordanians in IT and AI — en.ammonnews.net
#Jordan #recruitment - BIGO Technology (BIGO), a Singapore-based Internet technology company which owns apps including Bigo Live and Likee, to recruit over 400 Jordanians with specialisation in IT and AI. (Ammon News)
Mining
AI and drone technologies to unlock Oman’s mineral potential — www.omanobserver.om
#Oman #mining - Esbaar, an Omani provider of AI and autonomous systems, has completed its first magnetic survey of Liwa, Shinas, Mahdah and Samayil covering an area of over 1000 km linear distance using drones equipped with magnetometres. (Oman Observer)
Drones
Israel's Airobotics eyes Tel Aviv IPO, seeks drone deal in Dubai — www.nasdaq.com
#Israel #UAE #drones - Israeli drone technology firm Airobotics is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) in Tel Aviv this year and is also close to clinching deals in the UAE, chief executive officer Ran Krauss said on Tuesday. (Nasdaq)
Education
American Community School of Abu Dhabi launches new tech programme — gulfnews.com
#UAE #education - American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS) has developed a new e technology programme together with a high-tech classroom, in line with International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. The new Backstage Techttoos programme is aimed at 6-8 grade students. (Gulf News)
UAEU launches ‘Future Class’ project to educate students in cooperation with Cisco — wam.ae
#UAE #education - The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), has launched the first smart lecture room project called "Future Class" in collaboration with Cisco, using advanced applications such as AI note taking, an AI virtual assistant and location-aware feedback. (Emirates News Agency)
Jordanian AI team bags second place in international competition — www.jordantimes.com
#Jordan #robotics - Jordan’s Robotna team, the LETA Robot, won second place in Codeavour 2020 AI, an international AI and coding competition, organised by STEMpedia. Robotna is a social startup that was founded to give disadvantaged schoolchildren a firm grasp of AI and technology-related science, and to serve the common good. (Jordan Times)
UAE schools to test futuristic solutions by start-ups — gulfnews.com
#UAE #education - Dubai plans to pilot 11 futuristic projects developed by startups at hundreds of schools, such as a private AI maths tutor and a child-friendly social media network, to officials and investors recently. The plans follow startup pitches at a Dubai Future Foundation’s (DFF) investors' day. (Gulf News)
UAE-based 7-year-old is youngest to do AI internship from Oxford — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #education - Seven-year-old Saanvi Chouraria from Abu Dhabi has become the youngest kid to complete an internship in artificial intelligence at the University of Oxford. Separately, she has finished a certification in coding with Google. (Khaleej Times)
UAE-based Indian teen creates drone that can save lives during natural disasters — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #drones - A UAE-based 14-year-old Indian boy says that he has invented a search and rescue drone called SEARES that has the potential to save the lives of thousands of people during natural disasters without any human intervention. (Khaleej Times)
Egypt announces new partnerships with global tech firms, within Digital Egypt Builders Initiative — www.zawya.com
#Egypt #education - Egypt has announced partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, VMware, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) and others within the framework of implementing Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI). DEBI provides grants for Master's degrees in data science and AI, cybersecurity, robotics and automation, and digital arts. (Zawya,com)
Huawei is joining hands with a myriad of prestigious Egyptian public and private universities — www.zawya.com
#Egypt #education - Huawei Technologies, a leader in information and communication technology solutions, announced the launch of the 'Huawei Academy' at the universities of 6th of October and Zagazig and Luxor. Huawei plans to establish 62 academies with Egyptian colleges and universities. (Zawya.com)
Defence
Mega U.S. military drone sale to UAE on hold, as Biden reviews Trump's arms deals — www.wsj.com
#Saudi #UAE #US #defence - The Biden administration is reviewing billions of dollars in weapons transactions approved by former President Donald Trump. This includes a deal with the UAE to provide military drones, which would be the second-largest sale of U.S. drones to a single country. (Wall Street Journal)
Interview
MBZUAI president lays out bold vision to put UAE 'on map of AI superpowers' — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #MBZUAI - Developing a 'critical mass' of research output and impact in the shortest amount of time possible is the first priority of new president of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Dr Eric Xing. (The National)
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