Cleveland CIinic-G42 task force; DEWA's AI-native roadmap
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
No shortage of news this week, even though it is the last week of Ramadan!
I will cut it short there to make space for all of this week’s stories. If this email is truncated, please open the newsletter on the website to see all the news.
Thanks for reading! And wishing you all an early Eid Mubarak!
/Carrington
Healthcare
Cleveland Clinic, G42 form AI task force
#UAE #healthtech – Cleveland Clinic and G42 Group have formed a task force to drive AI innovation in healthcare. The partnership aims to improve patient care, medical research, and hospital operations using AI solutions. (Middle East AI News)
NYU Abu Dhabi develops sensing tech for safer surgeries
#UAE #healthcare – Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a sensing system to restore tactile feedback in minimally invasive surgeries (MIS). The "off-the-jaw" design integrates force and angle sensors into surgical tool handles, helping surgeons measure grasping force and tissue properties in real time. (WAM)
Utilities
DEWA unveils plan to become AI-native utility
#UAE #strategy – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced its strategy to become the world’s first AI-native utility. The initiative, revealed during GenAI Week, will integrate AI across operations to boost efficiency and service innovation. (Middle East AI News)
LLMs
Tarjama launches Arabic AI model Pronoia v2
#UAE #evaluation – UAE-based Tarjama& has launched Pronoia v2, a 14-billion-parameter Arabic language model. Designed for enterprise use, it outperforms global models in Arabic fluency and requires minimal hardware. (Middle East AI News)
Inception, MBZUAI launch Arabic AI model leaderboards
#UAE #LLMs – G42’s Inception and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have launched the Arabic Leaderboards Space on Hugging Face to evaluate Arabic large language models (LLMs). The space introduces two key leaderboards — AraGen and Arabic Instruction Following — to measure model accuracy, instruction-following, and usability. (Middle East AI News)
Startups
Presight launches $150K AI accelerator programme
#UAE #accelerator – Presight has opened applications for its six-month AI accelerator programme, offering startups up to $150,000 in compute credits, market access, and funding. The programme spans 15 markets, aiming to fast-track AI business scaling. Applications close on 10th April. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt targets 250 AI startups by 2030
#Egypt #nationalstrategy – Egypt plans to support 250 AI-driven startups by 2030 under its National AI Strategy. The initiative includes venture capital backing and policy incentives to establish Egypt as an AI innovation hub. (Middle East AI News)
Mobility
DP World expands electric freight at Jebel Ali
#UAE #logistics – DP World has partnered with Einride to expand electric freight operations at Jebel Ali Port. The move will reduce emissions by 14,600 tonnes annually and supports DP World’s autonomous mobility ambitions, advancing greener logistics in the UAE. (Dubai Media Office)
Qatar Airways Cargo launches TechLift for semiconductors
#Qatar #semiconductors – Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced TechLift, a new service focused on semiconductor transport. TechLift features shock-absorbing protocols, prioritised loading, and real-time tracking, supporting sectors like consumer electronics and automotive tech. (Military Aerospace)
Yango, ROOTS roll out delivery robots in Dubai
#UAE #lastmile – Yango Group and ROOTS have launched autonomous grocery delivery robots in Dubai’s Sobha Hartland. Licensed by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the AI-powered robots aim to deliver groceries within 30 minutes, supporting Dubai’s 2030 autonomous transport goal. (Zawya)
AI Advisors
Intelmatix unveils AI tool to boost decisions
#Saudi #agents – Saudi-US AI firm Intelmatix has launched EDIX Advisor, a decision intelligence tool designed to enhance enterprise decision-making. Integrated into Intelmatix’s platform, the tool can improve operational efficiency by up to 50%. (Middle East AI News)
Banking
Zand Bank partners Alibaba, Ant Digital for GenAI
#UAE #fintech – Zand Bank has teamed up with Alibaba Cloud and Ant Digital Technologies to boost generative AI, blockchain, and payment tech adoption in the UAE. The partnership targets corporate and wealth clients, with a focus on fintech solutions like e-wallets and mobile platforms. (FinTech Futures)
Education
e& UAE and Microsoft launch AI training for SMBs
#UAE #SMBs– e& UAE and Microsoft have launched the AI for Business Skilling Programme to equip small and medium-sized businesses with essential AI skills. The initiative offers three tailored learning tracks and includes Microsoft’s AI Fluency Courses, Applied Skills Programme, and AI Bootcamps. (TradeArabia)
CODED Academy launches Kuwait Codes 2025 edition
#Kuwait #coding – CODED Academy has launched the fifth edition of its ‘Kuwait Codes’ initiative for 2025, aimed at teaching programming skills to high school and ninth-grade students. The programme is backed by Alghanim Industries, Kuwait Finance House, Zain, Agility, and Kuwait University. (Kuwait Times)
IMI Media Academy trains 145 media leaders in AI skills
#UAE #media – IMI Media Academy has trained 145 media and executive professionals on AI skills from the UAE and wider region. The academy delivered courses on storytelling and content production, targeting executives and young talent from organisations like UAE Media Council and Vodafone Egypt. (WAM)
Security
Australia’s icetana wins $1.7m Iraq AI surveillance deal
#Australia #security – Australia’s icetana AI has secured a $1.7 million contract to supply surveillance software for Iraq’s Baghdad Safe City project. The deal includes facial recognition and licence plate detection, with implementation set for May 2025. It is icetana’s largest deal to date. (CRN)
Special Needs
UAE opens first AI lab for People of Determination
#UAE #education – Emirates Development Bank and the Emirates Down Syndrome Association launched the UAE’s first AI lab for People of Determination in Dubai. The lab will offer AI and robotics training. (Middle East AI News)
Hajj & Umrah
SDAIA showcases AI crowd management platforms at Grand Mosque
#Saudi #security – Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) president visited AI-equipped centres at the Grand Mosque and Al-Shumaisi highway security centre. SDAIA demonstrated its "Baseer" platform for crowd monitoring. (SPA)
AI-powered platform launched to teach Surah Al-Fatiha
#Saudi #Umrah – The Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched a digital platform to teach and correct recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha. The platform uses AI tools to provide real-time audio correction and track users’ progress, enhancing the digital experience for pilgrims. (SPA)
Events
UAE to host summit on emerging tech governance
#UAE #governance– The UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) will host the first Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit (GETS) in May 2025. Over 500 global leaders will meet in Abu Dhabi to shape ethical governance for AI, quantum computing, and other technologies. Event site. (Zawya)
AIM Congress to showcase flying car in UAE
#UAE #mobility – AIM Congress 2025 will spotlight the PAL-V Liberty, the world’s first FlyDrive vehicle. The event reflects the UAE’s push to integrate air and road transport, highlighting advanced mobility solutions. (Zawya)
[ This newsletter was AI edited & human edited ]