Driverless car trials in Abu Dhabi; ADNOC's new autonomous store
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
Another exciting week for emerging technology projects! Driverless transport services, smart infrastructure, drone innovations and autonomous retail are just a few of the topics in the news this week.
Emerging technologies were, of course, high on the agenda at GMIS 2021 in Dubai this week. Dubai RTA's chairman talked about the authority's plans for smart infrastructure that will allow a mixed road traffic scenario, including 5G, DSRC and upgrade for traffic signals.
Meanwhile, Group 42 CEO Peng Xiao - speaking at GMIS 2021 - revealed in his comments about global collaboration that the company will soon make a big announcement about a joint Israel-UAE programme to develop a quantum computing platform.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Autonomous Vehicles
Group 42 to start new driver-less car trials in Abu Dhabi this month — www.bloombergquint.com
#UAE #robotaxis - Group 42's Bayanat unit is to to start trials for the Middle East’s first driverless ride-sharing service this month, with the goal of eventually rolling out the technology across the United Arab Emirates. The company showcased its new robotaxi - TXAI - at the Abu Dhabi Smart City Summit. (Bloomberg) (The National)
RTA smart infrastructure study completed — www.rta.ae
#UAE #smartinfrastructure - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a smart infrastructure study, paving the way for a detailed roadmap to support connected and self-driving vehicles in a 'mixed road traffic' scenario. The study's completion was revealed by H.E. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, at GMIS 2021. (RTA)
Drones
Dubai launches new programme to boost drone transportation — www.zawya.com
#UAE #drones - Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has signed an MoU with a number of government and private sector entities to create the Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation. The programme will create advanced infrastructure that enables innovators and relevant entities to test prototypes of unmanned aerial vehicles in designated areas and develop legislation that optimises their implementation. (Zawya)
Retail
ADNOC Distribution opens first cashierless store — www.adnocdistribution.ae
#UAE #retail - ADNOC Distribution, the UAE’s largest fuel convenience retailer, has launched its first fully autonomous, contactless and cashierless ADNOC Oasis store. ADNOC is the first fuel retailer in the Middle East to launch a next generation retail experience with an AI-enhanced environment. (ADNOC)
Mosul glides into the future with robot waiters — www.thenationalnews.com
#Iraq #servicerobots - A team from the University of Mosul has helped the White Fox restaurant in Iraq's northern city of Mosul introduce service robots to wait on tables. (The National)
Smart City
Abu Dhabi Police use AI to detect crimes before they happen — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #crime - Abu Dhabi Police introduced an AI-powered safe city project more than three years ago, which helps predict crime by neighborhood, age group and nationality involved. Police patrol vehicles are deployed according to data analysis. (Khaleej Times)
Egypt to build 17 new smart cities, says minister — www.zawya.com
#Egypt #smartcities - Egypt is building 17 smart cities that will be totally reliant on technology, according Egypt's minister of communication and IT's remarks at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit this week. (Arab News)
Dubai ranks first in Arab world on latest innovation index — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #innovation - Dubai led the Arab world and stood 20th globally last year in the Dubai Innovation Index, an annual index developed by the Dubai Chamber in collaboration with PwC analysing 39 cities. (The National)
Corporate Moves
Beyond Limits opens EMEA headquarters in Dubai — gulfbusiness.com
#UAE #Dubai - Beyond Limits, an industrial and enterprise AI technology company, has opened its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in Dubai Internet City. (Gulf Business)
Digital Transformation
Deloitte evaluates AI readiness in the Middle East — www.zawya.com
#GCC #DX - More than half of GCC firms have confidence in their AI strategies, but views on the delivery of AI's benefits seem divided, according to a new survey from professional services firm Deloitte. You can download the report here. (Zawya)
Agritech
MBZUAI teams win Agritech award — mbzuai.ac.ae
#UAE #agritech - Two student teams from Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have taken top honors in the first edition of the Agritech Hackathon organised by Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Authority (ADAFSA) and held as part of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Security Week. (MBZUAI)
Defence
EDGE announces deal with Israel Aerospace Industries to develop advanced USVs — wam.ae
#UAE #USVs - EDGE Group, an advanced technology company for defence and beyond, last week signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, to jointly design a first-in-class series of 170 m-USV (modular-unmanned surface vessels) for the entire range of military and commercial applications. (Emirates News Agency)
Interview
AI played 'big role' in approach to pandemic, says UAE artificial intelligence minister — www.al-monitor.com
#UAE #Interview - Omar Al Olama, the UAE’s AI Minister, explains how COVID-19 has been an accelerator for AI applications; why the US and China would benefit from a ‘constant dialogue’ on AI; and why ‘the new roads that we need to be building right now are roads in the digital realm.’ (Al Monitor)
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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.