Dubai launches robotics programme; Saudi national esports strategy

Middle East AI News weekly digest...

Good morning!

Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!

A little quieter this week, but still some big news covered by the region's media. Meanwhile, news continues to filter through news outlets from last week's Global AI Summit in Riyadh (if you missed, my Linkedin roundup has all the links).

One of the biggest stories to overflow into this week, is the new Saudi esports and gaming strategy announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud last Thursday.

This week, Dubai's Crown Prince has announced the Dubai Robotics and Automation Programme (Dubai R&A) to both encourage developers to establish themselves in Dubai and also further integrate robotics and automation into the public sector.

These stories and more below!

Have a great day!

/Carrington

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Robotics

Dubai's Crown Prince launches Dubai Robotics and Automation Programme

#UAE #robotics - H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, this week announced the launch of the ‘Dubai Robotics and Automation (R&A) Programme’. (Emirates News Agency)

Gaming

Saudi Crown Prince unveils National Gaming and Esports Strategy

#Saudi #gaming - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud unveiled Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy last week, aiming to establish the country a global hub for the gaming industry by 2030. (Arab News)

Metaverse

Simulation of UAE’s Mars 2117 city to be built in the metaverse

#UAE #Mars2117 - The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is collaborating with Bedu, a Web3 technologies company in Dubai, to create a simulation of the UAE’s 2117 Mars mission will be built in the metaverse. (Gulf Business)

Autonomous Vehicles

WeRide trialed its driverless robobus during the Global AI Summit

#UAE #AVs - Chinese autonomous vehicle service WeRide, collaborated with the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) to trial the WeRide Mini Robobus) at the 2022 Global AI Summit held in Riyadh last week. (Zawya)

Transport

RTA introduces AI and RPA development projects for Dubai Taxi

#UAE #transport - Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a 'Smart Collection' project to enhance Dubai Taxi Corporation’s (DTC) services, involving AI, Big Data and robotic process automation (RPA). Benefits include increased efficiency, reduced trip time and reduced HR costs. (Gulf Business)

AI Policy

Saudi Arabia opens AI Ethics Principles for public consultation

#Saudi #GlobalAISummit - Saudi Arabia has published its AI Ethics Principles for public consultation. The document was developed by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to be a practical guide to incorporating AI ethics throughout the AI system development life cycle. (SPA)

Space

Oman to build space research centre for simulation missions and experiments

#Oman #space - Oman will build a Space Settlement Centre, in the Artificial Intelligence Zone in the coastal area of Duqm, over an area of 20,000 square metres.. The space research centre will be used to create simulation missions and science experiments. (The National)

FIFA World Cup

Drone Hunters to provide security for Qatar World Cup; Protects against drone threats

#Qatar #WorldCup2022 - Radar-guided drone hunters developed by US-based Fortem Technologies will help ensure security for the Qatar World Cup. The Fortem DroneHunter has sophisticated systems to catch and defend against dangerous drones. (Time News)

Defence

Turkey sells battle-tested Bayraktar drones to UAE

#UAE #Turkey #UAVs - Turkish defence firm Baykar has delivered 20 armed Bayraktar TB2 drones to the United Arab Emirates this month and could sell more, two Turkish sources said, as a diplomatic detente between the former regional rivals expands into military contracts. (Reuters)

First published via Revue.