FifthEdge joins Microsoft for Startups; IoT firm eMushrif acquires Tareeqi

Good morning,

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

Another busy week! Scroll down for news about this year's tech-supported Hajj, Boston Consulting Group's Digital Government Citizen Survey, a variety of MoUs and a recap from Masdar City on its success in building a hub for innovation in Abu Dhabi.

Stay safe and have a great weekend!

/Carrington

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Startup News

Oman’s eMushrif acquires Egyptian start-up Tareeqi — timesofoman.com

#Egypt #Oman #M&A - eMushrif, an Oman-based Internet of Things (IoT) and AI start-up, announced the closing of an acquisition deal with Tareeqi, a Cairo-based start-up that develops applications to track transportation. (Times of Oman)

Quebec-based Robotel to add Arabic curriculum in its offering — www.arabnews.com

#Canada #education - Quebec-based education technology company Robotel is teaming up with a UK-based startup Nexus Learn Arabic to develop an extensive Arabic language digital curriculum for schools. (Arab News)

Hajj

The tech making the 2021 Hajj pilgrimage possible

#Saudi #Hajj - As Makkah prepares to host 60,000 Saudi citizens and residents for Hajj, the authorities are taking new measures to keep worshippers safe. To promote social distancing, robots will distribute bottled water, meanwhile robotic cleaners will sanitise the 356,000 square metre site. (The National)

Fintech

Shuaa to launch Digital Wealth platform — www.khaleejtimes.com

#UAE #fintech - Shuaa Capital (Shuaa) announced its intention to launch a new Digital Wealth Platform to serve existing clients as well as the next generation of investors. Shuaa is creating a new fintech to provide investors with an AI-powered seamless and holistic digital wealth management experience. (Khaleej Times)

Healthcare

Dubai Health Authority deploys smart health-care technology for patient monitoring — gulfnews.com

#UAE #smarthealthcare - Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has signed an MoU with Enpy, a Dubai-based startup, to explore the use of an AI-powered device for remote patient monitoring. DHA plans to use smart devices to empower patients to ensure they stay on track with their health and to aid in early detection of conditions. (Gulf News)

Recruitment

AI-powered FifthEdge joins Global Microsoft for Startups programme — www.constructionweekonline.com

#UAE #construction - FifthEdge, a privately-owned Middle East construction and engineering recruitment outsourcing platform, has joined the Global Microsoft for Startups programme, after it was selected for its potential to revolutionise construction recruitment. (Construction Week)

Digital Transformation

Stressful time due to COVID-19 was ‘major catalyst’ for digital transformation in Egypt — www.egypttoday.com

#Egypt #digitaltransformation - Egypt’s technology entrepreneurship scene has shown great resilience amid the global challenges introduced by COVID-19, according to ITIDA CEO Amr Mahfouz's opening remarks at the IDC Egypt CIO Summit 2021 held Monday. The pandemic also proved to be a catalyst for digital transformation and tech-adoption in private and public sectors. (Egypt Today)

KSA, UAE & Qatar rank high in BCG's Digital Government Services survey — www.bcg.com

#GCC #KSA #UAE #digitalgovernment - Boston Consulting Group (BCG)’s 2020 global Digital Government Citizen Survey found that the GCC governments performed strongly in terms of both progress and ranking against their peers around the world. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar rank 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively amongst all the countries surveyed in the number of digital services they offer. (BCG)

UAE National Programme for AI signs agreement with Bahrain’s Nasser Vocational Training Centre — www.wam.ae

#Bahrain #UAE #training - The National Programme for Artificial Intelligence has signed a cooperation agreement with the Nasser Vocational Training Centre in Bahrain (NVTC). The agreement aims to strengthen the partnership between both sides in teaching AI and digital economy skills, in addition to developing a related remote learning and training system, and exchanging relevant expertise. (Emirates News Agency)

Smart Cities

Masdar City attracts global and regional innovation — wam.ae

#UAE #4IR - Masdar City, the sustainable urban development in the UAE, registered a 26 percent increase in the number of companies located in its free zone during 2020. The city is Abu Dhabi’s only planned and approved R&D cluster and is now home to more than 900 companies. (Emirates News Agency)

Saudi's WTTCO, ABB ink deal on clean energy and enhanced electrical systems — www.mepmiddleeast.com

#UAE #utilities - Saudi Arabia’s Water Transmission and Technologies Company transmission company (WTTCO) has signed an MoU with ABB. The agreement aims to enhancing joint cooperation between the government, the private sector, and international energy companies, in particular focusing on clean energy and emerging technologies. (MEP Middle East)

Tafawuq Facilities Management introduces the UAE’s first robotic cleaner — meconstructionnews.com

#UAE #robotics - Tafawuq Facilities Management has deployed a self-driving robot cleaning solution called LeoMop, manufactured by Singapore-based Lionsbot, which is equipped with AI and can clean for an average of 17 hours per day with minimum human intervention. (ME Construction News)

Agriculture

Egypt reviews digital transformation projects in the agriculture sector — www.farmersreviewafrica.com

#Egypt #agriculture - Egypt's Ministry of CIT and Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation have joined hands in the implementation of a variety of joint projects. The projects include the launch of agriculture and land reclamation service on the digital Egypt platform, mechanising the agrigultural acquisition system issuing farmers' cards and identifying crops through satellite and AI. (Farmers Review Africa)

Geopolitics

Biden prods UAE to dump Huawei, sowing doubts on key F-35 sale — www.bloombergquint.com

#China #UAE #US #Huawei - The Biden administration is pressing the United Arab Emirates to remove Huawei Technologies Co. from its telecommunications network and take other steps to distance itself from China, raising the risk that the country’s purchase of some $23 billion in F-35 jets and drones may be at stake, people familiar with the matter said. (Bloomberg)

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About 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.