FII-I invests EVTOL startup Lilium; 'UAE Pass' to use biometric facial ID
Good morning,
Here’s this week’s roundup of Middle East AI News!
Announced yesterday, the government app UAE Pass will allow users to create a verified account using biometric facial recognition in less than five minutes without the need to visit government services centres. Users with verified accounts gain access to over 6,000 services provided by over 130 government, quasi-governmental, federal and local authorities. The UAE Cabinet approved the use of facial recognition for services in February.
In other news, a study from Automation Anywhere asserts that intelligent automation could help double the size of Saudi Arabia’s economy; Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) appoints a global advisory board for its robotics research centre; Riyadh-based FII-I invests in electric VTOL aircraft startup Lilium; and how diplomacy is ushering in a new era for Middle East tech.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Economy
Intelligent automation poised to drive Saudi Arabia's economy to $1.6 trillion — www.itp.net
#Saudi #economy - Intelligent automation offers the potential to double Saudi Arabia’s economy to $1.6 trillion, adding an additional $293 billion by 2030, according to a new study commissioned by global robotic process automation (RPA) firm Automation Anywhere. (ITP)
Facial Recognition
UAE Government to launch biometric facial recognition for government services — wam.ae
#UAE #facialrecognition - The UAE Government will employ biometric face recognition (facial ID) to register customers in the "UAE Pass" application, as part of its plan to launch the first safe digital national ID for citizens and residents. The UAE approved the use of facial recognition for customer services in February and announced government facial ID trials. (Emirates News Agency)
Smart Cities
Dubai using AI drones to detect violations by heavy trucks — gulfnews.com
#UAE #transport - Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out a programme to carry out field inspections of heavy vehicles using #drones equipped with AI technologies, starting in 2020. Since the initiative began the RTA has conducted more than 300 heavy truck inspections. (Gulf News)
Autonomous Vehicles
Dubai and WEF sign MoU to promote autonomous vehicle technology — www.intelligenttransport.com
#UAE #AVs - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an MoU with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to promote the strategic partnerships between the two parties, especially relevant to the Safe Drive Initiative Framework (SafeDI Framework) of the Forum. RTA says the MoU supports Dubai’s strategy to transform 25 per cent of total trips in the city into self-driving trips by year 2030. (Intelligent Transport)
R&D
TII appoints global board of advisors at Autonomous Robotics Research Centre — www.businesswire.com
#UAE #R&D - Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRCC), has announced the advisory board for its Autonomous Robotics Research Centre. (BusinessWire)
Education
UAE national service recruits to get lessons in entrepreneurship — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #military - UAE national service recruits are to be given lessons in entrepreneurship alongside military drills and weapons training, according to the National Service and Reserve Authority. National service recruits already receive training in data literacy and artificial intelligence. (The National)
AI Policy
Bahrain readies for AI boom with World Economic Forum — www.trendradars.com
#Bahrain #WEF - Bahrain hosted a World Economic Forum workshop on the future of procurement of AI in the public sector. The three-day workshop in Bahrain was organised by WEF’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in partnership with Bahrain's Economic Development Board and the Information & eGovernment Authority. (Trend Radars)
AI Diplomacy
How diplomacy is ushering in a new era for Middle East tech — www.zdnet.com
#Bahrain #UAE #Israel #Abraham Accords - The Abraham Accords, a series of normalisation deals signed last year between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offer the chance to galvanise the technology sector across the region. (ZDNet)
VTOL
Saudi Arabia’s FII-I invests in Lilium, leader in electric VTOL aircraft — english.alarabiya.net
#Saudi #Germany #funding - Riyadh-based Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII-I) has invested in electric VTOL aircraft startup Lilium as part of a strategy to develop and leverage sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional combustion engines in the air travel industry, according to Saudi Press Agency. (Al Arabiya)
Events
Webinar: Securing food supply with AI & vertical farming (12 April) — www.meed.com
#UAE #foodsecurity - MEED, DP World and Jafza will host a webinar on 12 April 2021 with industry leaders from across the agricultural, logistics and technology sectors to discuss how vertical farming is creating new opportunities for investors and developers alike. (MEED)
Watch How AI is fueling the Middle East's future — wired.me
#MENA #WIRED - Watch a recording of the virtual summit hosted by Bee’ah and WIRED to discuss how AI is reshaping the Middle East. (WIRED)
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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.