GCC CEOs most positive on AI; Saudi to certify AI companies
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
It’s already been a hectic start to 2025, but with all the events packed into the next four weeks, its sure to get even busier! Ai Everything GLOBAL, of course, takes place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai next week, followed by LEAP25 in Riyadh the following week. But it’s not all buzz! The new annual CEO Survey released by PwC this week clearly shows that we also have traction, with many CEOs crediting AI with recent increases in efficiency, revenue and profitability.
Click to view the full version of this newsletter on the website.
Middle East AI News is an official media partner of Ai Everything GLOBAL, which starts next Tuesday (February 4-6). And our new sponsor Weights & Biases will will be taking part on Booth H1-12 (Feb 5-6). You can also catch Samin Alnajafi’s presentation on building RAG chatbots on the AI Lab Stage on Thursday at 12.35pm or arrange your own !:1 demo here! See you there!
Thanks for reading!
/Carrington
Sentiment
GCC CEOs see AI as key to growth
#GCC #business – 93% of GCC CEOs expect systematic AI integration within three years, surpassing the global average of 78%, according to PwC’s 28th Annual CEO Survey. Regional leaders see AI as a driver of efficiency, profitability, and innovation, positioning businesses for future success. (Middle East AI News)
COEs
Imdaad opens AI Centre of Excellence
#UAE #FM – Dubai-based Imdaad Group has launched an AI Centre of Excellence to drive digital transformation in facilities management, integrating AI, robotic process automation, and business intelligence to enhance efficiency and cost savings. (Middle East AI News)
Jordan to establish AI Centre of Excellence
#Jordan #education – The University of Petra and University College Dublin’s CEDAR National Centre for AI will establish an AI Centre of Excellence in Jordan, focusing on key research areas and industry applications. (University of Petra)
Open-Source
UAE AI model ranks third on Hugging Face downloads
#UAE #opensource – A not-safe-for-work detection model by UAE-based Falcons AI has become the third most downloaded AI model on Hugging Face in the past 30 days, surpassing 25 million downloads. The model filters inappropriate content across applications. (LinkedIn)
AI Policy
Saudi Arabia launches AI service provider accreditation
#Saudi #certification – Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has introduced an accreditation system for AI service providers. The initiative aims to enhance AI product and service quality in the Kingdom while promoting responsible AI adoption. (Middle East AI News)
Oman MTCIT to publish revised National AI Policy soon
#Oman #AIstrategy - Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology will soon publish the final version of the new National AI Polcy, according to a ministry spokesperson. The draft policy was first shared with the public in August last year. (Oman Observer)
Corporate Moves
Salesforce expands Saudi presence with new HQ
#Saudi #Business – Salesforce has announced a new regional headquarters in Riyadh and pledged to upskill 30,000 Saudi citizens in AI. The company will also partner with IBM to launch a Center of Excellence in the Kingdom. (Zawya)
Education
Khalifa University ranks among top 150 globally in engineering
#UAE #education - Khalifa University has ranked first in the UAE for Engineering, Computer Science, and Physical Sciences in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Its Engineering programme placed in the 126-150 range globally, while Computer Science and Physical Sciences entered the 176-200 band. (Emirates News Agency)
Saudi issues AI guidelines for education
#Saudi #Education – The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has issued AI guidelines for the Kingdom’s education sector in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, ensuring ethical AI integration in learning environments. (Gulf News)
MBZUAI opens registration for Executive Programme
#UAE #executiveeducation – Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has launched applications for its sixth Executive Programme. The 16-week, in-person course empowers senior leaders in business and government to drive AI transformation in their organisations. (Abu Dhabi Media Office)
Al-Azhar University to open AI faculty
#Egypt #newfaculties – Al-Azhar University has announced plans to establish a Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, focusing on machine learning, data science, and robotics to prepare students for AI-driven industries. (Scene Now)
Quantum
Alice & Bob secures €100M for quantum computing
#France #quantum – Paris-based Alice & Bob has raised €100 million in a Series B round led by Future French Champions, AVP, and Bpifrance to accelerate fault-tolerant quantum computing. Future French Champions being the partnership between French public sector investment bank Bpifrance and Qatar's sovereign wealth fund. (EIN Presswire)
TII renews quantum computing deal with IonQ
#UAE #quantum – Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has extended its agreement with U.S. quantum computing firm IonQ, securing access to the IonQ Forte quantum computer. The deal builds on a 2023 partnership. (Business Wire)
Environment
AI framework to tackle microplastic pollution
#Saudi #microplastics – A research team from King Saud University, Cornell University, and North Carolina State University has developed an AI framework using deep learning and biophysics to discover biodegradable peptides for microplastic cleanup. Global studies indicate that 60% of fish now contain microplastics. (Middle East AI News)
Competitions
Qatar hosts AI programming Olympiad
#Qatar #competitions – Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education has concluded the second National Olympiad for Programming, AI, and Cybersecurity, with 450 students from over 100 schools participating. (The Peninsula Qatar)
42 Abu Dhabi hosts AI Hackathon
#UAE #hackathons - 42 Abu Dhabi, the capital’s disruptive coding academy, hosted an AI Hackathon with over 80 students in collaboration with global AI infrastructure leader SambaNova Systems and UAE-based AI integrator CloudingAI. (Emirates News Agency)
Oman launches AI in energy competition
#Oman #Energy – Oman’s Ministry of Education has launched the seventh edition of the Petroleum Development Oman Renewable Energy Award, focusing on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Energy Sustainability.’ The competition targets high school students. (Muscat Daily)
Events
Edge to showcase 200 tech solutions at IDEX 2025
#UAE #IDEX2025 – UAE’s EDGE Group will unveil over 200 advanced defence solutions at IDEX and NAVDEX 2025, including autonomous systems like the HT-100 unmanned helicopter and the JENIAH combat UAV. (Zawya)
