KAUST wins Gordon Bell Prize; UAE ranks 5th in AI Index
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
Some big news this week! UAE was ranked 5th out of 36 countries in the AI Index Report by Stanford University's Human-Centered AI (HAI) Institute - now you can drill down into all the data using the new Global AI Vibrancy Tool. And KAUST was last week awarded the Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modelling at the annual SC Conference in Atlanta. It’s the region’s first ever Gordon Bell prize!
Scroll down to read all the news!
As you may remember, Middle East AI News is a Community Partner of World Summit AI - Qatar, so if you haven’t booked your ticket yet, here’s our 20% discount code!
Meanwhile, I am on the steering committee for the HBS D3 Institute’s AIElevate in Dubai on Friday December 13th So, if you’re interested in attending, do let me know!
Thanks for reading!
/Carrington
R&D
KAUST wins prestigious Gordon Bell Prize
#Saudi #Supercomputing – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has won the ACM Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modelling, marking the first Middle Eastern win. The award recognises the institution’s breakthrough in computational climate science. (Middle East AI News)
KAUST, UConn partner on AI and sustainability research
#Saudi #innovation – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has partnered with the University of Connecticut to focus on joint research in AI, sustainability, clean energy, and health technologies, aiming to drive impactful innovations. (Saudi Press Agency)
Borouge, MBZUAI forge AI research partnership
#UAE #AIResearch – Borouge has partnered with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to advance AI innovation. The collaboration includes research, knowledge exchange, and internship opportunities. (Zawya)
AI Strategy
UAE ranks 5th in global AI competitiveness
#UAE #AIstrategy – The UAE ranks fifth globally in Stanford University’s AI Index Report, outperforming 31 nations. The ranking reflects strengths in AI policy, infrastructure, and education, solidifying the UAE’s leadership in AI development. View report. (Middle East AI News)
Sharjah Ruler issues law to regulate digital department
#UAE #digitaltransformation – His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi has issued a law defining the objectives and responsibilities of the Sharjah Digital Department. The new department replaces the e-government division to manage digital systems, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. (WAM)
Startups
Mavenir eyes $1B rescue from Aramco Digital
#USA #funding – Aramco Digital is reportedly set to invest $1 billion to rescue US-based software company Mavenir. The investment would address Mavenir’s debt challenges and support its 5G expansion plans. (Light Reading)
Meta's AI accelerator concludes in Dubai
#UAE #startups - Meta's AI accelerator Llama Design Drive concluded with a Demo Day at Dubai Future Foundation. Over four weeks, 22 startups and 8 AI developers created AI solutions for Emirates, Chalhoub Group, Dubai Holding, and RTA. (Zawya)
MBZUAI startup hub celebrates first year
#UAE #startups - MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC) - the region’s first AI-native incubator - is celebrating its first year of operation. MIEC partners include startAD, Hub71, Sandooq Al Qatan, Microsoft Founders Hub, Shorooq Partners, BECO Capital, Nvidia, and e& Capital. (MBZUAI)
Education
UAE launches initiative to train 5,000 digital talents
#UAE #digitalskills – The UAE’s AI Office and the Emirati Human Resources Development Council (EHRDC) have unveiled 5,000 Digital Talent! The programme will train Emirati university students in AI and emerging technologies over five years, in collaboration with LinkedIn, SAS, University of Dubai, Zayed University, and Higher Colleges of Technology. (WAM)
NU-Q launches AI and media minor
#Qatar #mediatech – Northwestern University in Qatar has introduced a new minor in AI and media. The programme equips students with data science skills, enabling critical analysis of AI’s social and ethical impact on communication and media studies. (Gulf Times)
Digital Transformation
ALEC targets 5% automation with robotics strategy
#UAE #construction – ALEC, a subsidiary of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, has launched a robotics strategy aiming to automate 5% of construction activities by 2030. The initiative focuses on transforming core processes with cutting-edge technologies. (Zawya)
Smart Cities
Dubai plans floating smart police station by 2026
#UAE #smartpolice– Dubai Police is set to launch the region’s first floating Smart Police Station by 2026. Offering 60+ services in six languages, the station will operate autonomously, enhancing accessibility and efficiency for residents and visitors. (WAM)
Saudi GACA rolls out AI-powered airport systems
#Saudi #smartairports – Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has implemented AI systems to manage passenger flow and introduced a "Bagless Traveler" pilot programme to streamline airport experiences. (Arab News)
Corporate Moves
China Telecom launches Gulf subsidiary in Riyadh
#Saudi #5G – China Telecom has inaugurated its Gulf subsidiary in Riyadh to offer 5G, AI, and cloud solutions. The company aims to serve Saudi enterprises, government institutions, and consumers. (Xinhua)
Events
Abu Dhabi hosts first Open-Source AI Summit
#UAE #opensource– More than 300 AI experts gathered at the Open-Source AI Summit in Abu Dhabi. Organised by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the event provides a platform for conversations to shape the global AI agenda. (Zawya)
Qatar kicks off AI Week 2024
#Qatar #AIInnovation – Qatar Science and Technology Park’s AI Week 2024 concludes today. The event featured workshops, hackathons, and startup competitions celebrating AI and tech innovation. (QSTP)
Sentiment
More Moroccans embrace AI
#Morocco #adoption - A new report by Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) shows over two-thirds of Moroccans are familiar with AI. While 54% see AI as transformative, barriers remain to its adoption. Another 30.7% find AI promising, but 7.2% remain sceptical of its benefits. (Hespress)
[ This newsletter was AI edited & human edited ]