MGX leads $40B data centre deal; DIFC's first AI-native asset manager
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest!
As usual, lots of news to share this week! In this edition, Saudi AI-native startups emerge as the Kingdom's fastest-growing businesses; Abu Dhabi's MGX completes a landmark $40 billion AI infrastructure deal; Jordan nears full digital government before expanding AI-powered public services; and UNESCO helps Egypt launch one of the world's first national AI competency frameworks for teachers.
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Thanks for reading!
/Carrington
Data Centres
MGX consortium closes $40B data centre deal
#UAE #investment - Abu Dhabi-backed MGX, AIP and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners have completed a $40 billion acquisition of Texas-based Aligned Data Centers. The consortium now controls 51 campuses and more than 6.4 gigawatts across the Americas, with another $5 billion earmarked for AI-ready expansion. (Middle East AI News)
Financial Services
Deep Finance launches DIFC’s first AI-native asset manager
#UAE #finance - Deep Finance Capital has launched in Dubai as the DIFC’s first AI-native asset manager, regulated by the DFSA. Its proprietary NEXT framework supports deal origination, risk assessment and portfolio monitoring for institutional and professional investors, while retaining human oversight and institutional governance. (Middle East AI News)
Sovereign Cloud
HUMAIN building Saudi AI orchestration platform
#Saudi #compute - HUMAIN is developing a national orchestration platform, due within months, to route workloads between models, optimise GPU utilisation and create an open marketplace. Saudi enterprises will be able to select the most suitable model for each task. (Middle East AI News)
e& UAE and Core42 launch sovereign GPU platform
#UAE #compute - e& UAE and Core42 have launched Sovereign AI Compute, an on-demand GPU platform combining national connectivity with sovereign cloud infrastructure. Government and enterprise customers can train and deploy models while keeping sensitive data in-country, without upfront capital costs or egress fees, helping regulated sectors move from pilots to production. (Middle East AI News)
Redington to distribute AIREV across MEA
#UAE #AgenticAI - Abu Dhabi AI startup AIREV has appointed technology distributor Redington to take its OnDemand agentic AI platform across the GCC and Africa. Redington will provide distribution, implementation, training and technical support through its regional partner network. (WAM)
Startups
Saudi AI-native startups near 5x revenue edge
#Saudi #startups - AWS and Strand Partners found Saudi AI-native startups are 4.9 times more likely to exceed $1 million in annual revenue than traditional startups. They reported 150% average annual growth, versus 62% across Saudi startups overall, although AI-native startups represent only 15% of the Kingdom’s total. (Middle East AI News)
NVIDIA backs accelerator for Egypt AI startups
#Egypt #startups - NVIDIA has launched its SIGNALS programme in Egypt with RiseUp, A15 and BitRoot to connect AI startups with the NVIDIA Inception ecosystem. The initiative provides technical training, engineering support, GPU credits and access to investors and global partners to help Egyptian AI ventures scale internationally. (Arageek)
AI Adoption
UAE firms could struggle to switch AI vendors
#UAE #enterprise - The IBM Institute for Business Value says nearly nine in ten UAE executives would struggle to switch AI vendors. Across its 16-country survey of 1,000 leaders, UAE organisations reported seven AI-related disruptions on average in two years, while 80% said migration would take at least six months. (Middle East AI News)
45% of Saudi internet users now use AI tools
#Saudi #adoption - Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) says 45% of internet users now use AI tools in its latest report. Adoption is higher among women and drops sharply after age 40, while ChatGPT remains the Kingdom’s most downloaded AI app, ahead of Google Gemini and DeepSeek. (Middle East AI News)
Deals
Julphar taps IBM and SAP for cloud overhaul
#UAE #pharma - Julphar has begun a major digital transformation programme in Ras Al Khaimah with IBM Consulting and SAP. Moving to SAP S/4HANA Cloud will modernise finance, manufacturing, supply chains and human resources, improve regulatory compliance and agility, and support growth across more than 40 export markets. (Middle East AI News)
Education
Egypt launches national AI framework for teachers
#Egypt #education - Egypt has launched a national Artificial Intelligence Competency Framework for Teachers with UNESCO, becoming one of the first countries to adapt UNESCO’s global AI framework for national use. The initiative will guide teacher training, curriculum reform and AI adoption through online and in-person programmes, Arabic learning resources and teacher training hubs. (UNESCO)
SDAIA to launch 18 data and AI bootcamps
#Saudi #bootcamps - SDAIA Academy will launch 18 data and AI bootcamps in Riyadh during August. The courses will cover agent systems, generative programming, data engineering and responsible AI, expanding practical training opportunities for Saudi learners seeking skills. (Saudi Press Agency)
Saudi library opens AI summer camp for youth
#Saudi #bootcamps - The King Abdulaziz Public Library has launched an AI summer camp for children and young people aged 9–15, covering robotics, programming, game design and 3D printing. Running until 5 August, the programme develops practical technology skills in support of Saudi Vision 2030. (Saudi Press Agency)
Morocco taps Capgemini to boost AI skills
#Morocco #skils - Morocco has signed an MoU with Capgemini Morocco to strengthen AI skills across government, universities and research institutions. The partnership supports the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy, which aims to create 240,000 digital jobs, grow 3,000 startups and unlock more than $10 billion in AI-driven GDP. (We Are Tech Africa)
Iraq PM backs national AI, robotics championship
#Iraq #competitions - Iraq’s Prime Minister has sponsored the National University Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Championship (NURAI 2026), reinforcing government support for AI and robotics education. The initiative aims to strengthen student innovation, scientific research and university competitiveness. (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research)
Public Services
Jordan digitises 85.5% of government services
#Jordan #digitalservices - Jordan has digitised 85.5% of targeted government procedures and aims to reach full digitalisation of eligible public services by the end of 2026. The next phase will expand AI integration, automation and data management, while the Sanad digital identity app has surpassed 2.88 million active users. (Middle East AI News)
Policy
SDAIA guide catalogues 100+ forms of AI bias
#Saudi #governance - The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) has published an AI Bias Reference Guide cataloguing more than 100 forms of bias affecting system accuracy and fairness. It explains causes, societal impacts and mitigation strategies, while highlighting justice, healthcare and education as high-risk sectors for AI-assisted decisions. (Middle East AI News)
Awards
Dubai AI awards name 26 finalists
#UAE #awards - The AI for Business Institute has named 26 finalists for the AI World Series Awards in Dubai. The programme recognises innovation across 14 categories, with winners due to be announced at an awards ceremony at Dubai Silicon Oasis on 8 October. (Middle East AI News)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]