Microsoft urges US AI export changes; GSMA launches LLM benchmark
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
Lots to share during this first week of Ramadan, including news from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. In fact, Qatar is to host the first MENA edition of MWC this November! Meanwhile Microsoft urges the Trump administration to roll-back the two-tier policy on US AI exports.
A variety of education and training initiatives were also launched this week including: The Garage has launched a new tech academy to train startups and SMEs in Riyadh; ADNOC has partnered with 42 Abu Dhabi to train UAE coders; and the emirate of Fujairah has announced a Young Techpreneurs initiative to introduce school children to technology and entrepreneurship.
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/Carrington
AI Exports
Microsoft urges Trump to scrap two-tier AI export rules
#Saudi #UAE #USA #AIexports – Microsoft president Brad Smith has urged the Trump administration to revise AI export restrictions that limit advanced chip sales to allies like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He warns the policy weakens US tech firms, alienates allies, and gives China a competitive advantage. (Middle East AI News)
LLMs
GSMA launches telecom AI benchmarking framework
#Global #telecom – The GSMA has introduced the Open-Telco LLM Benchmarks, the first AI performance framework for telecom-specific use cases. Developed with Hugging Face, Khalifa University, and The Linux Foundation, it aims to evaluate large language models in telecom operations. (Middle East AI News)
Saudi Aramco CEO: DeepSeek AI boosts efficiency
#Saudi #DeepSeek – Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has praised Chinese AI firm DeepSeek for enhancing operational efficiency, according to a report by FT.com. The national energy company is running the full version of DeepSeek-R1 on a data centre in Damman. (Financial Times)
Startups
Saudi’s The Garage launches academy for tech talent
#Saudi #startups – Riyadh’s The Garage has launched The Garage Academy in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy to provide specialized training in emerging technologies and product management to startups and SMEs. (SPA)
GenAI
Saudi Arabia leads in GenAI adoption, but ROI concerns remain
#Saudi #sentiment– A Nutanix study reveals that 100% of surveyed Saudi organisations have a GenAI strategy, with 60% actively implementing it. However, 35% expect to break even or face losses within three years. Skills shortages and security concerns are key barriers to scaling GenAI adoption. (Zawya)
Digital Transformation
Inception and Scale AI partner to drive global AI adoption
#UAE #digitaltransformation– Abu Dhabi-based Inception, a G42 company, has partnered with Scale AI to develop high-impact AI solutions, starting in the UAE. The collaboration will focus on AI applications in government, healthcare, and finance, with Scale AI providing model training and post-training support. (Zawya)
Sandboxes
Qatar launches AI and XR sandboxes
#Qatar #sandboxes – Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has unveiled AI and XR Sandboxes within its TASMU Innovation Lab. Developed with Deloitte AI Institute and powered by Google’s Vertex AI, the initiative aims to support startups, researchers, and developers. (The Peninsula)
Dubai signs AI sandbox deal with Hamburg’s Aric
#UAE #sandboxes– Dubai Future Foundation has partnered with Germany’s AI Center Hamburg (ARIC) to allow European AI innovators to test their technologies in Dubai’s regulatory sandbox. (Dubai Media Office)
Islam
Islamic world approves Riyadh AI ethics charter
#Saudi #AIethics – 53 members of ICESCO have unanimously approved the Riyadh Charter for AI, an ethical framework for AI development in the Islamic world. (SPA)
UAE to use AI-powered drones for Ramadan moon sighting
#UAE #Ramadan – The UAE Council for Fatwa deployed AI-powered drones to sight the Ramadan crescent moon in a world-first initiative. (WAM)
Saudi AI platform offers Qur’anic education in 10 languages
#Saudi #Islam– Saudi Arabia has launched Al-Maqraa, an AI-powered Qur’anic education platform offering recitation, pronunciation, and memorisation courses in 10 languages. The initiative, led by the Presidency of Religious Affairs, is accessible globally. (Arab News)
Investment
G42 converts $10 million investment in VERSES AI to equity
#UAE #Canada #investment – Vancouver-based VERSES AI Inc. has announced that Abu Dhabi’s AI group G42 has converted its $10 million strategic investment into equity. The investment in Verses AI originally took the form of convertible debentures issued to G42 in June 2024. (GlobeNewswire)
Education
ADNOC partners with 42 Abu Dhabi to train coders
#UAE #coding– ADNOC has partnered with 42 Abu Dhabi to equip Emirati coders with industry-specific coding skills for the energy sector. The collaboration includes hackathons, mentorship programmes, and coding competitions. (Middle East AI News)
Fujairah to teach AI and coding to school kids
#UAE #education – Fujairah has launched Young Techpreneurs, a programme teaching AI, coding, and entrepreneurship to Emirati students in grades 3-9. Organised with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), the three-month initiative runs from April to July. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt launches AI Safety Center initiative
#Egypt #safety – Egypt’s Academy of Scientific Research and Technology has opened proposals for institutions to establish an AI Safety Center. The initiative aims to advance AI research, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Applications are open until May 1, 2025. (Benha University)
Kuwait to introduce robots in schools
#Kuwait #robotics – Kuwait’s Ministry of Education is set to integrate robots into schools to enhance learning and support teachers. Plans include adding robot programming to the twelfth-grade curriculum and expanding AI and Python training for educators, with full implementation expected by mid-Ramadan. (Times Kuwait)
Energy
Iraq deploys AI to monitor oil wells
#Iraq #oil– Iraq’s Midland Oil Company, in partnership with China’s EBS, has introduced AI-powered monitoring for oil wells in the East Baghdad field. The DeepSeek-R1 system enables real-time tracking, reduces issue detection time to minutes, and enhances efficiency in oil field management. (Shafaq News)
AVs
Hamad International Airport trials autonomous bus
#Qatar #AVs – Hamad International Airport has launched an autonomous bus trial in partnership with Qatar Aviation Services, MATAR, and QSTP. The initiative, which includes autonomous baggage tractors, aims to enhance efficiency and safety in airside operations. (Autonomous Vehicle International)
20% of Abu Dhabi’s taxis to be autonomous by 2030
#UAE #AVs – Abu Dhabi aims to make 20% of its public taxis autonomous by 2030, according to Mohamed Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities & Transport. The emirate has been running robo-taxi trials since 2021. (Al Etihad)
Policy
Bahrain proposes 10-year jail term for AI misuse
#Bahrain #regulation – Bahrain’s first draft AI law proposes jail terms of up to 10 years for AI-driven crimes, including cyber offences and national security threats. The bill also establishes a National Centre for Artificial Intelligence. (News of Bahrain)
Sports
Sharjah Sports Council forms AI committee
#UAE #sportstech – The AI Committee of Sharjah Sports Council has held its inaugural meeting to explore AI’s role in enhancing the emirate’s sports sector. The council aims to improve efficiency and performance analysis using AI. (Sharjah24)
Events
Qatar to host MWC for next five years
#Qatar #MWC – Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has secured a five-year deal to host MWC Doha, the first Mobile World Congress in the MENA region. The inaugural event, set for November 2025, will focus on AI, fintech, and smart connectivity. (Economy Middle East)
Iraq hosts third annual AI forum to drive innovation
#Iraq #events – The University of Information Technology and Communications, in partnership with Al-Mostaqbal University, hosted Iraq’s Third Annual AI Forum. The event featured AI awards, success stories, and education initiatives. (UoITC)
[ This newsletter was AI edited & human edited ]