Morocco signs $1.2B AI hub MoU; AI training for 50,000 Dubai Government staff
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest!
Lots of news to share this week and running a little later than usual, so I’ll leave you to scroll down and get up-to-date!
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/Carrington
Data Centres
Nexus secures $1.28B AI data centre deal
#Morocco #datacentres - Nexus Core Systems has signed a $1.28 billion agreement to build a renewable-powered AI data centre platform in Morocco. Backed by Nvidia and Naver, the project will deliver 36MW of AI compute capacity by 2027. (Middle East AI News)
Reports
UAE and Saudi Arabia shine in Stanford AI Index
#UAE #AI - The UAE and Saudi Arabia ranked among the world’s strongest AI performers in Stanford HAI’s AI Index 2026, with the UAE posting 121% growth in AI talent concentration since 2019. Saudi Arabia also entered the global top 10 for private AI investment with $2.03 billion in 2025. (Middle East AI News)
R&D
Khalifa University unveils AI for 6G networks
#UAE #6G - Khalifa University has developed a new AI architecture for 6G-era telecoms networks that predicts congestion and failures before they occur. The Telecom World Model is designed to help operators proactively manage increasingly complex network environments. (Middle East AI News)
MBZUAI launches PaperCircle research AI
#UAE #research - A team at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has built PaperCircle, an open-source multi-agent AI platform for academic research. The system helps users discover, rank and analyse papers while generating AI-led critiques and knowledge graphs. (Middle East AI News)
Startups
Kodamai launches AI agent platform in Saudi
#Saudi #agenticAI - Kodamai has launched what it claims is the world’s first mathematically verified enterprise AI agent platform in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh-listed First Mills is the first customer, deploying the system for supply chain, quality control and demand forecasting automation. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt launches first homegrown robotics maker
#Egypt #robotics - Cairo-based Raedbots has launched Egypt’s first domestic industrial robotics manufacturing business, producing AI-powered robotic systems built entirely in Egypt. The startup says local production can reduce automation costs by up to 50%, widening access for regional manufacturers. (Middle East AI News)
Orange Maroc launches AI Garden startup programme
#Morocco #startups - Orange Maroc and Technopark have launched the AI Garden startup programme to support Moroccan startups building AI-driven solutions. The initiative offers cloud, cybersecurity and AI tools to help ventures develop, test and scale products, boosting Morocco’s digital economy ambitions. (Tech Africa News)
Omantel selects eight startups for accelerator cohort
#Oman #startups - Omantel Innovation Labs has selected eight startups for Cohort 7 of its accelerator programme, backing ventures across AI, fintech, cybersecurity, health-tech, energy and logistics. The initiative supports Oman’s digital economy ambitions through mentorship, strategic partnerships and investment access. (SAMENA Council)
Falak acquires majority stake in Kernel for AI
#Saudi #funding - Saudi venture builder Falak Holding has acquired a majority stake in AI solutions company Kernel for AI, expanding its advanced technology capabilities. Kernel will continue operating in Saudi Arabia and Jordan while leveraging Falak’s investment network to scale regional AI development. (Startup Scene)
Education
Dubai’s AI+ to train 50,000 staff in AI
#UAE #training - Dubai has launched an AI Workforce Transformation Programme to train all 50,000 government employees in artificial intelligence. Led by Digital Dubai and partners, the AI+ initiative will deliver five specialist learning tracks across all seniority levels. (Middle East AI News)
UAE experts programme shortlists 135 for AI track
#UAE #training - The UAE’s National Experts Program AI track has shortlisted 135 finalists from more than 1,000 applicants for its inaugural cohort. A final group of 25 participants will be selected in June as Abu Dhabi expands national AI capability development. (Zawya)
Jordan expands AI across education system
#Jordan #education - Jordan’s Ministry of Education says more than 80,000 teachers have been trained on AI-supported learning platforms, with nearly one million student accounts created. The government is also rolling out Wi-Fi to 1,500 schools and piloting Chromebooks with Google. (Petra)
Liwa University launches AI master’s degree
#UAE #educaition - Liwa University has launched a new Master’s in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at its Abu Dhabi campus ahead of the 2026 academic year. The programme will prepare graduates for leadership roles in AI, intelligent systems and data science. (Gulf News)
Justice
Saudi Arabia expands AI across legal system
#Saudi #justice - Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice is expanding AI deployment across the kingdom’s legal system to improve decision-making, streamline procedures and enhance service quality. A new supreme committee will oversee governance, performance metrics and implementation as Riyadh advances data-driven judicial reform. (Saudi Gazette)
Digital Transformation
Saudi and UAE firms boost AI investment
#Saudi #strategy - Businesses in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasing investment in AI and supply chain redesign, according to HSBC. Firms across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are prioritising digital capabilities and longer-term investment strategies to strengthen resilience. (Zawya)
EY launches AI project delivery accelerator in UAE
#UAE #digitaltransformaiton - EY has launched an AI-enabled Future-Ready Project Delivery Accelerator in Dubai to strengthen execution capabilities across GCC organisations. The programme provides project leaders with AI tools, governance frameworks and practical delivery training to support complex transformation initiatives and Vision 2030 programmes. (Zawya)
AI Workplace
42% of Moroccan workers share files with AI tools
#Morocco #cybersecurity - A new study from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky and consulting group Averty found 42% of Moroccan workers have shared sensitive work documents with external AI tools. The findings highlight concerns that workplace AI adoption is outpacing governance, training and data protection safeguards. (Hespress)
FinTech
Egypt explores AI-powered TradeTech Sandbox
#Egypt #FinTech - Egypt is exploring options to createits first AI-powered TradeTech Sandbox through talks between the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and Visa. The initiative would help exporters identify new markets using AI and data-driven trade models. (Zawya)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]