New $272m Dubai tech fund; NEOM launches industrial city, OXAGON
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
Some big news this week as a new industrial city project is announced for NEOM and Dubai launched Dubai Future District Fund, a AED 1 billion ($272m) fund of funds to up the emirate's investments in tech startups.
Scroll down for these stories and more!
Meanwhile, some of you will have noticed that I've launched a Linkedin version of Middle East AI News. My Linkedin newsletter differs in two ways from this one 1) you'll always get this email newsletter first, the Linkedin version will follow later in the morning and 2) I'll be including a little more comment and context in the Linkedin newsletter. So, this weekly email is best for a quick scan of the news, while the Linkedin version is more of a 'read'.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Startup News
Dubai launches $272m fund to help fund tech startups — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #funding - Dubai has launched the Dubai Future District Fund, a AED 1 billion ($272m) fund to help establish 1,000 technology firms in the UAE within the next five years. Investing in local, regional and global startups, the fund will also be a 'fund of funds', attracting venture capital to Dubai. (The National)
NEOM
OXAGON, the world’s largest floating industrial complex — www.arabnews.com
#Saudi #NEOM - NEOM's new industrial city - OXAGON - was announced on Tuesday, planned to be the largest floating industrial complex in the world. Industrial development at the new net-zero city will be centred around seven key sectors. (Arab News)
Autonomous Vehicles
Ajman's self-driving shuttle bus hits the road — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #tourism - A self-driving shuttle bus has begun a service along the corniche in the emirate of Ajman, which will ferry passengers to and from hotels within a distance of about 3km. The shuttle is the product of a partnership between Ion, a smart transportation company set-up by Bee’ah and Crescent Enterprises, and French autonomous driving systems company NAVYA. (The National)
SAMA adopts first insurance product for autonomous vehicles — www.arabnews.com
#Saudi #insurance - Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has approved the first insurance product to cover self-driving vehicles and the related risks in the local insurance sector. The move was reported by the Saudi Press Agency, but no further details have been made available. (Arab News)
Data Centres
Saudi Telecom Co. to build extra data centres in $400m investment push — thetechcapital.com
#Saudi #datacentres - stc (Saudi Telecom Co.), the Middle East's largest telecom operator, has announced that it will start Phase 3 of its ERA Data Centre Construction Program with an investment of SAR 1.5 billion ($400 million), consisting of 16 data centres distributed across six cities in #Saudi Arabia. (Tech Capital)
Education
CNA-Q concludes robotic training — menafn.com
#Qatar #robotics - College of the North Atlantic – Qatar in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has completed a robotics training programme, delivered to 43 public school teachers and 14 students from CNA-Q's School of Business Management and Information Technology. (The Peninsula)
Smart Cities
Makkah's Grand Mosque launches new AI robot guides that speak 11 languages — www.thenationalnews.com
#Saudi #robots- Pilgrims visiting Makkah’s Grand Mosque can now get guidance from new four-wheeled robot guides. The robots help answer questions or give guidance on the different obligatory rituals worshippers have to perform and can speak 11 languages. (The National)
Robots help residents get a UAE driving licence — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #transport - Two robots that will assist and guide residents looking to get vehicle or driver licensing services have been deployed at the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Services Centre in Ajman. (Khaleej Times)
Etihad Cargo to deploy AI-powered airfreight loading — www.gdnonline.com
#UAE #aviation - Abu Dhabi's Etihad Cargo will use AI from Singapore’s Speedcargo solutions to upscale cargo dimension accuracy, maximise capacity and revenue, and improve cost control. The new technology is expected to boost Etihad Cargo’s capacity by more than 3,000 tonnes a year. (Gulf Daily News)
Dubai Airshow 2021
EDGE unveils new additions to its portfolio of reconnaissance and combat unmanned aerial vehicles — wam.ae
#UAE #UAVs - Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defence group EDGE Group launched a series of new additions to its product portfolio of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Dubai Airshow this week. (Emirates News Agency)
UAE tests drones for fighting fires and delivering drugs at Dubai Airshow — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #drones - The UAE's Civil Defence services are holding trials of larger unmanned helicopters made by Aura UAV to fight fires. Aura 100 helicopters can be used to douse flames high up in skyscrapers or in the centre of industrial accidents when it is too dangerous to risk manned helicopters. (The National)
AI Diplomacy
Serbia and UAE agree establishment of “AI Bridge” for constant exchange of staff — me.ekapija.com
#Serbia #UAE - Serbia's minister without a portfolio in charge of innovations and technological development, and the UAE minister for artificial intelligence and digital economy, discussed creating an 'Artificial Intelligence Bridge' between the two countries. The bridge would ensure a constant exchange of human resources, research and investment. (Ekapija)
Digital Economy
GCC countries' fastest growing in Strategy&'s Digital Economy Index; digital growth could add $255bn to GDP — www.thenationalnews.com
#GCC #digitaleconomy - Strategy& has revealed that the GCC region’s Digital Economy Index score is the fastest growing in the world (twice the speed of the OECD countries). The finding comes from Stategy&'s 'Energizing the digital economy in the Gulf countries' report. (The National)
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About Carrington Malin — www.carringtonmalin.com Carrington Malin helps large organisations, digital brands and fast growing tech ventures with brand, communications and go-to-market strategies.