Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest, brought to you by big data analytics and AI company Presight!
First of all, I have some big news to share from our Strategic Sponsor!
Presight has partnered with Middle East AI News, Dubai Eye radio and Al Khaleejiya radio to create Presight Presents AI Week - a week of AI-focused media shows which will take place next week from Monday Sept. 22nd to Friday 26th! I will be hosting AI Lunchtime Live daily from 12 noon to 2pm!
This was also the week that Saudi Arabia fined someone under copyright law for using AI modified images of an individual without permission; Morocco announced plans to develop a national sovereign AI framework; and Fujairah tested its first offshore freight drone delivery!
🎤 And lastly, don’t miss today’s Middle East AI News LIVE - THURSDAY DEEP DIVE when I’ll be talking to Dr. Ahmed Dabbagh, managing director of Polynome AI Academy about Polynome’s partnership with ADSM and the new CAIO programme! Join us live online from 12 noon KSA | 1pm GST! 🎤
Thank you for reading! Find out more about our Strategic Sponsor Presight here!
/Carrington
Presight launches week of live shows about AI
#UAE #media – AI and big data analytics company Presight will host five days of live programming for Presight Presents AI Week from 22–26 September at its offices at ADGM. Partnering with Middle East AI News, Dubai Eye radio and Al Khaleejiya radio, a packed schedule will provide insight on how AI is transforming public and private services today. Listeners can expect numerous guest appearances from leaders and experts at Presight, G42, Microsoft, Inception, Space42, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and others. (Middle East AI News)
Regulation
Saudi issues first AI copyright fine for photo misuse
#Saudi #copytight – The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) has fined an individual $2,400 for publishing an AI-modified image without consent. The precedent-setting case applies existing copyright law to generative AI, reinforcing protections for personal rights. (Middle East AI News)
Investment
Saudi AI startup Humain seeks global PE backing
#Saudi #investment – According to Bloomberg, Riyadh-based Humain is in talks with Blackstone and BlackRock to secure multi-billion-dollar investments. The funding would support large data centres and digital infrastructure, advancing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions as a regional AI hub. (Bloomberg)
AI Strategy
Egypt sets 7.7% AI GDP target by 2030
#Egypt #AIstrategy – Egyptian Communications Minister Amr Talaat confirmed plans to raise AI’s share of GDP to 7.7% by 2030. Egypt’s national AI strategy includes training 30,000 AI specialists, fostering 250 startups, and launching policies on cloud, open data and responsible AI. (Daily News Egypt)
Morocco plans sovereign AI platform with UNESCO ethics
#Morocco #sovereignAI – Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition is working with the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection to launch a sovereign AI framework. Built on AI models tailored to Moroccan languages and laws, the platform aligns with UNESCO’s AI ethics guidelines. (Middle East AI News)
Morocco partners with Mistral AI for local innovation
#Morocco #LLMs – Morocco has signed a cooperation agreement with French firm Mistral AI to boost training, research and ethical innovation. The deal supports Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a regional AI hub. (Morocco World News)
CoEs
Oman opens AI hub in Ibra for research and startups
#Oman #CoEs – The Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah has unveiled the Future Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Ibra. The facility includes labs, co-working spaces and training halls, aiming to accelerate digital transformation, support entrepreneurs and build local AI expertise. (Oman News Agency)
Smart mobility
Fujairah airport hosts first drone cargo flight
#UAE #logistics – Fujairah International Airport has become the first civilian airport to trial a drone cargo flight, delivering a shipment to an offshore platform with Lodd Autonomous. Coordinated with Fujairah Civil Aviation Authority and FANS, the operation complied with ICAO safety rules and paves the way for commercial drone logistics. (WAM)
Abu Dhabi launches pilot for autonomous deliveries
#UAE #AVs – The Integrated Transport Centre Abu Dhabi has rolled out an autonomous delivery vehicle trial in Masdar City with partners K2 and EMX. Masdar City has run autonomous bus trials for a number of years. (Zawya)
GM approved for highway mapping in Saudi Arabia
#Saudi #AVs – The General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information has authorised General Motors Middle East to carry out panoramic imaging. The permit enables mapping of 36,000 km of highways, paving the way for GM’s Super Cruise autonomous driving rollout. (Saudi Press Agency)
Education
UAE sends 50 AI chiefs to Silicon Valley mission
#UAE #CAIOs – The UAE’s AI and Digital Economy Office and Dubai Centre for AI are sending 50 Chief AI Officers to Silicon Valley. Over ten days, they will meet Amazon, Google and Microsoft, aiming to strengthen expertise and accelerate AI use in government. (Middle East AI News)
Maritime
ADNOC deploys GCC’s first AI smart port system
#UAE #MaritimeTech – ADNOC Logistics & Services, with Innovez One, has introduced an AI-powered port system that cuts vessel turnaround by up to 90%. The upgrade is expected to save $1m by 2028 while boosting jetty utilisation across the UAE’s petroleum ports. (Middle East AI News)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]
