Sabrewing in $600m Saudi UAS deal; UAE ranked 16th in government AI index

Good morning,

Here’s your weekly Middle East AI News!

Top stories include Sabrewing's agreement with Saudi Arabia's Arabian Development & Marketing Co. (ADMC), which includes an order for 102 unmanned VTOL cargo aircraft; and UAE-based data science company Mango Sciences' funding round.

Group 42 has revealed it's new space technology programme. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi defence group Edge has announced is looking to semiconductor production and manufacture of drone platforms.

Also of note, in the latest Government AI Readiness Index compiled by Oxford Insights and IDRC, the UAE moves up from 19 to 16 in the ranking.

Scroll down for these stories and more.

Stay safe & have a great weekend!

/Carrington

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Startup News

Mango Sciences secures investment from Spartech Ventures — www.wamda.com

#UAE #funding - UAE-based Mango Sciences, a data science company that uses AI to tackle access to precision medicine, has secured investment from Spartech Ventures, a Dubai-based venture capital firm. The investment (of a yet undisclosed sum) comes as part of Mango Sciences’ current funding round. (Wamda)

Government

UAE scores top 20 rank in 2020 Government AI Readiness Index — www.globalgovernmentforum.com

#Israel #Qatar #UAE #Saudi #AIpolicy - The UAE now ranks 16th in the 2020 Government AI Readiness Index, advancing from 19th place last year. Compiled by UK-based consultants Oxford Insights and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the index also ranks Israel 20th, Qatar 37th and Saudi Arabia 38th. (Global Government Forum)

Spacetech

AI firm Group 42 eyes intergalactic opportunities — www.thenational.ae

#UAE #spacetech - Abu Dhabi's AI firm Group 42 plans to tap into the space sector for new commercial opportunities, according to Talal Al Kaissi, the group's new Vice President - Space Program & Special Projects. (The National)

R&D

Prime minister inspects Egypt’s first-ever AI faculty — english.ahram.org.eg

#Egypt #R&D - Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly toured on Tuesday the country’s first-ever faculty for AI in the Nile Delta governorate of Kafr El-Sheikh, which was was established in April 2019. (Ahramonline)

Education

Dubai school ties up with MIT for first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence curriculum — gulfnews.com

#UAE #education - Studying the gains and pitfalls of living in a world increasingly powered by AI will be at the heart of an ambitious new school programme in the UAE in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the United States. (Gulf News)

QU, HBKU and QCRI launch the AI National Competition — www.qu.edu.qa

#Qatar #education - Qatar University’s College of Engineering (QU-CENG), Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) announced launch of Artificial Intelligence National Competition. (Qatar University)

Defence

UAE's Edge eyes chips and drones for charting a post-Covid course — www.thenational.ae

#UAE #defence - UAE defence conglomerate Edge is looking to localise production of components such as computer chips and drone manufacturing platforms, according to its chief executive Faisal Al Bannai. (The National)

Aviation

Sabrewing Aircraft announces Saudi deal and over $600 million in orders with ADMC — www.globenewswire.com

#Saudi #UAS - Sabrewing Aircraft Company has announced an exclusive representation agreement with Arabian Development & Marketing Co. (ADMC). The deal includes an order for 102 Sabrewing “Rhaegal-B” unmanned, heavy-lift, Vertical Take Off Landing (VTOL), cargo aircraft. (GlobalNewswire)

Smart Cities

Abu Dhabi, Dubai top cities among Islamic countries — www.salaamgateway.com

#UAE #smartcities - Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the top cities among Islamic countries on a global Smart City Index 2020 published by Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development. While Singapore retains top billing among 109 cities, Abu Dhabi is ranked 42nd and Dubai 43rd. (Salaam Gateway)

Smart Police Station inaugurated at Dubai Silicon Oasis — gulfnews.com

#UAE #smartpolice -Dubai Police Force inaugurated a ‘Walk-in’ Smart Police Station (SPS) in Dubai Silicon Oasis, offering 60 criminal and community-based services in seven languages. Dubai Smart Police Stations are planned for every neighbourhood in the emirate. (Gulf News)

AI Art

World’s first AI Artathon enters final round — saudigazette.com.sa

#Saudi #art - Ten finalists were announced for the AI Artathon during a live stream event on Tuesday to showcase artworks created by artists and AI developers using AI tools and techniques. The announcement of the winners will take place during the Global AI Summit on Oct. 22. (Saudi Gazette)

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About Carrington Malin — www.carringtonmalin.com

Carrington Malin is a UAE-based entrepreneur, marketer and writer who focuses on emerging technologies.