Saudi AI registrations triple; Dubai, Abu Dhabi top smart cities index
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest!
As usual, lots of news to share this week. Dubai and Abu Dhabi top the latest IMD Smart City Index; Saudi Arabia commercial AI registrations triple over four years; Khalifa University creates a new benchmark for telecom AI agents; and the EU and Morocco agree to start an ongoing dialogue for AI collaboration.
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Economy
Saudi AI sector registrations triple in 4 years
#Saudi #economy - Saudi Arabia’s AI sector reached 19,638 commercial registrations by end-2025, up 240 percent from 2021, according to new data from the Ministry of Commerce. Growth reflects strong policy momentum, alongside national training programmes and increasing private sector alignment with Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, (Middle East AI News)
Smart cities
Dubai, Abu Dhabi lead Arab smart city rankings
#UAE #smartcities - Dubai and Abu Dhabi rank sixth and tenth globally in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, leading the Arab world. Strong digital governance and public trust underpin performance, while Saudi Arabia places six cities in the regional top ten, signalling accelerating Gulf investment in smart urban infrastructure. (Middle East AI News)
Telecom
GSMA tests reveal telecom AI reliability gaps
#UAE #telecom - GSMA, AT&T and Khalifa University have developed TelcoAgent-Bench to evaluate AI agents in telecom operations. The benchmark shows strong diagnostic capabilities of models evaluated but weak execution of troubleshooting sequences. Performance drops further in bilingual contexts, highlighting risks of deploying autonomous network management without enhanced safeguards and validation frameworks. (Middle East AI News)
Startups
Presight accelerator sees surge in global AI demand
#UAE #startups - Abu Dhabi’s Presight, part of G42, has attracted 376 applications from 62 countries for its AI accelerator, more than tripling its first cohort. The programme targets applied AI in government and infrastructure, with early participants already securing contracts and investment. (Middle East AI News)
Oman, Microsoft launch startup AI accelerator
#Oman #startups - Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and IT has partnered with Microsoft to launch the Numo–Microsoft for Startups Accelerator. The programme offers Azure credits, AI tools and mentorship to help startups scale, strengthening innovation capacity and supporting regional and global market expansion. (Muscat Daily)
Policy
EU, Morocco launch digital dialogue on AI
#Morocco #bilaterals - The EU and Morocco have launched the EU-Morocco Digital Dialogue to deepen cooperation on AI research, startups and interoperable public systems. The initiative includes collaboration with European supercomputing centres and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), strengthening cross-regional innovation ties. (European Commission)
Saudi opens consultation on responsible AI policy
#Saudi #responsibleAI - Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) has launched a public consultation on its draft responsible AI policy via the Istitlaa platform. The framework emphasises lifecycle accountability, risk mitigation and coordinated oversight, reflecting efforts to balance rapid AI adoption with clear regulatory structures. (SPA)
SDAIA issues guide on generative programming
#Saudi #vibecoding - SDAIA has published a new guide on generative programming, or “vibe coding”, to support adoption of AI-driven software development. The framework promotes integrating generative and agentic AI across development cycles, improving efficiency and output quality while maintaining continuous human oversight. (SPA)
Qatar launches cloud privacy assessment tool
#Qatar #cybersecurity - Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency has introduced a cloud privacy assessment tool to enhance data protection. The platform helps organisations align with national regulations as cloud adoption accelerates, reinforcing governance frameworks and strengthening trust in digital infrastructure. (The Peninsula Qatar)
Education
Egypt scales digital skills pipeline nationwide
#Egypt #training - Egypt’s Digital Egypt Generations initiative has trained over 277,000 people in AI, data science and cybersecurity. Spanning students to graduates, the programme boosts employability through strong placement rates and freelance participation, supporting the country’s long-term digital economy ambitions. (Egyptian Gazette)
WideBot launches Arabic AI education series
#Egypt #education - WideBot has partnered with online educator Ahmed El-Ghandour to launch an Arabic-language AI education series. The initiative aims to improve public understanding and address shortages in high-quality regional training data, supporting broader adoption of artificial intelligence across Arabic-speaking markets. (The Startup Scene)
Digital transformation
Kuwait National Guard builds AI military databases
#Kuwait #defence - Kuwait National Guard is developing AI-powered military databases to improve decision-making and operational readiness. The initiative focuses on advanced data management and analytics as part of wider defence modernisation, aiming to streamline intelligence workflows and strengthen responsiveness across security operations. (Times Kuwait)
Data centres
Morocco advances $1.2 billion AI data centre project
#Morocco #datacentres - Morocco has cleared a key land milestone for a $1.2 billion AI data centre in Nouaceur near Casablanca. Backed by partners including Nvidia and Naver Cloud, the facility will use renewable energy and global connectivity to position the country as a regional hub. (Yabiladi)
Sentiment
Saudi firms prioritise automation for AI success
#Saudi #automation - A Nintex survey shows 86 percent of Saudi enterprise leaders see automation as essential to scaling AI, with 82 percent planning formal strategies within a year. The findings highlight a shift toward structured, outcome-driven AI adoption aligned with Vision 2030 goals. (Zawya)
Accessibility
Abu Dhabi University patents AI sign language tool
#UAE #accessibility - Abu Dhabi University has secured a patent for “HearMe,” an AI-powered multilingual sign language translation platform. The system enables real-time communication across languages, advancing inclusive digital access in education and workplaces while supporting broader accessibility innovation. (Zawya)
Solutions
Morocco launches sovereign AI platform Aba Fusion
#Morocco #sovereignAI- Aba Technology has launched Aba Fusion AI in partnership with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies in Rabat. The platform integrates cloud, edge and enterprise systems, focusing on secure, sovereign AI deployment across sectors including manufacturing and biomedical research. (Yabiladi)
AGN unveils AI readiness framework for SMEs
#UAE #SMEs - Dubai’s AGN IT Services has launched an AI readiness framework tailored for SMEs. The model guides firms from initial assessment to deployment, emphasising governance, workforce training and measurable productivity gains to accelerate responsible AI adoption. (Arageek)
Almosafer launches ChatGPT-integrated travel app
#Saudi #traveltech - Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. has become the first Saudi app to integrate with ChatGPT, enabling conversational travel planning. Users can access over 1.5 million hotels, receive personalised recommendations and build itineraries in Arabic and English, supporting Vision 2030 digital transformation goals. (Zawya)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]