Saudi's first EV brand; French AV firm Navya signs Red Sea deal

Middle East AI News weekly digest...

Good morning!

Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News (a little later today, due to AC maintenance issues!)

Arguably, the biggest story in this week's newsletter is last week's announcement of a new Saudi electric vehicle brand: Ceer! The news was announced Thursday evening last week and means that the Kingdom now has two EV production plants in the pipeline!

However, you'll find many other stories below, covering robotics, drones, AVs, eVTOL, VC funding, and consumer robotics!

Lastly, you may also be interested to know that Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has just started an AI podcast called YOUAI, helping to explain AI and related technologies.

Have a great day!

/Carrington

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Electric Vehicles

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince launches ‘Ceer’, the first Saudi electric vehicle brand

#Saudi #EVs - Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced the launch of Ceer, the first Saudi electric vehicle brand that will contribute to the Kingdom's automotive manufacturing sector. (Al Arabiya)

Startups

UAE's swftbox closes $2m fundraise to build AI-powered delivery platform

#UAE #funding - Abu Dhabi-based Hub71 startup Swftbox, the AI-powered, same-day delivery platform, has closed a seed round worth $2m. MENA Technology Fund led the funding, joined by Polymath Ventures, AirAngels and Ithraa Investment Company alongside other investors. (Gulf Business)

Autonomous Vehicles

French driverless shuttle developer Navya signs an MoU with Red Sea Global

#Saudi #France #AVs - French autonomous mobility systems company Navya Group has signed an MoU with Red Sea Global (RSG), the company formed last month via the merger of the Red Sea Development Company and AMALA. (BusinessWire)

Al Tayer announces shortlisted entries for Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport

#UAE #AVs - The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that 12 local and international organisations had qualified for the finals of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, which will take place in 2023. (Dubai Media Office)

Toys

Miko targets $100mln in revenue in GCC in five years

#UAE #robotics - Indian consumer robotics startup Miko is targeting $100 million in revenue across the GCC region within five years, with the launch of its latest toy robot companion, Miko 3, in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. (Zawya)

Catering

Saudi Excellence Co joins with US firm to set up Kingdom's first AI-based robotic Cloud Kitchen

#Saudi #catering - The Saudi Excellence Co, has signed an MoU with the US robotic kitchen systems firm Nala Robotics to create an AI-based robotic Cloud Kitchen and research and development hub in Saudi. (Arab News)

Drones

Airobotics signs UAE deal, following Expo success

#Israel #UAE #drones - Airobotics, which collects and analyzes aerial data via its automated drone infrastructure, has announced it is supplying additional drone systems and services to a 'UAE government entity'. The order follows systems and services that were provided during Expo 2020. (Yahoo)

How drones are replenishing deserts by planting trees from above (VIDEO)

#Saudi #environment - Researchers in Saudi Arabia are working on an effective tool for habitat restoration across the Middle East, a larger-than-life drone nicknamed ‘The Monster’. (The Independent)

Aviation

Lilium eyes ‘tremendous’ opportunities for flying taxis in Middle East after Saudia deal

#UAE #eVTOL - German aviation startup Lilium is in discussions with other potential customers in the GCC, following its order from Saudi Arabian national airline SAUDIA to buy 100 eVTOL aircraft. (The National)

Abu Dhabi Airports Signs MoU with Groupe ADP to Accelerate AAM

#France #UAE #AAM - Abu Dhabi Airports has signed an MoU with French engineering and operations firm, Groupe ADP, to explore and accelerate the potential of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). This deal was signed at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo. (eVTOL Insights)

FIFA World Cup

Ooredoo deploys AI-driven ID verification to make SIM activation faster for FIFA World Cup

#Qatar #WorldCup - Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading telecom operator, has introduced a new AI-powered process of identity authentication and SIM card activation to speed up and simplify its onboarding process, ahead of the expected influx of visitors to the FIFA World Cup. (Ooredoo)

Qatar using digital twins to centralize climate control and security for World Cup venues

#Qatar #WorldCup - Managing climate control, security and other operations at the 2022 FIFA World Cup's eight venues will be centralised via the tournament's 'Aspire Control and Command Centre. Funded by Qatar’s state-backed Intaleq, technology partners include Microsoft and Johnson Controls. (SportTechie)

Defence

Jordan establishes Middle East's first drone and electronic warfare test range

#Jordan #UAS - Jordan's first test site for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), counter-UAS (C-UAS) technology and electronic warfare (EW) has been officially launched. Test flights were carried out by Jordanian UAS company Deep Element in cooperation with the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB). (Shepard Media)

First published via Revue.