Saudi schedules key AI events; Dubai forms digital chamber
Good morning,
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
A few days after announcing the restructuring of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and the formation of a new Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the board and 41-seat advisory council of the new digital chamber. Board members and advisory council members include some of the city's most prominent business, investment and technology leaders.
In Saudi news, organisers have confirmed the dates of the 5th anniversary edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), which will take place in Riyadh on 26-28 October 2021. Meanwhile, although as yet unannounced, it seems that the second edition of the Global AI Summit, organised by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), is now scheduled for 15-16 September.
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Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Digital Economy
Sheikh Mohammed approves board and advisory council of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy — www.zawya.com
#UAE #digitaleconomy - HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the board and advisory council of the new Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The chamber is tasked with transforming the emirate into an international #technology hub. (Zawya)
Startups
How Jordan-based startup Xina is reimagining customer service ror Arabic speakers with AI — www.entrepreneur.com
#Jordan #AIvoice - Sari Hweitat launched Xina AI in Jordan during the pandemic with an aim to tackle the problem of poor customer service in the Arabic speaking world. The result is an Arabic Interactive Voice Assistant (IVA) and chatbot that uses AI and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to automate customer care functions. (The Entrepreneur)
Dubai's Derq helps pilot driverless cars in Las Vegas — wired.me
#UAE #USA #AVs - AI startup Derq is working to help prevent road accidents and better manage autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas traffic. The Dubai and Detroit-based company, which analyses video-feeds to draw insights for safer roads, announced Monday that it had partnered with Motional (a joint venture of Hyundai Motor Company and auto parts supplier Aptiv) to help test its self-driving vehicles in Las Vegas. (WIRED)
Healthcare
SDAIA, National Guard launch AI program for heart diseases, strokes — saudigazette.com.sa
#Saudi #healthcare - Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the Health Affairs of Ministry of National Guards have launched an excellence program for AI for heart diseases and strokes. The centre aims to develop AI solutions that serve fields of heart diseases and strokes, and support national research in the AI and data related to medical research and biotechnologies. (Saudi Gazette)
Education
Digital Egypt Builders Initiative partners up with South Korean university in AI master's program — www.egypttoday.com
#Egypt #SouthKorea #education - Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology signed on Tuesday an MoU with South Korea's Pusan National University for Egyptian students to enroll in a master's program in AI within the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI). (Egypt Today)
China’s Huawei offers tech training to 20,000 Saudi students — www.arabnews.com
#Saudi #education - Huawei has teamed up with the Technical and Vocational Training Cooperation (TVTC) to launch Tech Track, an initiative that will bring the latest tech training to 20,000 Saudi students. Training will cover six technical fields — AI, big data, IoT, security, routing and switching, and WLAN wireless computer network. (Arab News)
Space
Dubai Mars City to have a space robotics facility — www.khaleejtimes.com
#UAE #robotics - Dubai Mars City, a AED 500 million ($136m) project that stimulates the conditions of life on Mars, will will include a space robotics facility, closed habitat/analog facility, and space sustainability lab. (Khaleej Times)
Smart Buildings
DEWA appoints Ghantoot Group, Moro Hub, Johnson Controls and Microsoft to implement smart building tech at new headquarters — mediaoffice.ae
#UAE#smartbuildings - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) has appointed a consortium led by Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, Ghantoot Group, Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart healthy and sustainable buildings and Microsoft, to implement the latest digital twin technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, AI, and smart building management solutions in DEWA's new headquarters, called Al Shera'a (Arabic for sail). (Dubai Media Office)
Events
FII Institute Announces 5th anniversary edition of FII, to be held 26-28 October — www.businesswire.com
#Saudi #FII - The 5th anniversary edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), which will take place in Riyadh on 26-28 October 2021 under the theme "Invest in Humanity". FII focuses on four critical investment areas: healthcare, sustainability, artificial intelligence and robotics. (BusinessWire)
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