Saudi schools debut AI classes; HUMAIN launches Arabic AI
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest, brought to you by big data analytics and AI company Presight!
Both Saudi and UAE schools are now back for the start of the 2025/2026 academic year and government’s in both countries have introduced comprehensive AI curricula into the school system. It will be fascinating to see how the school year progresses!
Meanwhile, HUMAIN has launched its Arabic AI chat app (via web, iOS and Android), although sadly only available within Saudi Arabia at this point. Lots of other news to share below from research on prompt engineers’ cognitive behaviours to Dubai’s new $1 million AI film competition!
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Education
Saudi launches AI school curriculum
#Saudi #education – Saudi Arabia has introduced one of the world’s first national AI curricula spanning elementary to university levels. Starting in 2025–26, six million students will study concepts developed by the Ministry of Education, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), and MCIT, supporting the Human Capability Development Programme. (Middle East AI News)
Doha university to offer AI master’s degree
#Qatar #masters – The University of Doha for Science and Technology is launching a Master of Science in Data Science and AI this autumn. Building on its 2021 undergraduate programme, the degree covers areas such as data privacy, cognitive computing, and applied AI for the digital economy. (Gulf Times)
GenAI
HUMAIN debuts bilingual AI app HUMAIN Chat
#Saudi #Apps – HUMAIN has launched HUMAIN Chat, a conversational AI app powered by its ALLaM 34B model. Available first in the Kingdom, it offers real-time web search, multi-dialect Arabic speech input, and full compliance with Saudi data regulations. (Middle East AI News)
Google expands AI Mode search to 180 countries
#MENA #genAI– Google is rolling out its new AI Mode search experience to mobile users in 180 countries, including across MENA. Powered by the Gemini 2.5 model, the new experience launches initially in English. Middle East AI News
Al Seer Marine unveils UAE’s first AI board observer
#UAE #boardroom – Abu Dhabi-based Al Seer Marine, a subsidiary of IHC, has launched NOVA, the UAE’s first AI-powered board observer for the maritime sector. Developed with Aleria, NOVA supports live boardroom queries, scenario modelling, and oversight. (Fast Company Middle East)
Research
HUMAIN, SDAIA launch Arabic TTS benchmark
#Saudi #TTS – HUMAIN and Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), with partners in Sweden and Qatar, have introduced SawtArabi, the first benchmark for Arabic-English text-to-speech. (Middle East AI News)
KSU study reveals cognitive load of prompt engineering
#Saudi #Research – King Saud University researchers using MRI scans found expert prompt engineers activate stronger brain networks than intermediate users. The study contrasts MIT Media Lab’s earlier findings on passive ChatGPT use, underscoring the cognitive complexity of prompt engineering. Middle East AI News
Adoption
AI adoption among UAE professionals hits 80%
#UAE #GenAI – LinkedIn reports AI adoption among UAE professionals has surged to 80 percent, up from 56 percent last year. The Emirates now ranks second only to India. While optimism is high, many workers say keeping up with AI skills feels like a “second job.” (Middle East AI News)
Industry
Borouge, Yokogawa test AI control room
#UAE #automation– Abu Dhabi-based Borouge has partnered with Japan’s Yokogawa to trial an AI-powered autonomous control room at its Ruwais petrochemical complex. The project forms part of Borouge’s $575 million digitalisation and technology programme for 2025. (Middle East AI News)
Cognite opens Abu Dhabi industrial AI hub
#UAE #IndustrialAI – Norwegian AI firm Cognite has launched a new entity in Abu Dhabi to serve energy and manufacturing industries. The move strengthens the emirate’s role as a global hub for industrial digitalisation and advanced AI solutions. (Middle East AI News)
Finance
Egypt Tax Authority creates AI task force
#Egypt #tax – The Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) has set up an AI task force to modernise tax administration. Announced at the IEEE AI 2025 Caravan in Cairo, the initiative supports Vision 2030, with pilot projects to enhance services, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making. (Middle East AI News)
UAE finance institute launches AI hub
#UAE #Banking – The Emirates Institute of Finance, supported by the UAE Central Bank, has launched an Innovation Hub in Dubai to explore pilot projects for AI in financial services. Partners include HSBC, Al Maryah Community Bank, and G42 firms Core42 and Presight. (Middle East AI News)
Infrastructure
OmniOps, Groq partner on AI infrastructure
#Saudi #inference – Riyadh-based OmniOps has partnered with US firm Groq to boost AI infrastructure. The collaboration matches OmniOps’ Bunyan platform with Groq’s inference technology to deliver faster, sovereign AI services for government, energy, and aviation sectors. (Middle East AI News)
MEEZA secures $219m from Dukhan Bank
#Qatar #datacentres – Doha-based IT services provider MEEZA has secured a QR 800 million ($219m) Shariah-compliant commodity murabaha from Dukhan Bank to fund a 44MW data centre expansion. The first phase will deliver 24MW, including 6MW dedicated to AI services. Gulf Times
Startups
Zain opens applications for regional startup accelerator
#Jordan #startups – Zain Group has launched applications for its Zain Great Idea 2025 accelerator, open to entrepreneurs in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The programme, backed by Zain Ventures and ZainTECH, offers mentorship, funding, and a 14-day global accelerator in Silicon Valley. (Petra)
Drones
Tunisia secures $51m loan for AI, drones in civil protection
#Tunisia #digitaltransformation– Tunisia will use a $51m loan from the French Development Agency to modernise its civil protection system with AI-powered operations rooms, drones, and robots for hazardous materials.. (Ecofin Agency)
Events
Abu Dhabi to host first Autonomous Week in November
#UAE #mobility – The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week from 10–15 November 2025. The event will feature the Autonomous Summit, DRIFTx exhibition, RoboCup Asia-Pacific debut in MENA, and the Autonomous Racing League. (WAM)
HBKU to host global conference on AI ethics
#Qatar #ethics – Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will host a global conference on AI ethics in Doha from 28–29 September. The event at QNCC will gather global academics, policymakers, and tech leaders to examine cross-cultural approaches to responsible AI in sectors. (The Peninsula)
Art
Dubai launches $1m AI film award
#UAE #film– Dubai has unveiled a $1 million prize for AI-generated films alongside a AED 50 million ($13.6m) accelerator for influencers and creative entrepreneurs. The announcement was made ahead of the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026. (Khaleej Times)