This week’s top stories — 17-23 May
Core42 raises $550m; UAE launches first government AI agents
This was the week that Core42 raised $550 million via HSBC to scale AI infrastructure globally.
In other news, the UAE launched its first cohort of AI agents for government services; Qiddiya partnered with Google Cloud to build an AI-powered entertainment city; and Qatar Foundation launched a $30 million fund to back DeepTech.
Here are this week’s biggest AI news stories!
Sunday, May 17th
🔥 Qatar Foundation launches $30m fund to back DeepTech
Five international VC firms join as co-investment partners from day one
🔥 TII sells advanced cryptographic AI technology to OPAQUE
Abu Dhabi proves it can export foundational AI technology at global scale
Monday, May 18th
🔊 Listen to Monday’s Daily News Minute
🔥 UAE Cabinet approves first AI government service bundles
80,000 federal employees to be trained in agentic AI as UAE Government 4.0 begins
🔥 Dubai Holding embeds AI across entire enterprise in MEA first
Microsoft helps Dubai Holding integrate OpenAI, Anthropic within single environment
🔥 Mal gets CBUAE approval to launch Islamic AI-native bank
Central Bank UAE in-principle approval follows record $230m seed round
Tuesday, May 19th
🔊 Listen to Tuesday’s Daily News Minute
🔥 Middle East manufacturers are moving fastest on industrial AI
Region allocates 30% of operating budgets to industrial technology transformation
🔥 NYU AD spin-out brings sign language to everyone, everywhere
ChatSign translates spoken Arabic and English into sign language in real time
🔥 Qiddiya bets on Google Cloud to run giant entertainment city
The 360km² entertainment destination will run on real-time AI
🔥 Aramco, Pasqal open first commercial quantum cloud service
Aramco’s 200-qubit machine is now open to businesses across the region
Wednesday, May 20th
🔊 Listen to Wednesday’s Daily News Minute
🔥 UAE launches first cohort of AI agents for government services
400 ministers and senior officials gather to shape the next phase of UAE Government 4.0
🔥 DEWA integrates agentic AI into daily operations
Microsoft 365 Copilot Cowork turns AI from information tool to execution engine
🔥 MBRSG launches first master’s in AI governance for government
MBRSG programme bridges innovation management, AI policy and public administration
Thursday, May 21st
🔊 Listen to Thursday’s Daily News Minute
🔥 Core42 raises $550m via HSBC to scale AI infrastructure globally
Two structured trade finance facilities fund global sovereign cloud, compute buildouts
🔥 The UAE has cracked the code on government AI
New research from INSEAD & Yango distils what makes AI work in public sector
Friday, May 22nd
🔊 Listen to Friday’s Daily News Minute
Saturday, May 23rd
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]