This week’s top stories — 21-27 June
MGX closes near-$50 billion AI fund as Gulf AI investment accelerates
This was the week that Abu Dhabi investment company MGX completed one of the world’s largest-ever artificial intelligence investment funds, closing a raise approaching $50 billion with backing from sovereign wealth funds and major institutional investors.
In other news, the UAE Ministry of Education unveiled Project NOVA to transform education with AI, Saudi Arabia and the UAE emerged as global leaders in agentic AI deployment, AD Ports launched a new AI command centre, and Khalifa University announced breakthroughs in both cancer diagnostics and telecom AI.
Here are this week’s biggest AI news stories!
Sunday, June 21st
🔥 SDAIA sets rules for selling state data
New policy governs development of government data-driven products and services.
Monday, June 22nd
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🔥 Wellbees raises $3.6 million to grow in GCC
Qatar Development Bank leads Series A round for employee wellbeing app.
🔥 e& UAE sets out path to self-running networks
Blueprint targets Level 4 autonomous telecom networks by 2030.
🔥 Khalifa University built AI model tops global telco leaderboard
TelecomGPT-R1 outperforms leading closed-source models on GSMA benchmark.
🔥 Egypt to draft national data centre strategy
Government aligns national plans for future data centre expansion.
Tuesday, June 23rd
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🔥 Saudi, UAE outpace global peers in Agentic AI deployment
New research shows the region leading global production rollout.
🔥 AD Ports inaugurates AI command centre
Ports operator deploys AI across more than 20 operational workstreams.
🔥 Khalifa University builds AI cancer scan model
New model outperforms rivals across thirteen evaluation benchmarks.
🔥 QIA backs $80 million HyperLight optical chip round
Qatar fund backs next-generation photonics technology.
Wednesday, June 24th
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🔥 Abu Dhabi’s TII joins new AI security standard
TII becomes founding partner of OPAQUE 3.0 for quantum-era AI security.
🔥 GEMS, Oracle to prepare 11,000 students for the Agentic Economy
School network joins Oracle University AI education programme.
🔥 Tunisia’s RoboCare lands six-figure backing
AI agriculture startup plans expansion across Africa and the Middle East.
🔥 Qatar boosts engineering pay to encourage local tech talent
Scholarship programme guarantees jobs for engineering graduates.
Thursday, June 25th
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🔥 ATRC school STEM drive reaches 5,300 students
Students submitted more than 1,100 research projects during the programme.
🔥 UAE investors lead world in AI use, HSBC finds
Nearly all UAE investors now use AI while still valuing human advice.
🔥 Presight picks 12 startups for AI accelerator
Second accelerator cohort attracts AI companies from around the world.
🔥 91% of Saudi firms seeing AI pay off, SAP/YouGov survey finds
Half of organisations are now upskilling staff at scale.
🔥 UAE trade minister to chair AI firm AIREV
Appointment strengthens links between AI and international trade strategy.
Friday, June 26th
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🔥 UAE education ministry to transform itself with Project NOVA
Project aims to unify education data and integrate AI across the system.
Saturday, June 27th
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🔥 MGX closes near-$50 billion raise for AI bets
Sovereign wealth funds and pension investors back one of the world’s largest AI investment funds.