This was the week that US AI company Scale expanded its presence in Qatar and opened a new operation in the UAE. Meanwhile, Snowflake committed $300 million to Saudi Arabia, and Oman unveiled plans for major new AI data centre developments.
In other news, the UAE AI Office and Microsoft launched UAE Vibe Codes, attracting 5,000 registrations in its first hour; Dubai Future Foundation launched a regulatory AI Sandbox; Dubai Chambers unveiled an AI agent marketplace; and Alpha Dhabi committed $1 billion to a new AI investment fund. Abu Dhabi also highlighted the growing responsibilities of human workers in an AI-powered economy.
Here are this week’s biggest AI news stories!
Sunday, October 25th
🔥 Brookfield opens Doha office, backs $20 billion AI venture
Firm currently manages $20 billion of assets across the GCC
🔥 Oman consortium plans $3 billion, 400MW AI data centre
Mubbadrah announces data centre project in London during Sultan’s UK State Visit
Monday, October 26th
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🔥 Dubai AI Campus targets 1,000 firms and 5,000 jobs
500 companies in Dubai AI Campus have raised over AED 1B since 2024
🔥 Legaline launches MENA’s first AI mock courtroom
Meta Legal witnesses hide facts and wobble under cross-examination
🔥 Alpha Dhabi commits $1 billion to Alpha Wave III AI fund
Builds on stake in Alpha Wave Ventures II
Tuesday, October 27th
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🔥 Snowflake commits $300M to Saudi Arabia
Two new cloud regions due this year, plus MCIT skills programme
🔥 Scale AI opens in Dubai, its third Gulf hub in less than two years
Scale AI launches UAE entity at DIFC, taking regional headcount over 130
🔥 Dubai Chambers launches AI agent marketplace
Chamber AI Hub to grow to 100 agents within two years
🔥 Oman’s PDO launches autonomous production
Five-year digital well deal with SLB and Halliburton; digital twin unveiled
Wednesday, October 28th
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🔥 Scale AI opens new Doha office as Qatar team nears 100
Nearly 6,000 government staff trained under five-year MCIT partnership
🔥 Dubai Future Foundation launches regulatory AI Sandbox
Sandbox lets companies test AI products with regulators, seek exemptions
Thursday, October 29th
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🔥 AI Office, Microsoft launch UAE Vibe Codes
UAE Vibe Codes opens coding to everyone; 5,000 sign up in one hour
🔥 Phaze Ventures launches two AI funds targeting $75 million
Oman’s first private VC firm raises $40 million for AI startups
🔥 Why business orchestration is key to AI success for GSI organisations
Strategic execution: how UAE, Saudi Arabia are operationalizing AI
Friday, October 30th
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🔥 ALPHA10X moves to Doha after $5 million Pre-Series A round
French predictive AI firm relocates its global headquarters to Doha
🔥 More AI means heavier human duty - Abu Dhabi report
Abu Dhabi names AI’s “Light Workforce Paradox”, plus four work scenarios
Saturday, October 31st
🔊 Listen to Saturday’s Daily News Minute
[ This summary was AI written and human edited ]