UAE creates federal AI authority; Saudi government AI spending up 20%
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest!
Another massive week for AI across the region! In this edition, the UAE creates a new federal AI and Data Authority to be headed up by Minister of State for AI H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama; Saudi Arabia reports government AI spending rose 20 percent last year; PwC research highlights how AI is reshaping jobs; Dubai unveils an ambitious agentic AI plan targeting 295,000 private sector companies; Egypt launches a national AI training initiative for senior government leaders; and UAE-based CNTXT AI secures $60 million in Series A funding!
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Thanks for reading!
/Carrington
Governance
UAE creates federal AI and data authority
#UAE #governance - The UAE is forming a Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority, bringing together three existing entities under a single national structure. Reporting directly to the Cabinet and led by H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the authority will strengthen AI governance, data integration and digital services. (Middle East AI News)
El-Sisi calls for stronger global AI governance
#Egypt #governance - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged stronger artificial intelligence governance at a G7 Summit session in France, highlighting the need for legal and regulatory frameworks to manage AI risks. He called for greater international cooperation to address security, ethical and social challenges while ensuring developing countries benefit from digital transformation. (Ahram Online)
Morocco helps shape UN AI governance dialogue
#Morocco #governance - Morocco’s Ambassador Omar Hilale co-chaired a high-level UN meeting in New York ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The discussions brought together member states to encourage broader international participation in developing future AI governance frameworks. (Hespress)
Agentic Economy
Dubai targets 295,000 firms with agentic AI plan
#UAE #AgenticAI - Dubai’s Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved a two-year programme to equip 295,000 private sector companies with agentic AI capabilities. The initiative includes the creation of 100 specialised AI assistants and 50 new agentic AI firms. (Middle East AI News)
AI Jobs
UAE among fastest-growing AI talent markets
#UAE #jobs - The UAE is one of the world’s fastest-growing AI talent markets, according to PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer. AI hiring is rising across all sectors, while financial services offers the highest wage premium for AI skills and AI-exposed firms are growing headcount 52% faster globally. (Middle East AI News)
Startups
CNTXT AI raises $60m to expand sovereign AI
#UAE #sovereignAI - UAE-based CNTXT AI has secured $60 million in Series A funding from AI71 and BlueFive Capital. The company plans to expand sovereign AI infrastructure globally, enabling secure enterprise and public-sector deployments while maintaining data sovereignty. (Middle East AI News)
Singularity Computing to represent Algeria at GEC+
#Algeria #startups - Algeria-based Singularity Computing will represent the country at the GEC+Afrika 2026 finals in South Africa. The startup develops AI-powered scientific computing solutions for industrial engineering, underscoring Algeria’s efforts to boost innovation, strengthen entrepreneurship and expand the global reach of its technology ecosystem. (Radio Algeria)
AI Adoption
Saudi government ICT spending reaches $8.5 billion
#Saudi #spending - Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority (DGA) reports ICT spending of SAR 31.9 billion ($8.5m) in 2025. Investment in AI and emerging technologies increased 20%, while cloud spending rose 42%, highlighting the Kingdom’s shift towards intelligent digital government services and economic growth. (Middle East AI News)
Saudi business AI adoption reaches 33%
#Saudi #adoption - AI adoption across Saudi Arabia has climbed to 33% of establishments in 2025, according to GASTAT. Cloud computing usage has also surpassed 50% reflecting accelerating digital transformation across industries including finance, education, transport and professional services. (Middle East AI News)
Data Centres
KKR and Kuwait back $10 billion AI infrastructure venture
#Kuwait #investment - KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, NVIDIA and Vistra have launched Helix Digital Infrastructure with more than $10 billion in committed capital. Led by former AWS CEO Adam Selipsky, the venture aims to accelerate hyperscale AI infrastructure deployment and address growing global capacity constraints. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt signs $400m AI data centre agreement
#Egypt #datacentres - Egypt has licenced Hassan Allam Digital Infrastructure and investment partner A15 to develop a new $400 million AI-enabled data centre. The project represents the tenth data centre licence issued in two years and supports Egypt’s regional ambitions for cloud services, AI infrastructure and digital data exchange. (Middle East AI News)
Policy
Libya launches AI strategy with 35 initiatives
#Libya #AIstrategy - Libya has unveiled its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026–2030 and an AI Ethics Charter. The programme includes 35 initiatives covering governance, infrastructure and innovation, with targets to support 100 AI startups, train 10,000 public employees and expand AI adoption across government. (Africa AI News)
Jordan consults on public sector AI framework
#Jordan #frameworks - Jordan’s Prime Ministry has held a consultative session on a new AI competency framework for the public sector. The initiative gathers stakeholder feedback ahead of its launch and forms part of the country’s 2026–2029 public sector modernisation programme. (Jordan Times)
Healthcare
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi launches AI scientist
#UAE #healthcare - Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has partnered with Owkin to launch Aila, described as the world’s first clinical AI scientist. The platform analyses electronic health records, physician notes, pathology reports and medical imaging in real time, initially supporting prostate cancer care and helping clinicians generate faster, data-driven medical insights. (Middle East AI News)
Education
Egypt launches AI training for government leaders
#Egypt #Education - Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the National Training Academy have launched a national AI training initiative for senior public sector leaders. The programme covers generative AI, agentic AI, digital twins, cybersecurity and data governance, supporting the objectives of Egypt’s National AI Strategy 2025–2030. (Middle East AI News)
Algeria opens national AI learning centre
#Algeria #education - Algeria has inaugurated its first National Center for Virtual Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Sidi Abdellah. The facility will support AI-enabled education, digital learning and university research, contributing to plans for a knowledge-based economy and a 20,000-company startup ecosystem by 2029. (We Are Tech Africa)
Riyadh AI hackathon targets disability innovation
#Saudi #accessibility - The King Salman Center for Disability Research has launched an AI Hackathon for People with Disabilities, focusing on assistive technologies, healthcare, education and pilgrimage services. With a prize pool of SR220,000 ($59k), the initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026. (Arab News)
Banking
Qatar and Wahed develop AI Shariah platform
#Qatar #fintech - Qatar’s General Directorate of Endowments and Islamic fintech Wahed have partnered to develop an AI-powered Shariah equity analysis platform. Using artificial intelligence and natural language processing, the system will strengthen investment screening, governance and decision-making across the endowment sector. (PR Newswire)
Carnegie Mellon Qatar wins AI literacy award
#Qatar #Education - Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar has received the 2026 Library of the Future Award for its AI2@CMU-Q initiative. The programme promotes responsible AI adoption through a practical traffic-light framework, while strengthening AI literacy via collaboration between faculty, students, library teams and university services. (QNA)
Cybersecurity
Oman cybersecurity market set for $214m growth
#Oman #cybersecurity - Oman is positioning cybersecurity as an economic growth driver, with its domestic market projected to reach $214.27 million by 2031. The Cybersecurity Market and Investment Report 2026 highlights expansion driven by digital transformation, skills development and the Hadatha programme’s support for local firms and export-ready capabilities. (Oman Observer)
AVs
Saudi Arabia updates rules for self-driving vehicles
#Saudi #transport - Saudi Arabia has introduced new traffic regulations for self-driving vehicles, clarifying legal responsibilities for owners and operators. The amendments assign liability for fully autonomous vehicles to owners, extend traffic violation and accident rules to autonomous systems. (Saudi Gazette)
Defence
Morocco partners with Harmattan AI on defence systems
#Morocco #defence - Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces have signed a strategic partnership with Harmattan AI to develop autonomous air defence capabilities and strengthen the country’s defence technology ecosystem. The agreement includes plans for local manufacturing, and AI-focused defence research. (Harmattan AI
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]