Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News email digest, brought to you by big data analytics and AI company Presight!
WeRide has opened up another Middle East market, this time with robotaxi and robobus servics in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; Saudi healthtech Nuxera AI has raised $2.5 million in funding; Google offers Gemini Pro to university students in five countries across the region; and it’s almost time for the 2025 ADIA Lab Symposium, which takes place October 27th to 29th in Abu Dhabi!
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/Carrington
Smart Mobility
WeRide expands robotaxi services to RAK
#UAE #AVs – WeRide has launched robotaxi and robobus pilots with Ras Al Khaimah’s Transport Authority (RAKTA), marking its third UAE market. Commercial operations are expected in 2026, starting on Al Marjan Island before citywide expansion, bolstering Ras Al Khaimah’s smart mobility strategy. (Middle East AI News)
Egypt issues IoT licences to global automakers
#Egypt #mobility – Egypt’s telecom regulator has licensed seven international automakers to deliver Internet of Things services for smart vehicles. The new permits aim to enhance safety, connectivity and convenience for drivers while advancing Egypt’s national digital transformation strategy. (Tech Africa News)
Saudi Arabia opens AV business model applications
#Saudi #mobility – Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA) is accepting applications for its new autonomous vehicle business model. The programme supports Vision 2030 and the National Transport Strategy, inviting local and global innovators under strict technical criteria to advance smart, safe mobility. (SPA)
Funding
Saudi healthtech Nuxera AI raises $2.5 million
#Saudi #healthcare – Nuxera AI has secured $2.5 million in pre-seed funding from Sanabil Venture Studio by Redesign Health. Its Arabic-first AI platform SERA transcribes doctor–patient conversations in 28 dialects, generating structured notes and reducing documentation time by over 70 percent. (Middle East AI News)
Research
MBZUAI and MIT launch global AI research alliance
#UAE #research – Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing have launched a joint research programme uniting scientists from both institutions. The collaboration will focus on AI for scientific discovery, human well-being and planetary health. (Middle East AI News)
Deloitte and KAUST partner on AI research
#Saudi #research – Deloitte Middle East and KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) have signed an MoU to advance AI research and innovation. The partnership connects Deloitte’s AI Institute with KAUST’s ecosystem to accelerate applied AI, build ethical governance and nurture local talent under Vision 2030. (Zawya)
Government
Qatar pilots AI-powered knowledge platform
#Qatar #agentic – Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has introduced a pilot version of its Institutional Excellence and Knowledge Transfer System, the region’s first AI-driven knowledge management platform. It connects data and standards to guide evidence-based policymaking across the public sector. (Middle East AI News)
UAE AI officers complete U.S. tech study tour
#UAE #CAIOs – A group of 50 Chief AI Officers from the UAE have concluded a study tour to major U.S. tech firms including Google, OpenAI and NVIDIA. The visit aims to deepen collaboration with global innovators and advance AI-powered government transformation. (Emirates News Agency)
Qatar Customs launches AI-powered document system
#Qatar #GovTech – Qatar’s General Authority of Customs has introduced an AI-driven Customs Documents system to automate archiving and analysis. The platform streamlines international cooperation and boosts efficiency as part of the country’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. (The Peninsula Qatar)
AI Hubs & CoEs
UM6P launches Smart Factory Academy in Casablanca
#Morocco #Industry40 – Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has opened the Smart Factory Academy, a permanent training and technology hub backed by Deutsche Messe. The Casablanca-based centre will advance Industry 4.0 skills, promote cross-company learning and support Africa’s industrial transformation. (Morocco World News)
ABS opens maritime tech centre in Dammam
#Saudi #AIlab – American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has inaugurated its Saudi Arabia Technology Centre in Dammam to advance robotics, AI and smart systems for the maritime industry. The facility will foster collaboration with local universities, shipyards and regulators. (Middle East AI News)
GO Telecom to open AI Hub in Islamabad
#Saudi #AIhub – Riyadh-based GO Telecommunications Group will launch an AI Hub in Islamabad to co-develop digital solutions and strengthen youth training. The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025, targeting digital infrastructure and cybersecurity growth. (Arab News)
UAE’s GCAA unveils new AI platforms in Montreal
#UAE #Aviation – The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) showcased new AI-powered systems at its AI Lab during the ICAO Assembly in Montreal. The innovations aim to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery across the Authority’s aviation ecosystem. (WAM)
Education
Google offers Gemini Pro access to Arab students
#MENA #GenAI – Google is providing free year-long access to Gemini 2.5 Pro for university students across Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The subscription includes guided learning in Arabic and English plus 2TB of storage to support academic creativity. (Middle East AI News)
Jordan launches ‘Siraj’ AI assistant for schools
#Jordan #education – Jordan’s Ministry of Education has rolled out “Siraj,” an Arabic-language AI learning assistant used by over 55,000 students. The tool supports interactive study, lesson planning and personalised learning for teachers and pupils alike. (Petra News Agency)
Justice
Juridia unveils AI tool to simplify Moroccan law
#Morocco #law – Rabat-based startup Juridia has launched an AI-powered platform trained on national legal texts and case law in Morocco. The system provides legal answers, drafts contracts and analyses compliance, offering multilingual support and tiered subscriptions to enhance transparency and accessibility. (We Are Tech Africa)
CX
Oracle opens AI Customer Experience Centre in Dubai
#UAE #CX – Oracle has inaugurated a new AI-powered Customer Experience Centre at Dubai Internet City, showcasing real-world enterprise applications and training tools. The facility underscores Dubai’s growing role as a hub for cloud and AI innovation. (Dubai Media Office)
Events
Global AI leaders to meet in Abu Dhabi for ADIA Lab Symposium
#UAE #ADIALab – The independent Abu Dhabi-based AI laboratory ADIA Lab will host the third edition of its annual symposium from 27–29 October in Abu Dhabi, featuring four Nobel Laureates among a global lineup of AI and data science experts. The event will explore AI’s role in climate science, health innovation, and the digital economy. Register here. (ADIA Lab)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]