Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

Saudi university developing AI for early diabetes detection

By Andrew Hammond
Kaust hopes its new project will improve diabetes testing Unsplash/Sweet Life
Kaust hopes its new project will improve diabetes testing
  • AI tech to help detect diabetes
  • Could save SAR2bn
  • Kingdom aims to be biotech leader

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) said this week it is working with Saudi company AmplifAI Health to develop AI technology for use in the early detection of diabetes. 

Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular are investing in health technologies that can predict medical risk and help develop medicines, and the kingdom has announced a drive to lead the region in biotechnology. 

Some experts believe that fast food consumption in the region has led to increased levels of diabetes.

“The collaboration will first test the method to detect and manage diabetic foot complications,” the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (Spa) said on January 29, adding that clinical trials are being planned. 

“The goal is to detect diabetes early, develop better treatment protocols, and significantly reduce the need for lower limb amputations.” 

Spa said the initiative could save Saudi Arabia more than SAR2 billion ($530 million) annually in medical costs and reduce the number of diabetic foot amputations carried out worldwide every year – currently 1.5 million.

The technology developed by Kaust uses hyperspectral imaging technology known as HyplexTM photography that can collect terabyte-sized data in one second. This exceeds the gigabyte size of current commercial cameras, and is claimed to aid early disease detection. 

AmplifAI Health is a private company focusing on advanced AI and thermology, founded by experts in digital health, cybersecurity and AI. 

Kaust, located north of Jeddah, was established by the government in 2009 as the country’s leading research university. 

Saudi Arabia launched a National Biotechnology Strategy this month with the aim of becoming the region’s biotech leader by 2030 and a global leader by 2040, contributing 3 percent, or SAR130 billion, to non-oil GDP.

The plan will focus on making Saudi Arabia the regional market leader in genomics, vaccines, plant optimisation and biomanufacturing, creating 11,000 jobs by 2030. 

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a massive economic development plan to diversify away from oil, centred on giga-projects that aim to attract tourists, create jobs for Saudis, and make the kingdom a hub for green industries. 

Latest articles

STC wants to consolidate the mobile tower market

STC approves PIF purchase of telecom company

Shareholders of Saudi telecom giant STC have approved plans to create a new telecommunications infrastructure company in which the Public Investment Fund will have a 51 percent stake valued at SAR8.7 billion ($2.3 billion).  Under the deal, the STC-owned Telecommunication Towers Co. Limited (Tawal) will become a PIF subsidiary through a merger with Golden Lattice […]

Flavio Cattaneo of Enel, of which Endesa is a subsidiary, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi at the signing of the deal

Masdar buys stake in Spanish utilities company Endesa

The UAE’s state-owned clean energy company Masdar has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Spanish electric utility business Endesa to partner for 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy assets in Spain. Under the agreement, subject to regulatory approval, Masdar will invest nearly $890 million to acquire a 49.99 percent stake in Endesa, with an […]

UAE markets Hong Kong

UAE capital markets partner with Hong Kong exchange

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE) has added the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) to its roster of recognised marketplaces. The move opens the door for UAE-based companies to pursue secondary listings on one of Asia’s premier financial markets. It also follows the inclusion of the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) […]

Person, Worker, Adult

Aramco and PIF invest in Saudi-Chinese steel venture

Saudi Aramco and the Public Investment Fund have doubled their investment in a steel plate joint venture with a Chinese company to $500 million. The two Saudi companies each own 25 percent shares in the new venture in Ras Al Khair industrial city, Bloomberg reported, quoting a statement published on the Chinese stock exchange. Chinese […]