Health UAE’s medical AI ‘will not replace doctors’ The UAE’s unveiling of a homegrown clinical artificial intelligence program is a breakthrough in healthcare technology say industry experts, but AI will not yet replace doctors talking to patients. M42, an offshoot of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health and based in Abu Dhabi, announced last month that it had built a clinical Large Language Model […] November 14, 2023
Industry Vodafone Egypt boosts revenue of South African telco South African telecoms operator Vodacom’s earnings took a hit in the first half from startup losses in Ethiopia but revenue growth benefited from the inclusion of Vodafone Egypt, which prevented further profit decline. The company, the biggest telecoms operator in South Africa which is majority-owned by Britain’s Vodafone Group, bought a 55 percent stake in […] November 14, 2023
Tech Saudi Arabia sets up centre to research AI ethics Saudi Arabia has announced a centre aimed to propel competencies and legislative frameworks in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies. The International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics was unveiled by the minister of culture Prince Badr Bin Farhan at the 42nd session of Unesco’s General Conference in Paris on November 11. The centre […] November 13, 2023
Opinion Banking and Finance Why I’m rooting for the fintechs Apps like Revolut will give the UAE's slow incumbent banks a wake-up call November 10, 2023
Tech Core42 unveils advanced Arabic language AI model A new version of a deep learning algorithm capable of translating or generating Arabic text was unveiled in the UAE this week. Jais30B, which features 30 billion parameters, was introduced by Core42, a G42 company based in Abu Dhabi. “With 160 percent longer answers in Arabic and a 233 percent increase in English, the platform […] November 10, 2023
Finance Royalty levy change is ‘non-event’ for UAE telcos Changes to the way royalties are levied on the UAE’s telecom operators will make little difference to their earnings, the companies affected say. This week, Emirates Telecommunications Group Co, which rebranded as e& and is widely known as Etisalat, announced that for the three years starting January 1 2024 it will pay a royalty of […] November 9, 2023
Opinion Agriculture Careful what you wish for… AI and the future of agriculture AI may transform farming – and destroy livelihoods. We must manage the transition for rural societies November 8, 2023
Tourism Appeal of virtual travel is instant – but limited Virtual reality is making it possible for visitors to explore destinations before they travel and see places that would otherwise be inaccessible, but there is much debate over whether it is a replacement for real travel. “The metaverse can allow destinations to offer ‘try before you buy’ virtual experiences,” said Samuel Huber, CEO of UK […] November 8, 2023
Tech Arabic speakers targeted by malicious WhatsApp hackers Arabic-speaking WhatsApp users are being targeted by unidentified hackers who are distributing spying malware through a modified version of the messaging service. The Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported that the hackers had launched more than 340,000 attacks in October alone. Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Egypt and Turkey experienced the highest attack rates. The malware has […] November 8, 2023
Tech UAE’s Edge buys 52% stake in Swiss UAV maker UAE state-owned defence company Edge Group has acquired a 52 percent majority shareholding in Anavia, a Swiss unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer. The company manufactures unmanned helicopters for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as inspection, mapping and cargo. Edge aims to use the unmanned helicopters to strengthen its air, land, and maritime capabilities, the UAE state-run […] November 7, 2023
Tech AI education takes centre stage in the UAE Just over three-quarters of UAE students aged between 12 to 15 believe that artificial intelligence skills are critical in finding a job after finishing education. Some 77 percent of those surveyed by Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed University (MBZUAI) of Artificial Intelligence said AI aptitude and literacy were critical for their generation. To harness the […] November 6, 2023
Opinion Banking and Finance Mena climate tech offers opportunities for investors There are innovative ways to produce energy and improve lives without accelerating the climate crisis November 3, 2023
Tech Dubai to create 30,000 jobs in gaming Dubai has launched a plan to create 30,000 jobs in the gaming industry by 2033. Its Program for Gaming 2033 aims to increase gaming’s contribution to the digital economy to $1 billion within a decade. The emirate’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the strategy also aims to position it […] November 3, 2023
Analysis Finance UAE and UK sign agreement to boost fintech The UK and the UAE have signed an agreement to strengthen ties on financial services that its backers hope will provide a boost to fintech. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Dubai late last week by Andrew Griffith, UK City minister, and Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of economy, seeks to promote […] November 3, 2023
Video length: 03:47 Tech IT opportunities in UAE to leap 80% thanks to AI uptake Job opportunities in the UAE’s information technology sector will rise 80 percent as IT leaders plan to augment their teams in the next 12 months, according to a survey. The driving force behind this surge in demand for IT professionals is the advance of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI and machine learning, […] November 2, 2023
Economy Bahrain economy grows 2% despite GCC trade slump Bahrain’s economy grew by 2 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2023, despite a drop in trade with neighbouring GCC countries. The kingdom saw its non-oil sector increase by 2 percent, while the oil sector was up 2.2 percent. Bahrain’s fiscal and current account break-even oil prices are among the highest in […] November 1, 2023
Construction Tecom to expand logistics facilities as profit rises 34% Tecom Group plans to develop new Grade A storage and logistics facilities as demand for high-quality commercial space surges across Dubai. The Dubai-based business park operator will add 200,000 sq ft of total gross leasing area for logistics and storage in Dubai Science Park. The expansion comes as the company posted a 34 percent year on […] November 1, 2023
Tech AI Safety Summit: Sunak’s push for UK’s global role British prime minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to plan the AI Safety Summit 2023 in less than six months was more than simply an effort to establish the UK as a pioneer in a rapidly developing area. Sunak envisions the UK as a global leader in AI safety, aiming to secure a significant role in the […] November 1, 2023
Tech Spanish fund plans stake in Telefonica after STC move Spain’s state fund Sepi said on Tuesday it is considering whether to buy a stake in Telefonica, a month after Saudi Arabia’s STC built a 9.9 percent holding in the telecoms group. STC, Saudi Arabia’s largest telecom company, became Telefonica’s largest shareholder in September, building a stake worth €2.1 billion ($2.23 billion) through shares and […] November 1, 2023
Tech UAE telco e&’s profit surges 20% on higher revenue Telecoms giant e& (formerly Etisalat) reported a 20 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the third quarter of 2023 as revenue rose and its subscriber base reached an all-time high. Earnings reached AED3 billion ($810 million) in the July-September quarter, compared to AED2.5 billion a year earlier. Revenue edged up three percent year on […] November 1, 2023
Tech Kuwait’s private sector to aid final broadband push Kuwait is looking to the private sector to help roll out the final stage of a national fibre-optic broadband project that forms part of the country’s digital transformation ambitions. The Ministry of Communications has announced plans to use private public partnerships (PPP) in coordination with the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects. The PPP will take […] November 1, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Economy RAK free zone chief predicts influx of tech and hotel suppliers Technology and hospitality companies are set to flock to Ras Al Khaimah to work on Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $3.9 billion resort now under construction, the chief executive of RAK’s largest business free zone has told AGBI. Ramy Jallad, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez), said the Wynn development had “a […] November 1, 2023
