Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News! And yes, the first news digest of 2025!
Of course, a quieter week this week than usual. However, still some interesting news to share. South Korean hospitality AI startup ONDA partnered with UAE-based Seed Group to form a new joint venture. Meanwhile, another Korean company, Norma has signed a $2 million Quantum Cryptography deal with Riyadh-headquartered ITB. And Omani company Ankaa is creating the country’s first drone and robotics development centre, working closely with government stakeholders.
Scroll down to read all the news!
Wishing you and yours a happy and successful 2025!
/Carrington
#UAE #hospitality – South Korean startup ONDA partnered with Seed Group to expand into MENA. A new UAE-based joint venture will localise ONDA’s AI-powered SaaS platform by mid-2025 to serve the region’s hospitality sector. (Middle East AI News)
#UAE #robotics – Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC)’s Nabaat is collaborating with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi on the Mangrove Initiative. The robotics venture leverages AI and scalable technology to restore mangroves and ecosystems, supporting Abu Dhabi’s environmental goals. (Middle East AI News)
#Saudi #IoT – South Korea’s Norma has partnered with ITB to export its Post Quantum Cryptography-based Q Care solution. The $2m deal marks Norma’s first in the Middle East, with plans to deploy Q Care in NEOM. (Middle East AI News)
#UAE #IoT – Dubai Electricity Water and Electricity (DEWA)’s R&D Centre unveiled a smart IoT platform for automating crew dispatch for alarm management and troubleshooting. The system improves fault response efficiency and reduces on-site response times. (Zawya)
#Saudi #innovation – The Saudi Media Forum, with Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), launched the Media Innovation Bootcamp to nurture national talent and advance sustainable media practices. The initiative aligns with upcoming business accelerators at the Forum. (SPA)
#Egypt #digitaleconomy – President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with key officials to discuss ICT growth, focusing on digital economy, society, data protection, and AI investment. The meeting reviewed Egypt’s key digital transformation initiatives. (Daily News Egypt)
#Oman #DroneTech – Ankaa, with Omani ministries, plans to launch the Sultanate’s first centre for drones and robotics. Initial applications include agriculture and urban planning, advancing Oman’s technology sector. (Oman News Agency)
#Qatar #assistants – Khadoom, an AI-powered assistant, offers task support in Qatar, connecting customers to local vendors for delivery and services. It operates through WhatsApp, streamlining access to businesses. (The Peninsula)
#Saudi #GenAI – Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and NVIDIA announced a training programme to qualify 4,000 Saudis in Generative AI. The initiative boosts AI skills and innovation across the Kingdom. (SPA)
#Morocco #edtech – Huawei completed the DigiSchool 2024 project, part of Morocco’s education reform roadmap. The initiative aims to prepare students for a connected world, fostering digital inclusion. (TechAfrica News)
#Saudi #digitaltransformation – A survey by Eaton shows fewer than 25% of companies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE see legacy systems as a barrier to digitalisation, compared to 33% in 2022. The shift highlights rapid adoption of digital technologies. (Zawya)
#Iraq #AIInnovation – Al Mustaqbal University will host its second AI event in April, featuring workshops and discussions. Iraq ranks ninth in the Arab world for AI development. (University of Mustaqbal)
[ This newsletter was AI edited & human edited ]
