Morocco, China firms win $152mln rail tunnel deal
Morocco has awarded a project to build a 3.3-kilometre underground rail tunnel to a consortium comprising a local firm and a Chinese company.
The rail which runs under Rabat city will be connected to the planned high-speed network linking the North-Western cities of Marrakesh and Kenitra.
In a report on Monday, the Arabic language daily Sabah Akadir said the project has been awarded to an alliance of Moroccan SGTM Company and Sinohydro Bureau 5 of China, adding that the project cost is around $152 million.
Morocco has been locked in a massive construction drive involving its rail, air and road transport networks as it braces to co-host FIFA World Cup games in 2030.
(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)
(anoop.menon@lseg.com)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
2 hours ago
- Web Release
CNTXT AI and Actualize Partner to Launch Dialect-Aware Arabic AI Voice Agent, Targeting GCC's $2.2B Conversational AI Market
CNTXT AI , a Data and AI enabler driving AI readiness in the region, has partnered with Actualize, a leader in real-time voice automation, to launch a next-generation Arabic AI voice agent that understands and responds to regional dialects in real time, enhancing customer engagement across key service touchpoints. The collaboration addresses persistent challenges in Arabic voice technology — from underrepresentation of regional dialects to the need for privacy-compliant, locally hosted deployments. With the GCC's digital economy accelerating, voice automation is emerging as a critical layer in customer operations. According to IMARC , the GCC conversational AI market is expected to grow from $325 million in 2024 to over $2.1 billion by 2033, expanding at an annual rate of 23.6%, driven by rising demand for personalized, on-demand voice services. This partnership responds directly to that demand — offering a ready-to-deploy, Arabic-native voice agent that meets regional enterprise needs from day one. The AI voice agent combines Munsit, CNTXT AI's proprietary Arabic speech-to-text model, with Actualize's voice automation platform to deliver accurate voice interaction. The Arabic AI voice agent is now available for public trial with no sign-up or downloads required. Built for High-Impact Use Cases The Arabic voice agent is tailored to high-frequency, high-value business scenarios where (timely, context-aware voice communication enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction.) such as: Booking Confirmation – Automatically follows up with customers to confirm appointments, reducing no-shows and improving operational efficiency – Automatically follows up with customers to confirm appointments, reducing no-shows and improving operational efficiency Receptionist Automation – Answers and routes incoming calls in the appropriate dialect, enhancing caller experience with culturally aware interaction – Answers and routes incoming calls in the appropriate dialect, enhancing caller experience with culturally aware interaction Sales Agent Support – Engages leads through outbound voice calls, capturing interest, qualifying intent, and escalating hot leads to human agents – Engages leads through outbound voice calls, capturing interest, qualifying intent, and escalating hot leads to human agents Order & Payment Follow-Up – Calls customers to verify order details, confirm deliveries, or issue payment reminders, improving conversion rates and cash collection – Calls customers to verify order details, confirm deliveries, or issue payment reminders, improving conversion rates and cash collection Government Services – Enables voice-enabled digital kiosks and e-service platforms with dialect recognition 'Voice AI built for our region's linguistic diversity is no longer a future concept — it's a business necessity,' said Mohammad Abu Sheikh, CEO of CNTXT AI. 'By combining Munsit's dialectal intelligence with Actualize's automation infrastructure, we're making it possible for organizations to serve Arabic-speaking customers with clarity, confidence, and care.' A Regionally Tuned Solution for Arabic Speech Traditional speech technologies often fail to capture the depth and diversity of Arabic speech. Munsit, the speech-to-text model powering the voice agent, was developed to address this directly. The model has been independently benchmarked on six public datasets, outperforming industry leaders like OpenAI's Whisper and Meta's SeamlessM4T in Arabic speech recognition accuracy. The integrated voice agent supports real-time transcription, and localized pronunciation handling across dialects — while respecting regional data sovereignty and compliance requirements. 'Arabic deserves tech that speaks its language literally and culturally.' said Muhammed Shabreen, CEO at Actualize. 'This integration gives enterprises across MENA the voice tools they need to automate customer-facing operations while respecting language and cultural nuance.'
Web Release
2 hours ago
- Web Release
Yango Group upgrades its AI assistant Yasmina for enhanced creativity, richer conversations, and expanded language translation skills
Yango Group , a global tech company, significantly upgraded the LLM powering its AI assistant, Yasmina , to deliver more accurate, in-depth, and context-aware responses in both Arabic and English. The upgrade is part of a gradual rollout of YangoAI, a suite of AI features and technologies adapted and localized to meet the specific needs of regional users, powering a wide range of the company's products and services, including Yasmina. The AI assistant now provides 38% more relevant and up-to-date answers in Arabic, thanks to its enhanced ability to analyze web documents. The new LLM has also enabled smoother conversational interactions and reduced the number of unnecessary refusals in answers by almost 50%. In addition to more robust language processing, the new LLM increases Yasmina's effectiveness as a multilingual AI assistant. One of the most notable advancements is the assistant's ability to handle translation. This feature empowers bilingual users, language learners, educators, and content creators in the region to accurately translate their speech between Arabic and English. Yasmina now delivers more contextual, actionable recommendations on everyday activities and lifestyle choices. For example, you can ask the assistant for recommendations on how to spend time in Dubai, combining modern and heritage-related activities. Whether asking for information on an array of subjects or breaking down complex concepts from history to blockchain, the assistant demonstrates enhanced clarity and precision in every response. The AI assistant's improved capabilities also extend to assisting individuals and professionals with daily tasks and content creation in Arabic and English. It enables real-time currency conversion and guides young adults to independently solve their homework, fostering critical thinking and reasoning skills. Yasmina can also help brainstorm ideas, craft poems and bedtime stories, and suggest riddles for children. 'With more precise and culturally aware responses, along with additional skills, Yasmina's latest upgrade positions it as a trusted everyday companion for diverse needs. From creative storytelling to translation, we are enriching lives with human-centred AI and making innovation more accessible to all. As the region embraces digital transformation, we continue to enhance our AI assistant, aiming to make it even more helpful, versatile, and relevant,' said Rami Abu Arja, Senior Innovation Marketing Manager at Yasmina, Yango Middle East. YangoAI is powering technology that is fine-tuned and continuously trained on region-specific data. This allows Yango Group's services to better reflect local culture and user expectations across the Middle East.
Hi Dubai
3 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
New Dirham Symbol in the UAE: Essential Dos and Don'ts You Need to Know
The UAE has officially introduced a new currency symbol for the Dirham, marking a significant milestone in the nation's financial identity. With a sleek design rooted in Arabic calligraphy and national symbolism, the Dirham Currency Symbol represents strength, unity, and modernity. Authorities have issued a comprehensive set of dos and don'ts to ensure the symbol is used correctly and consistently across all platforms. Designed with Purpose The Dirham Currency Symbol is more than a design—it's a cultural emblem. Inspired by classical Arabic scripts like Thuluth and Diwani, the symbol integrates the lines of the UAE flag into the shape of the letter 'D,' creating a visual tribute to the nation's heritage and aspirations. Every curve and stroke is calibrated on a precise grid system, ensuring balance, clarity, and geometric harmony. Usage Dos: Getting It Right To maintain the integrity of the Dirham symbol, the UAE government has outlined several key guidelines: Use in Black or White : For clarity and legibility, the symbol should primarily appear in black or white. : For clarity and legibility, the symbol should primarily appear in black or white. Ensure Proper Contrast : It must always stand out clearly against its background, especially in official documents and financial contexts. : It must always stand out clearly against its background, especially in official documents and financial contexts. Maintain Proportions : The height of the symbol should match the height of the adjacent text. : The height of the symbol should match the height of the adjacent text. Correct Direction : The symbol must follow the direction of the surrounding text, whether left-to-right or right-to-left. : The symbol must follow the direction of the surrounding text, whether left-to-right or right-to-left. Use Either Symbol or 'AED': Never use the Dirham symbol and the abbreviation 'AED' together—choose one. Usage Don'ts: What to Avoid To preserve the symbol's integrity and visual identity, the following practices are strictly discouraged: No Decorative Effects : Avoid gradients, shadows, or any form of artistic embellishment. : Avoid gradients, shadows, or any form of artistic embellishment. No Alterations in Shape : The design must remain exactly as specified; distortions or adjustments are not allowed. : The design must remain exactly as specified; distortions or adjustments are not allowed. No Misalignment : The symbol must not be disproportionately larger or smaller than the text around it. : The symbol must not be disproportionately larger or smaller than the text around it. No Crowding : Always leave sufficient space between the symbol and the numeral it accompanies. : Always leave sufficient space between the symbol and the numeral it accompanies. No Colour Variations in Official Use: Brand colours are allowed only in marketing, and even then, only with high visibility and no effects. A Symbol of National Progress Introduced in May 1973, the UAE Dirham has long been a symbol of economic independence and growth. With this new currency symbol, the UAE not only reaffirms its presence on the global economic stage but also strengthens the visual identity of its national currency. The symbol blends cultural heritage with modern design, offering a powerful representation of the country's journey and values. As the new symbol becomes integrated into pricing, financial documents, and signage, businesses and designers are urged to adhere strictly to the official guidelines to maintain consistency, professionalism, and respect for the national standard. News Source: Central Bank of the UAE
