Microsoft showcases remarkable innovations accelerating AI transformation across the UAE
Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, stated: 'The UAE's swift embrace of AI is setting an ambitious benchmark. Across sectors like education, finance, energy, and retail, the innovations emerging here showcase the transformative power of AI in unlocking unparalleled opportunities for growth and progress. At Microsoft, we are honoured to partner with forward-thinking organisations in the UAE, driving transformation in this new AI era and empowering them to shape a future characterized by innovation and resilience'.
The event brought together developers, innovators, and business leaders from key organisations in both the public and private sectors, as well as Microsoft executives including Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft; Jessica Hawk, Corporate Vice President, Data, AI and Digital Applications, Microsoft Product Marketing; and Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft, noted: 'The pace of cloud and AI adoption in the UAE is remarkable. It's impressive to see public and private sector organisations not only embracing the latest AI advancements but also rapidly developing their own cutting-edge applications. From AI-driven government services to intelligent customer engagement solutions, the level of innovation here reflects the UAE's forward-thinking vision and its commitment to becoming a global hub for AI'.
During the event, Lamanna also met with senior executives from leading organizations in the UAE who have developed a diverse range of AI-powered solutions and initiatives by leveraging the power of Microsoft's AI suite of solutions:
The Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement's AI-powered TAMM platform is delivering around 950 government services to citizens, residents, visitors and investors in the emirate with unparalleled efficiency. A major advancement in the delivery of government services in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi government entities, federal entities, and private sector partners, including Microsoft and G42, TAMM provides 24/7 personalised service recommendations and features a conversational AI assistant in multiple languages, transforming customer experience in Abu Dhabi.
AI-powered TAMM platform is delivering around 950 government services to citizens, residents, visitors and investors in the emirate with unparalleled efficiency. A major advancement in the delivery of government services in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi government entities, federal entities, and private sector partners, including Microsoft and G42, TAMM provides 24/7 personalised service recommendations and features a conversational AI assistant in multiple languages, transforming customer experience in Abu Dhabi. Alef Education is harnessing the power of AI to transform learning experiences for more than 1.1 million students worldwide. The company leads the development of innovative AI-powered learning solutions, including the Alef AI Tutor, designed to support student learning by tracking progress, identifying challenges, and personalising learning paths to improve performance. This approach has resulted in a 12.1% improvement in student outcomes within one academic year.
is harnessing the power of AI to transform learning experiences for more than 1.1 million students worldwide. The company leads the development of innovative AI-powered learning solutions, including the Alef AI Tutor, designed to support student learning by tracking progress, identifying challenges, and personalising learning paths to improve performance. This approach has resulted in a 12.1% improvement in student outcomes within one academic year. As one of the early adopters of Microsoft 365 Copilot technology among utilities worldwide, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has successfully rolled out Copilot agents in its operations delivering natural, human-like interactions, enhancing both personal and professional productivity for users.
has successfully rolled out Copilot agents in its operations delivering natural, human-like interactions, enhancing both personal and professional productivity for users. First Abu Dhabi Bank's (FAB ) FAB Wealth RM AI Advisor tool enhances relationship managers' ability to provide performance insights for clients and their portfolios, using a comprehensive dashboard. The tool also simulates personalised investment recommendations, through personalised investment advice and proactive engagement. A number of benefits include increase in frontline productivity and improved service for clients.
) FAB Wealth RM AI Advisor tool enhances relationship managers' ability to provide performance insights for clients and their portfolios, using a comprehensive dashboard. The tool also simulates personalised investment recommendations, through personalised investment advice and proactive engagement. A number of benefits include increase in frontline productivity and improved service for clients. Al-Futtaim's Blue AI, a groundbreaking feature within the Blue lifestyle app and the first AI platform of its kind in the Middle East, developed in the United Arab Emirates, empowers over five million customers in its first year to seamlessly interact with their favourite brands, offering tailored insights, dynamic engagement, and smart lifestyle guidance across the entire Blue ecosystem of products and services.
Microsoft's commitment to the UAE is reflected in its continued investment in the country's digital economy, including its data centre regions and centres of excellence dedicated to finding solutions to pressing societal issues, such as the recently announced Centre for Responsible AI and the AI for Good Lab. In addition, Microsoft announced its commitment to opening a Microsoft Engineering Centre, a move to attract developers to the UAE to support the country's increasing need for cutting edge technologies.
Microsoft's dedication to the UAE is further reinforced through its partnership with G42. The two organisations have embarked on a strategic collaboration to enhance digital transformation in the UAE through a joint sovereign cloud and AI offering. To date, Core42 and Microsoft have enabled several customers from the public sector and highly regulated industries, including First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Department of Government Enablement (DGE), TAMM, International Holding Company (IHC), to accelerate their adoption of Microsoft Azure Public Cloud and AI transformation while maintaining full compliance with UAE cyber security regulations. This has unleashed home-grown innovation and enabled the creation of AI driven solutions that have benefited residents, customers and the UAE economy as a whole.
Image Credit: Microsoft
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tahawul Tech
18 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
Kaspersky & BI.ZONE reveal new cybercrime activity in GCC and Latin America
Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) in collaboration with Vulnerability Research experts, observed new 2025 activity associated with the PipeMagic backdoor originally discovered in December 2022. The backdoor has expanded its attack geography: initially observed in Asia, and afterwards detected in Saudi Arabia in late 2024. Recent attacks show sustained interest in Saudi organisations, alongside expansion into new regions, notably manufacturing companies in Brazil. The researchers tracked the malware's evolution, identified key changes in the operators' tactics, and conducted a technical analysis of Microsoft vulnerability CVE-2025-29824. This vulnerability was the only one among the 121 patched in April 2025 that was actively exploited in the wild. It was specifically targeted by an exploit integrated into the PipeMagic infection chain. The vulnerability allowed privilege escalation in the operating system due to a flaw in the logging driver. One of the 2025 campaign attacks leveraged a Microsoft Help Index File, which serves two purposes: decrypting and executing shellcode. The shellcode is encrypted using the RC4 stream cipher with a hexadecimal key. Once decrypted, the code is executed via the WinAPI EnumDisplayMonitors function, allowing dynamic resolution of system API addresses through process injection. Researchers also identified updated versions of the PipeMagic loader masquerading as a ChatGPT client. This application resembles the one used in the 2024 attacks on Saudi organisations — sharing the same Tokio and Tauri frameworks, the same libaes library version, and demonstrating similar file structures and behaviour. 'The reemergence of PipeMagic confirms that this malware remains active and continues to evolve. The 2024 versions introduced enhancements that improve persistence within victims' infrastructures and facilitate lateral movement within targeted networks,' comments Leonid Bezvershenko, senior security researcher at Kaspersky GReAT. 'In recent years, has become an increasingly popular target for cybercriminals, particularly financially motivated actors. They are leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities in this and other drivers to escalate privileges and conceal post-exploitation activities. To mitigate such threats, we recommend using EDR tools, which enable both early and post-exploitation detection of suspicious behaviour,' notes Pavel Blinnikov, Vulnerability Research Lead, PipeMagic is a backdoor first discovered by Kaspersky in 2022 during an investigation into a malicious campaign involving RansomExx. Victims at the time included industrial companies in Southeast Asia. The attackers exploited the CVE-2017-0144 vulnerability to gain access to internal infrastructure. The backdoor supports two operational modes — functioning either as a full-featured remote access tool or as a network proxy, enabling execution of a wide range of commands. In October 2024, a new iteration of PipeMagic was observed in attacks against organisations in Saudi Arabia, using a fake ChatGPT agent application as a lure. Read the full report on Image Credit: Kaspersky
Arabian Post
19 hours ago
- Arabian Post
US leads the charge in Saudi Arabia's greenfield investments
Greenlogue/AP The United States has solidified its position as the leading source of greenfield foreign direct investment in Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2025, with American companies backing 61 projects worth a total of $2.7 billion. This surge in American investments marks a significant shift in global investment trends, as US-based firms continue to bolster the Kingdom's economic diversification efforts under its Vision 2030 initiative. The surge in greenfield investments from the US is part of a broader pattern of growing foreign interest in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sectors, particularly technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. The nation's ambitious plans to diversify its economy away from oil dependency have been instrumental in attracting foreign capital, with the US leading the charge. ADVERTISEMENT Saudi Arabia's push for foreign investments aligns with its goals to diversify its economy and create more job opportunities for its young population. This strategy, outlined in the Vision 2030 blueprint, has been bolstered by several policy shifts, including regulatory reforms and incentives aimed at attracting foreign capital. American investors have been particularly active in the Kingdom's burgeoning tech and infrastructure sectors. Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla have already established or expanded their operations, with further expansion expected in the coming months. The US is also a key player in Saudi Arabia's growing renewable energy sector, with several partnerships focused on solar and wind energy development. The Kingdom's substantial investments in infrastructure and technological advancements are creating a fertile environment for foreign companies to set up operations in Saudi Arabia. Greenfield projects, where companies build new facilities or expand existing operations, have become an important avenue for foreign investment. These projects help to transfer technology, create jobs, and stimulate local economies, all of which are in line with Saudi Arabia's long-term economic goals. The influx of greenfield investments comes as part of a broader global shift towards increased international business ties with Saudi Arabia. While US companies have historically played a significant role in the Kingdom's economy, their increased participation in new sectors demonstrates the country's growing importance as a regional and global business hub. As part of the broader geopolitical landscape, the US's economic engagement in Saudi Arabia also serves to strengthen bilateral ties, with trade and investment acting as key pillars of the relationship. Despite these impressive figures, there remains a level of caution among some investors, especially concerning regional political risks and potential regulatory challenges. However, Saudi Arabia has been proactive in addressing such concerns through ongoing reforms aimed at improving its business climate. The introduction of measures such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the creation of new free trade zones have been central to the country's strategy of attracting long-term foreign investments. Greenfield FDI has grown consistently in recent years, driven by Saudi Arabia's incentives aimed at foreign investors, including tax breaks, capital allowances, and access to the lucrative GCC market. The country's strategic location, coupled with its vast resources and rapidly growing population, makes it an attractive destination for companies looking to expand in the Middle East and beyond. Industry experts note that this rise in greenfield investments reflects both the increasing attractiveness of Saudi Arabia as an investment destination and the ongoing confidence American firms have in the Kingdom's economic trajectory. Several high-profile announcements of joint ventures and new projects, particularly in technology and infrastructure, signal a long-term commitment to the Saudi market. The United States' dominance in this segment is not merely a reflection of the scale of the investments but also a strategic move to capitalise on Saudi Arabia's expanding economy. As the Kingdom continues to shift away from an oil-centric economic model, American companies are positioning themselves to play a pivotal role in the country's diversification efforts.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Microsoft workers protest at company HQ against Israeli ties
Microsoft employees rallied at the company's Redmond, Washington, headquarters to try to increase pressure on the company to stop doing business with Israel over its war in Gaza. Protesters started gathering on Tuesday afternoon at a plaza at the centre of a recently redeveloped part of the company's main base, which covers about 200 hectares in the suburban town. They set up tents and declared the space a 'liberated zone". Addressing 'friends and colleagues' through a microphone, former Microsoft employee and protest leader Hossam Nasr said: 'We are here because over 22 months of genocide, Israel — powered by Microsoft — has been killing, maiming Palestinian children every hour.' About an hour after the activists arrived, a Redmond police officer used his SUV speaker to warn they were trespassing and subject to arrest if they stayed. Soon after, the about three dozen demonstrators packed up their tents, rolled up their banners and departed the plaza. They reassembled on a slice of sidewalk that organisers said was public property. For more than a year, the Microsoft employee group No Azure for Apartheid, has been pushing Microsoft to end its relationship with Israel, saying use of the company's products is contributing to civilian deaths in Gaza. Azure, the company's cloud-computing division, sells on-demand software and data storage to businesses and governments, including Israeli government and military agencies. A handful of No Azure for Apartheid organisers have been fired for holding what Microsoft said was an unauthorised event on campus and disrupting speeches by executives. 'Microsoft is the most complicit digital arms manufacturer in Israel's genocide of Gaza,' Nisreen Jaradat, a Microsoft employee, said in a statement on Tuesday. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a blog post published in May, the company said it had 'found no evidence to date that Microsoft's Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza". But Microsoft said this month that it had enlisted the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct a further review after a report that Israel's military surveillance agency intercepted millions of mobile phone calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and stored them on Azure servers. That trove helped the military choose bombing targets in Gaza, according to reporting by The Guardian newspaper and other outlets. The activists took their inspiration from protests staged on at least 100 US university campuses since the war in Gaza began. Students at schools such as Columbia University pitched tents and called for their colleges to divest financial holdings tied to Israel and US weapons makers, in many cases sparking disciplinary action from administrators.
