Latest news with #AlfredManasseh
Web Release
16-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
6 Ways the UAE Government Is Using AI to Deliver Smarter Public Services
AI is revolutionising how governments serve their people, and in the Middle East, nowhere is this more evident than in the UAE. With AI expected to contribute nearly 14% of the UAE's GDP by 2030, the government has adopted a proactive, strategic blueprint for integration, building dedicated platforms and mechanisms designed to capture AI's full potential. As one of the first nations in the region to embrace AI, the UAE has strategically embedded its use across public services, from legal systems to urban planning, to build a data-driven, immersive, and future-ready government that transforms citizen experiences. Alfred Manasseh, COO & Co-Founder of Shaffra, dives into the key ways the UAE government is putting AI to work across its public service ecosystem. 24/7 Virtual Assistants for Public Queries These intelligent bots use natural language processing and machine learning to answer questions, guide users through applications, and provide real-time updates. From digital avatars that greet visitors on official portals to chatbots integrated across service websites, this approach reduces wait times and relieves pressure on human agents. Citizens benefit from faster, more consistent support, while government teams can focus on complex, high-value issues. These tools are already operational across various ministries, streamlining workflows and elevating the standard of public interaction. Metaverse Government Offices The Ministry of Economy has launched a full-scale virtual replica of its Abu Dhabi headquarters, accessible to anyone, anywhere. Visitors can enter using a virtual ticket, attend meetings, network through avatars, and even sign legally binding agreements. Audio-enabled customer service agents offer a more immersive experience than traditional web portals. This initiative goes beyond novelty; it ensures accessibility, convenience, and round-the-clock support. As global business becomes more borderless, the UAE's metaverse office signals a bold step toward future-ready governance. AI in Urban Planning and Infrastructure Dubai Municipality is using AI-enhanced Building Information Modelling (BIM) and geographic data analytics to optimise land usage and improve urban infrastructure. These tools help planners design eco-efficient buildings, align with green goals, and reduce resource consumption. With AI, design time is projected to drop by 40% , and resource efficiency may improve by 35%. This smart integration allows cities to grow sustainably, keeping pace with rapid urbanisation without compromising on quality or aesthetics. The UAE's approach is becoming a blueprint for AI-driven development worldwide. Smart Service Delivery via Predictive Analytics Initiatives by the Digital Dubai Authority have set the foundation for high-quality data governance and AI deployment. AI systems sift through massive data sets to forecast service demand, detect patterns, and make proactive decisions. This results in smarter resource allocation and more personalised citizen services. Whether predicting traffic congestion, public health needs, or social support requirements, AI enables public institutions to move from reactive to anticipatory service delivery, building citizen trust and satisfaction through reliable, timely interventions. Automating Licensing and Legal Services The Legislative Intelligence Office maps national legislation, integrates it with real-time economic data and court rulings, and suggests amendments accordingly. This could cut legislative drafting time by up to 70%. Additionally, the UAE is rolling out AI legal advisors and bots that guide citizens through family law and other legal processes. The country is also benchmarking against global standards by linking to international policy research centres. These tools are helping the government stay agile, ensure legal consistency, and improve public access to justice. AI-Powered Virtual Employees Supporting Citizens 'Aisha' is a generative AI assistant deployed by the Ministry of Justice to offer legal advice, draft applications, and answer court-related queries using an extensive legal database. Stationed in courts, Aisha interacts with both the public and legal professionals. Aisha can also write requests, generate audio and visual content, and provide case-based advice informed by millions of historical cases, far beyond the experience of any individual legal practitioner. Companies like Shaffra deploy AI employees to handle repetitive tasks such as data entry, reporting, and customer queries, freeing up human teams for strategic, high-impact work. Some clients report up to a 40% increase in output and improved employee satisfaction. By embedding AI into its very core, the UAE government isn't just adopting technology; it is reimagining governance. The country stands as a regional leader in digital public services, setting benchmarks in efficiency, innovation, and citizen satisfaction.
Tahawul Tech
12-03-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
'Our partnership with STC is a game-changer to enterprise AI adoption in the region.' – Alfred Manasseh, Shaffra
CNME Editor Mark Forker sat down with Alfred Manasseh, COO & Co-Founder of Shaffra, to find out how the company is redefining AI-driven automation, the significance of its partnership with Saudi telecommunications giant STC – and his view on the rise of Agentic AI. Shaffra has branded itself as a 'deep tech' company. However, can you please elaborate on what the company does and what your mission statement is as an organization? Shaffra is redefining AI-driven automation by developing exclusive technology that not only enables AI Employees to process data but also understand intent and take action autonomously. While many AI solutions rely solely on Large Language Models (LLMs) for text-based outputs, Shaffra's AI Workforce operates on a more advanced model that allows AI to execute real-world tasks based on contextual understanding. Through our AI Workforce Trainer, businesses can customize AI Employees to align with their industry-specific workflows, corporate culture, and communication styles. Unlike traditional chatbots or automation tools, our AI Employees can understand business intent and determine the right actions to take, interact across multiple systems such as CRMs, ERPs and databases without requiring separate integrations, and independently handle business operations, from compliance management to customer engagement and sales follow-ups. Our mission is to help make businesses more efficient by reducing operational costs up to 80%, minimizing errors by up to 95% and enhancing productivity by 10,000%. Driven by rapid growth in the GCC, technology investments are set to reach $24.7 billion by 2030. By bridging the gap between AI intelligence and real-world execution, Shaffra is shaping the future of work with truly autonomous AI. During LEAP 2025 in Riyadh, Shaffra announced a major partnership with Saudi telecoms behemoth STC. Can you please provide more information on what this AI-centered partnership will entail – and how it will help enterprises reduce operational costs? Our partnership with Saudi Telecom (STC) is a game-changer to enterprise AI adoption in the region. This collaboration will integrate Shaffra's AI Employees into STC's digital transformation initiatives, offering automated business solutions that drive efficiency across multiple sectors. This AI-centered partnership will include Intelligent Process Automation, a tool that reduces manual effort by helping employees handle data management, compliance, customer interactions, and administrative tasks. AI models analyze business data in real time to enable faster and more accurate strategic decisions, while reducing costs by 80% and raising productivity. Employees will have Enterprise-Wide Accessibility via WhatsApp, email, corporate communication tools, and digital platforms ensuring seamless communication with their AI counterparts. This partnership highlights the tangible and positive effect an AI powered workforce can have in the real world, positioning Shaffra and STC at the center of the region's AI revolution. Many analysts have suggested that 2025 will be the year of 'Agentic AI'. How would you define Agentic AI, and can you explain how your AI workforce solutions can empower employees to make better and faster decisions? Agentic AI refers to AI systems that operate independently, learning from interactions to make decisions and execute tasks without constant human supervision. Unlike traditional AI, Agentic AI is proactive, adaptive, and context-aware, making it a key enabler of business automation. Shaffra's AI Employees embody Agentic AI by analyzing data to anticipate business needs, making real-time decisions by managing workflows to ensure faster execution, streamlining business operations through clear communication with employees and reducing errors by 95% through proper data verification. By integrating Agentic AI into the workforce, Shaffra is helping businesses operate more efficiently, minimize delays, and make smarter, data-driven decisions at scale. How important was an event like LEAP for Shaffra, in terms of allowing you to demonstrate your portfolio of solutions and project your overall message as a company? LEAP 2025 was significant for Shaffra as it gave us a global platform to showcase the power of AI-driven workforce solutions. At LEAP, we demonstrated how our AI Employees streamline business processes through Live AI Employee Integrations. We also announced major partnerships with Saudi Telecom (STC) and Omantel to provide Agentic AI solutions to Saudi companies and support Oman's telecom and enterprise sectors with AI-driven automation. We were also able to highlight how businesses can almost eliminate operational errors and costs while rapidly increasing efficiency by adopting AI workforce solutions. Participation at LEAP has reinforced Shaffra's role as a market leader, attracting key industry stakeholders and solidifying our position as the go-to provider of AI workforce solutions. Shaffra operates in a competitive marketplace, but what would you say ultimately differentiates you from your market rivals? Shaffra is changing the face of the AI workforce by delivering fully integrated, independent AI Employees that go beyond traditional technology. We understand that penetration of GenAI is heavy in the Middle East, with 81% of employees having used it in the workplace over the past 12 months. Our services stand out because we offer seamless AI workforce integration, where our AI employees work within existing business systems without disruptive overhauls. Through AI Workforce Trainer, customers get a personalized AI employee who operates according to their business model. These AI employees are completely adaptable to business sizes from SMEs to multinationals, easily accessible through different enterprise tools and digital platforms, and offer tangible return on investment, increasing productivity by 60%, reducing errors to near zero, and decreasing costs by 80%. At Shaffra, our focus is to provide a comprehensive AI workforce solution that integrates seamlessly into any industry, any workflow, and any business model.
