Latest news with #Alshamsi
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Al Etihad
UAE's homegrown tech startups showcase nation's innovation drive at VivaTech in Paris
16 June 2025 00:11 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)UAE innovators and tech startups have showcased a diverse array of products, services, and solutions on the global stage, reinforcing the country's growing influence as a hub for digital advancement and by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, the UAE participated in VivaTech 2025, held in Paris from June 11 to 14. More than 50 entities offered European entrepreneurs and investors a compelling glimpse into the UAE's rapidly evolving tech the participants were three startups backed by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), each introducing cutting-edge developments spanning artificial intelligence, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and sustainable biochar solutions. Vcharge's EV Infrastructure Vcharge, one of the KFED-backed firms at VivaTech, has been supporting the UAE's Net Zero 2050 vision by developing and deploying EV charging solutions, making it easier for motorists to make the switch to green company has so far installed more than 8,000 chargers across the country — from private residences to commercial establishments, said Abdulaziz Saoud Alshamsi, Founder and CEO of Vcharge.'We focus on local manufacturing and the development of smart, cloud-based solutions that cater to the specific needs of the UAE market,' Alshamsi told has designed charging stations that are resilient to high temperatures, as well as software and apps that enhance the customer experience, he added.'By building our own software platforms and mobile apps, we also ensure digital sovereignty — keeping control of critical infrastructure within the UAE', Alshamsi Vcharge founder admitted that scaling EV solutions is both costly and complex but with the support from KFED, the company grew and landed key thousands of successful installations in its track record, the company is now eyeing to move beyond the country's borders. 'To enter markets like France and the EU, Vcharge plans to adjust its technology to comply with regional regulations, such as the Open Charge Point Protocol, ensuring interoperability with existing infrastructure,' Alshamsi said, adding that partnerships with local entities are also in the works to better meet the needs of the EU market.'Vcharge aims to establish strategic partnerships with European technology firms and research institutions to enhance our R&D capabilities,' the founder said. HyveGeo's Carbon Sinks Another UAE startup at VivaTech presented a biochar technology that transforms desert land into productive carbon sinks.A carbon sink refers to a reservoir that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — and HyveGeo's innovation does the job well.'Our biochar not only locks away carbon for over 1,000 years, but also restores degraded soils — improving food security and water retention in arid zones,' HyveGeo Founder and Director Abdulaziz bin Reda told creates microbe-enriched biochar tailored to arid regions, helping restore soil health and combat climate change while supporting global environmental goals through carbon implementing localised pilot programmes, the company has drastically reduced soil recovery time from five to seven years to only 30 days, while also boosting plant growth by 200%, as confirmed by third-party laboratories and advanced digital monitoring managed to overcome initial doubts and infrastructure challenges by conducting local trials, using modular technology, and receiving support from both UAE and international incubators, bin Reda company is now looking to deploy its systems in Europe. 'Our systems scale easily and are well-suited to Europe's decentralised agriculture,'bin Reda said.'We are working with EU regulators, carbon registries, and soil scientists to localise our solutions and ensure compliance.'HyveGeo seeks to 'pilot recovery projects, co-develop new formulations, and scale nature-based carbon removal across the region', bin Reda said. SENIAR's AI ChatbotUAE-based AI platform SENIAR also took its chatbot solutions to VivaTech, highlighting the deep local roots of its technology. 'SENIAR's AI platform is designed to empower digital sovereignty by offering a locally built, culturally adapted chatbot solution that aligns with the UAE's digital transformation agenda. Our innovation reduces reliance on foreign AI tools and supports secure, Arabic-native interactions, enhancing public and private sector efficiency,' said Abdullah Albadi, Founder of SENIAR the tech sphere, the company initially faced legal and trust issues but with the support of KFED, it managed to build its platform now trusted by government and enterprise clients, SENIAR is looking to scale up and expand its global footprint.'We are preparing to align with European standards such as GDPR, ensuring ethical AI usage, secure data practices, and multilingual support,' Albadi told plans to co-develop with EU partners and offer tech solutions that are rooted in the Gulf region.'Unlike generic global solutions, SENIAR is deeply rooted in the cultural, linguistic, and operational realities of the Gulf region,' he said. 'We also design our systems to perform reliably in environments with connectivity or infrastructure challenges, reflecting regional climate and usage conditions.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Dubai man flew to Britain for sex with 13-year-old girl
A man who flew to Britain from Dubai to have sex with a 13-year-old girl he groomed online was relaxing in a hotel spa and wellness centre when he was arrested by police. Hamdan Alshamsi, 21, a university student from Abu Dhabi, met the vulnerable schoolgirl on the social media site Snapchat and bombarded her with messages for months. When she agreed to meet him, he flew to the UK and checked into a four-star seafront hotel in Brighton. The paedophile then booked an Uber taxi to bring the girl to the hotel where he spent two days sexually assaulting her in his room. Police who traced the victim to the hotel using her mobile phone, discovered Alshamsi enjoying spa treatments in the wellness centre. He was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after admitting three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The girl's distraught parents said Alshamsi had destroyed their daughter's innocence and had left her with severe psychological damage for which she requires ongoing counselling. Her mother said: 'He has taken away our little girl. He took away the virginity of a girl who should be learning about sex education at school and not having sex with a grown adult. 'She was honest with him and told him her age. He knew what he was doing, what he was coming over here for.' Lewes Crown Court heard how Alshamsi first made contact with the Year 9 pupil on Snapchat last year, telling her he was just 16. Bombarding her with sexually explicit messages, he offered to travel to the UK so they could meet up. On Christmas Eve last year Alshamsi flew from his home in Abu Dhabi to Britain and on Dec 27 checked into a £250 a night room at the Hilton Brighton Metropole. He then booked an Uber to collect the girl from her home and drop her off at the hotel, where he spent two days sexually abusing her. Police launched an urgent hunt for the teenager and using a signal from her mobile phone were able to pinpoint her location to Brighton. Detectives spent hours scouring the coastline around the city before narrowing the search down to the hotel. She was eventually located in a hotel corridor where she told police she just wanted to be with her mother. A subsequent search of Alshamsi's room found condoms, a whipped cream canister, lubricant and vodka he had purchased. He was tracked down to the hotel spa, where he was relaxing and enjoying luxury treatments. The victim's family said the girl was so traumatised by what had happened she was now on constant 'suicide watch' and was not allowed to go anywhere by herself. Her mother told Lewes Crown Court: 'I am worried she is going to be a volcano and explode in some way. She wants life to be normal but he has taken away our little girl. She has been to a doctor and is on suicide watch. 'He knew what he was doing coming over here. He got her to leave home alone.' Will Saunders, prosecuting, said Alshamsi had shown clear 'grooming behaviour' and planned his trip in detail. He said the 'grooming' and 'planning' was all done with sex in mind. In mitigation Daniel Darnbrough, defending, said Alshamsi had brought shame on his respectable family and his four sisters were 'disgusted' by his behaviour. Sentencing him, Judge Mark van der Zwart, said: 'From your home you used social media to groom and lure a 13-year-old girl from the safety of her parents and siblings. She was just a child, you were anything but. This was appallingly predatory behaviour.' Judge Mark van der Zwart also sentenced him to a sexual harm prevention order and said he would be deported when he is freed. Speaking after the case Det Insp Sean Booth, from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: 'This was a distressing case which showed the lengths Alshamsi was prepared to go to engage in sexual activity with a young teenage girl. She was vulnerable, and he exploited her trust. 'I would also like to praise the professionalism of our officers from Brighton Response and our Neighbourhood Policing Team who completed an extended search of the seafront and a meticulous search inside the hotel which ensured the victim was brought safely back to her family, and that Alshamsi was arrested swiftly. 'Thanks to this work, Alshamsi had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences when presented with the evidence from our investigation.' He said the victim and her family had shown considerable 'bravery' throughout the investigation and she had received one-to-one support from specially-trained officers. He said: 'We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of child sexual exploitation and sexual offences to come forward and report their experience to us.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Telegraph
Dubai man flew to Britain for sex with 13-year-old girl
He was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after admitting three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The girl's distraught parents said Alshamsi had destroyed their daughter's innocence and had left her with severe psychological damage for which she requires ongoing counselling. Her mother said: 'He has taken away our little girl. He took away the virginity of a girl who should be learning about sex education at school and not having sex with a grown adult. 'She was honest with him and told him her age. He knew what he was doing, what he was coming over here for.' Lewes Crown Court heard how Alshamsi first made contact with the Year 9 pupil on Snapchat last year, telling her he was just 16. Bombarding her with sexually explicit messages, he offered to travel to the UK so they could meet up. On Christmas Eve last year Alshamsi flew from his home in Abu Dhabi to Britain and on Dec 27 checked into a £250 a night room at the Hilton Brighton Metropole. He then booked an Uber to collect the girl from her home and drop her off at the hotel, where he spent two days sexually abusing her. Police launched an urgent hunt for the teenager and using a signal from her mobile phone were able to pinpoint her location to Brighton. Detectives spent hours scouring the coastline around the city before narrowing the search down to the hotel. She was eventually located in a hotel corridor where she told police she just wanted to be with her mother. A subsequent search of Alshamsi's room found condoms, a whipped cream canister, lubricant and vodka he had purchased. He was tracked down to the hotel spa, where he was relaxing and enjoying luxury treatments. Victim on suicide watch The victim's family said the girl was so traumatised by what had happened she was now on constant 'suicide watch' and was not allowed to go anywhere by herself. Her mother told Lewes Crown Court: 'I am worried she is going to be a volcano and explode in some way. She wants life to be normal but he has taken away our little girl. She has been to a doctor and is on suicide watch. 'He knew what he was doing coming over here. He got her to leave home alone.' Will Saunders, prosecuting, said Alshamsi had shown clear 'grooming behaviour' and planned his trip in detail. He said the ' grooming ' and 'planning' was all done with sex in mind. In mitigation Daniel Darnbrough, defending, said Alshamsi had brought shame on his respectable family and his four sisters were 'disgusted' by his behaviour. Sentencing him, Judge Mark van der Zwart, said: 'From your home you used social media to groom and lure a 13-year-old girl from the safety of her parents and siblings. She was just a child, you were anything but. This was appallingly predatory behaviour.' Judge Mark van der Zwart also sentenced him to a sexual harm prevention order and said he would be deported when he is freed. Speaking after the case Det Insp Sean Booth, from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: 'This was a distressing case which showed the lengths Alshamsi was prepared to go to engage in sexual activity with a young teenage girl. She was vulnerable, and he exploited her trust. 'I would also like to praise the professionalism of our officers from Brighton Response and our Neighbourhood Policing Team who completed an extended search of the seafront and a meticulous search inside the hotel which ensured the victim was brought safely back to her family, and that Alshamsi was arrested swiftly. 'Thanks to this work, Alshamsi had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences when presented with the evidence from our investigation.' He said the victim and her family had shown considerable 'bravery' throughout the investigation and she had received one-to-one support from specially-trained officers. He said: 'We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of child sexual exploitation and sexual offences to come forward and report their experience to us.'
Gulf Business
28-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
How IRTH Group and Rove Hotels are crafting urban living
Image: Supplied The collaboration between Founded by the Alshamsi family, IRTH Group is a real estate investment platform focused on value creation, innovation, and modern living experiences. The name 'IRTH,' meaning 'past, present, and future' in Arabic, reflects the company's long-term commitment to quality and innovation in real estate. Known for its presence in the long-stay hotel segment, Rove Hotels has expanded into the branded residence space with Rove Home. With a shared commitment to providing accessible urban living solutions, the partnership has launched more than 1,800 residential units in the past 18 months, amounting to a development value exceeding Dhs3bn. Highlights include the flagship Rove Home Downtown Dubai. The project launched in September 2023 and was sold out within two weeks. This was followed by Rove Home Marasi Drive in Business Bay, and more recently, Rove Home Dubai Marina, which was recognised as the 'Best New Lifestyle Project of the Year 2024' by Gulf Business. Rove Home residences: Community at its core Rove Home residences are crafted to appeal to young professionals, couples, and small families seeking a balanced lifestyle in central locations. These properties incorporate smart design, modern amenities, and a strong sense of community. Additionally, owners benefit from access to services and perks across all Rove Home properties and Rove Hotels, enhancing the overall living experience. Paul Bridger, COO of Rove Hotels, highlighted the motivation behind the Rove Home concept: 'Rove Home was born from a desire to redefine the branded residences space, making them accessible to a wider audience and infusing Rove's modern and dynamic ethos into a segment traditionally dominated by luxury brands. 'Future residents can expect not only well-designed, unique properties in prime locations but also the benefit of being part of the larger Rove community, which extends across all Rove properties.' Osman Celiker, CEO of IRTH Group, emphasised the vision behind the developments: 'At IRTH, our vision is rooted in the future, creating lifestyle destinations for next-generation living. Rove Home developments are changing the way real estate is experienced. 'With innovative design, functional efficiency, smart features, vibrant communities, and modern conveniences, our projects cater to a new generation of dynamic homeowners and smart investors.' Expanding the Rove Home concept The Rove Home concept is set for significant growth, with plans to introduce 3,000 new residences over the next five years. Designed for professionals and investors, these residences offer prime locations, integrated amenities, and superior connectivity, addressing the demand for practical yet well-designed living spaces. In a market often focused on ultra-luxury developments, Rove Home provides a distinctive alternative that balances quality and affordability.
