Latest news with #DigitalKnowledgeHub
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
How the UAE Is using artificial intelligence to build the world's largest Arabic language resources
The UAE is using AI to digitise 20 million Arabic words, 800,000 books, and develop native Arabic language models/Representative image The United Arab Emirates is spearheading an ambitious national strategy to preserve and modernise the Arabic language using artificial intelligence. From comprehensive digital dictionaries to AI-powered readability tools and homegrown language models, the UAE's cross-sectoral efforts aim to enhance Arabic's global digital presence while protecting its cultural and linguistic heritage. Building a digital future for Arabic: National-level projects The UAE has launched several initiatives across publishing, education, and technology sectors to digitise and modernise the Arabic language. These efforts are backed by prominent institutions, with government support driving integration of AI across platforms and tools. Historical dictionary of the Arabic language: Developed by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, this project documents the evolution of Arabic through history. It consists of 127 volumes and includes over 20 million words. The dictionary is now available in a GPT-enabled interface, allowing users to explore its vast database interactively. Users can read, write, and even convert content into video, with regular updates and collaborative features enabled through a partnership with the Emirates Scholar Research Centre. Digital Knowledge Hub: Run by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, this initiative is a centralised platform for digital Arabic content . The Hub has collected 800,000+ titles and 8.5 million digital assets sourced from 18+ libraries. Its purpose is to consolidate Arabic knowledge in a structured digital format and expand global access to Arabic content. AI-powered dictionary by Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre: A landmark tool in digital publishing, this is the first Arabic-English AI dictionary of its kind. It features 7,000+ contemporary Arabic terms AI-based automated pronunciation Simplified, accessible definitions Computational linguistics tools for precision and usability These projects are setting a foundation for future Arabic language learning, content creation, and digital access at a global scale. AI meets education and readability: Corpus and learning tools The integration of AI into Arabic language education and research is another central pillar of the UAE's strategy. BAREC (Balanced Arabic Readability Corpus): Launched in 2023 by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi and Zayed University, this project aims to collect a 10 million-word linguistic corpus. It includes content from diverse genres and countries, focusing on text readability levels. Key objectives of BAREC include: Annotating the corpus using spelling, grammar, and vocabulary complexity Enabling AI tools to automatically assess and classify text readability Supporting Arabic language learning and improving reading comprehension Open-sourcing the data for the research community to enhance Arabic linguistic tools Readability, as a concept, plays a crucial role in language acquisition, academic performance, and tailored content delivery—especially important in educational settings. Falcon Arabic : UAE's homegrown AI language model The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), under the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), is leading AI model development with a sharp focus on Arabic. Falcon Arabic: Unlike many large language models that rely on translated datasets, Falcon Arabic is built on native Arabic-language data, including Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. Its unique value lies in capturing linguistic nuances, cultural context, and regional variation more effectively. Highlights of Falcon Arabic: Competes with models up to 10x its size Optimised for performance with reduced computational load Developed entirely within the UAE, reinforcing data sovereignty and localisation Falcon H1: A more compact version that reportedly outperforms Meta and Alibaba's comparable models, Falcon H1 maintains high performance with lower technical requirements. Despite a strong start, Falcon models have faced user adoption and ranking challenges compared to global competitors like Meta and DeepSeek (China). TII's broader mission includes AI, quantum computing, robotics, and more. Since its founding in May 2020, it has positioned Abu Dhabi as a regional R&D hub in next-gen tech. Technology in publishing and international collaboration The UAE's publishing industry is being reimagined with AI at its core. Digital square at Abu Dhabi international Book fair: This new initiative showcases how technology—particularly AI—is reshaping publishing. The space functions as an innovation zone, highlighting the digital transformation of literature, academic texts, and learning materials. AI in classrooms: Educational institutions across the UAE are integrating AI tools in Arabic language instruction. The goal is to future-proof learning environments by combining traditional language preservation with modern digital competency. International partnerships: A major milestone was an AI agreement signed during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit, facilitating Emirati access to advanced American AI semiconductors. This deal has strategic implications, empowering UAE's domestic AI development.
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE harnesses AI to boost Arabic language global reach
11 Aug 2025 13:36 ABU DHABI (WAM)The UAE has set a model in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate the Arabic language and its cultural heritage into the digital sphere, boosting its regional and global presence as a language capable of meeting future state institutions are rolling out AI-driven initiatives in sectors such as publishing, education, lexicography, and creative of the leading projects is the Historical Dictionary of Arabic Language, a monumental scientific achievement completed last year by Sharjah, the "Capital of Arab Culture."The project documents the evolution of the Arabic language throughout was followed by the launch of the 'GPT Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language' project, which utilises modern innovations to serve and disseminate the language globally. Linked to AI, the dictionary offers researchers and enthusiasts with over 20 million Arabic also enables them to write and read texts, convert them into videos, and continuously feed the dictionary with new information through a collaboration between the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah and the Emirates Scholar Research the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation is advancing digital culture and knowledge in the Arab world and globally through initiatives including the 'Digital Knowledge Hub,' an Arabic platform for producing, collecting, and organising digital content. Last year, it surpassed 800,000 titles and 8.5 million digital items across more than 18 specialised Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, has launched several AI-based publishing projects, including a specialised digital dictionary to support digital Arabic is the first comprehensive Arabic-English dictionary employing AI and computational dictionary covers over 7,000 core modern terms, offering automated pronunciation, simplified definitions, examples, images, and precise grammatical and semantic collaboration with a team from New York University Abu Dhabi and Zayed University, the centre launched the Balanced Arabic Readability Corpus project 'BAREC,' which aims to collect a linguistic corpus of 10 million words encompassing a wide range of literary genres and most recent edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair saw the launch of the "Digital Square" initiative, a technical space that provided a platform to enhance the use of AI in publishing and books. Furthermore, many educational institutions have been keen to launch diverse initiatives to promote the use of AI and modern technologies in teaching the Arabic language.
Mid East Info
24-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Ministry of Culture's delegation visits Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation to Explore Future Collaboration
A delegation from the Ministry of Culture, led by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, visited the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) to strengthen knowledge and creative partnerships. The delegation was received by His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, who presented MBRF's leading projects and initiatives in knowledge dissemination and production, innovation support, entrepreneurship, and the development of knowledge-based human capital. During the meeting, MBRF's team highlighted key achievements of its initiatives aimed at empowering society through knowledge, including the Digital Knowledge Hub and Bil Arabi initiative. In turn, the Ministry's delegation discussed its own projects and initiatives, exchanging best practices with MBRF. The discussions also explored potential collaboration in several MBRF initiatives, such as the Reading Index Project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as opportunities for cooperation during National Reading Month. These efforts aim to contribute to knowledge dissemination, enhance the quality of Arabic content, and advance the UAE's knowledge development goals. The meeting reaffirmed both parties' commitment to fostering mutual collaboration in support of high-impact projects, further solidifying the UAE's position as a global hub for knowledge and innovation.
Web Release
22-02-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Ministry of Culture's delegation visits Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation to Explore Future Collaboration
By Editor_wr Last updated Feb 21, 2025 A delegation from the Ministry of Culture, led by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, visited the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) to strengthen knowledge and creative partnerships. The delegation was received by His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, who presented MBRF's leading projects and initiatives in knowledge dissemination and production, innovation support, entrepreneurship, and the development of knowledge-based human capital. During the meeting, MBRF's team highlighted key achievements of its initiatives aimed at empowering society through knowledge, including the Digital Knowledge Hub and Bil Arabi initiative. In turn, the Ministry's delegation discussed its own projects and initiatives, exchanging best practices with MBRF. The discussions also explored potential collaboration in several MBRF initiatives, such as the Reading Index Project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as opportunities for cooperation during National Reading Month. These efforts aim to contribute to knowledge dissemination, enhance the quality of Arabic content, and advance the UAE's knowledge development goals. The meeting reaffirmed both parties' commitment to fostering mutual collaboration in support of high-impact projects, further solidifying the UAE's position as a global hub for knowledge and innovation. Comments are closed.
Mid East Info
21-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
With over 3.1 million visitors MBRF's Digital Knowledge Hub expands to users from 171 countries in 2024 - Middle East Business News and Information
The Digital Knowledge Hub (DKH), an initiative by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), reached a significant global milestone in 2024 by providing its services to users in over 171 countries. This achievement underscores the platform's commitment to supporting researchers, students, and readers of all ages and disciplines by offering a comprehensive digital knowledge base accessible to both Arab and international audiences. The number of visits to DKH's website is expected to triple in 2025. The DKH platform significantly contributes to bridging the digital and knowledge gap in the Arab world by producing, collecting, and curating digital information within an integrated system, while enhancing online content. Furthermore, the platform offers comprehensive solutions for building digital libraries, archives, and institutional repositories. It also provides diverse content across all knowledge sectors with seamless and free accessibility. In 2024, the platform witnessed substantial growth, reaching over 3.1 million visitors, a 356 percent increase compared to 2023. Last year, it attracted 367,000 new users and expanded its content to over 800,000 titles and 8.5 million digital materials across 18 specialized libraries in various academic, intellectual, and scientific fields. His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said: 'We consider knowledge a powerful tool that not only has the potential to empower individuals but also strengthens communities and drives their development. In this light, MBRF is dedicated to creating and regularly updating high-quality digital resources that are accurate, comprehensive, and easily accessible to everyone. Investing in knowledge means investing in the future, as it contributes to empowering youth and inspiring them to actively participate in community development.' H.E. bin Huwaireb added: 'The platform's remarkable achievements align with our objectives of fostering innovation and learning and opening new avenues for collaboration with academic and knowledge institutions worldwide. Moreover, they support our wise leadership's vision of positioning Dubai as a global hub for science and thought driven by a strong knowledge-based economy.' In line with its future plans, DKH seeks to expand its content to cover new fields, increase the number of specialized libraries and strengthen partnerships with academic and knowledge institutions to provide access to the most recent materials and digital content. These plans align with MBRF's objectives to provide accessible digital solutions that enable the development of knowledge-based institutions and society, further reinforcing DKH's position as a leading provider of digital knowledge in the Arab world and beyond.
