Latest news with #G42
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
The Gulf bets big on AI as it seeks the 'new oil'
When Donald Trump touched down in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year, he arrived not just with headlines, but with deals, ambition, and AI US president was given a royal welcome, but the real centrepiece of the visit was the announcement of a sprawling new AI campus - a joint UAE-US as the largest AI infrastructure hub outside the US, it symbolised the Gulf's boldest bid yet to plant itself at the heart of the global AI visit to the Gulf also coincided with a strategic shift, which saw the White House easing restrictions on exporting the most powerful microchips from US firm Nvidia to both the UAE and Saudi move underscored how much the US now sees its Gulf allies as partners in a wider technological Gulf states are deploying their sovereign wealth, geography, and energy edge (lots of oil) to position themselves as AI hubs. Technology is central to their plans to reduce future dependence on earnings from fossil fuels. The UAE, in particular, is leading the charge. And data centres lie at the heart of this effort. Abu Dhabi has announced a massive data centre cluster for OpenAI and other US firms as part of the "Stargate" multibillion dollar deal is being funded by G42, an Emirati state-linked tech firm driving the country's AI ambitions. Nvidia will supply its most advanced chips. Tech giants Cisco and Oracle, along with Japan's SoftBank, are also working with G42 to build the first phase."Just like Emirates helped turn the UAE into a global hub for air travel, now the UAE is at a stage where it can become an AI and data hub," says Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna, the UAE's largest data centre operator. Khazna, which is majority owned by G42, is building the infrastructure for Stargate. The company currently operates 29 data centres across the UAE. The UAE and Saudi Arabia want to host the data centres needed to train powerful AI models. "Compute is the new oil," says Mohammed Soliman, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington the context of AI, compute refers to the vast processing power enabled by high-end chips and large-scale data centres - the kind the Gulf is now investing billions to build. In today's AI-driven world, infrastructure is the new fuel - in the same way oil was in the industrial Soliman says that just as Gulf-based oil companies powered the global economy in the last century, AI firms in the region now want to offer "compute" to power the global economy of the 21st. Gulf sovereign funds have poured billions into foreign tech giants in recent years. But now, they are pivoting from being passive investors to more active Saudi Arabia, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched a national AI company - Humain - which plans to build "AI factories" powered by several hundred thousand Nvidia chips over the next five the UAE, state-owned investment firm Mubadala has backed G42 and MGFX - a $100bn (£75bn) AI-focused joint venture with Microsoft - and other homegrown initiatives. However, attracting highly-skilled AI talent remains a significant challenge. To address this, the UAE is wooing overseas companies and researchers with low taxes, long-term "golden visas", and lighter regulation."Building world-class digital and AI infrastructure will act as a magnet," says Baghdad Gherras, founder of a UAE-based AI start-up and a venture the region has yet to produce a globally recognised AI company like OpenAI, Mistral, or DeepSeek, and it still lacks a deep bench of world-class research Gherras points to the UAE's small population - just over 10 million - as a limiting factor in building a large-scale research ecosystem. The emergence of Gulf states as ambitious AI players has brought the US-China tech rivalry to the forefront in the visit gave Washington a strong lead in the region's AI race - but at a cost. As part of its strategic pivot, the UAE has scaled back some China-backed projects and reduced its reliance on Huawei emphasis on AI deals during Trump's visit underscores the growing strategic importance of the technology to US the US-Gulf relationship has centred around oil-for-security. But the dynamic is now shifting toward energy, security - and tech. At the Middle East Institute, Mr Soliman says the AI deals signed during Trump's visit "are more about China than about the Gulf"."It's basically us trying to bring a promising, rising AI region - which is the Gulf - into the American AI stack, to be on Team America AI," he "AI stack" refers to the full pipeline of AI capability: chips, infrastructure, models, and software - mostly dominated by US Gherras says choosing the US over China was a rational choice."At this stage the Americans are ahead in the AI game. So, it made sense for the UAE to bet on them," he says. However, according to a Reuters report, the multibillion-dollar Stargate deal is still awaiting security clearance, as US officials remain concerned about potential Chinese personnel or technology being involved in UAE data the project is expected to go ahead, with US firms rallying behind it. But while the US currently leads in AI, Mr Soliman warns against underestimating China."They're scaling fast. They already have an AI stack. It may not be as powerful as America's, but it's cheaper. And for many countries, good enough is good enough."For now, though, both the US and the Gulf stand to benefit from their US gains allies in its quest to outflank the Chinese in the field of AI and compute - the Gulf nations get a powerful partner in their search for a replacement for oil revenues.
Gulf Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
AI-enabled law enforcement: How Presight, Abu Dhabi Police aim to cooperate
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence firm Presight has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters to develop and deploy advanced AI technologies for policing and public safety. The partnership aims to integrate The goal is to enhance crime prevention, improve emergency response, and lay the groundwork for AI-enabled smart cities. 'This collaboration supports our efforts to maintain public safety through innovation,' said major general and engineer Nasir Sultan Al-Yabhouni, who is the director of the Leadership Affairs Sector at Abu Dhabi Police. 'It strengthens our officers' ability to respond faster and make smarter decisions,' he added. Presight, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi tech group G42 and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), said the partnership reflects a growing global trend toward predictive and data-driven policing. Agreement with Abu Dhabi Police to further modernise police operations 'This agreement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI-driven public safety,' said Mohammed AlMheiri, CBO for Public Safety & Security at Presight. 'Together, we are enabling a new era of proactive law enforcement defined by operational agility and enhanced decision-making.' Presight said its tools, such as real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and intelligent digital investigators, will be used to support crime analysis and help modernise police operations. The agreement also includes a commitment to explore ethical frameworks for the use of AI in policing. The move supports Abu Dhabi's ambition to position itself as a hub for smart city innovation and AI adoption, building on broader national goals for digital transformation and public sector modernisation. Read: t
Tahawul Tech
4 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Microsoft CEO addresses the recent wave of layoffs
Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, has reportedly expressed sadness over the mass layoffs the company made earlier this year, but told staff it needs to reimagine its mission for a new era. CNBC reported Nadella made the comments in a memo to staff. The news outlet explained Microsoft culled 15,000 jobs this year, with the latest round of 9,000 occurring earlier this month. After the layoffs, CNBC reported the company's stock closed above $500 for the first time on 9 July. Nadella stated the layoff decisions 'are among the most difficult we have to make'. He noted while the company is thriving, job cuts 'affect people we've worked alongside, learned from and shared countless moments with, our colleagues, teammates and friends'. Nadella called on employees to go through a process of 'unlearning' and 'learning' to meet customers' changing needs. 'We must reimagine our mission for a new era.' 'What does empowerment look like in the era of AI? It's not just about building tools for specific roles or tasks. It's about building tools that empower everyone to create their own tools. That's the shift we are driving, from a software factory to an intelligence engine empowering every person and organisation to build whatever they need to achieve.' Microsoft is making massive investments in AI. In April, it invested $1.5 billion in a minority stake in United Arab Emirates-based AI company G42, a deal giving Microsoft a seat on the board. Source: Mobile World Live: Image Credit: Microsoft
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Presight and Abu Dhabi Police to Drive AI-Enabled Law Enforcement and Smart City Innovation
The partnership will accelerate the deployment of intelligent systems that enable proactive crime prevention, real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and predictive analytics. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Presight, an ADX-listed public company with Abu Dhabi-based G42 as its majority shareholder, has entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters (GHQ) to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies for law enforcement. The collaboration aims to integrate the capabilities of Presight's AI-Policing Suite – a modular, future-ready solution that leverages Generative AI, AI agents, and advanced data analytics – with Abu Dhabi Police's operational excellence to address modern challenges in policing and smart city development. The partnership will accelerate the deployment of intelligent systems that enable proactive crime prevention, real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and predictive analytics. Attending the ceremony were His Excellency Ahmed Saif bin Zaitoon AlMheiri, Commander-General of Abu Dhabi Police, His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Chairman of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and Vice Chairman of Presight; Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight; and Dr Adel Al Sharji, COO of Presight, and Mohammed AlMheiri, Chief Business Officer - Public Safety & Security. Major General/Engineer Nasir Sultan Al-Yabhouni, Director of the Leadership Affairs Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, said, "Our partnership with Presight helps us benefit from world-leading artificial intelligence technologies that will enhance our policing capabilities and take them to new heights. This collaboration supports our efforts to maintain public safety through innovation, which means strengthening our officers' ability to respond faster, make smarter decisions, and make Abu Dhabi a safer and more secure place." Mohammed AlMheiri, Chief Business Officer - Public Safety & Security, Presight, said, "This strategic agreement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI-driven public safety. Presight, together with Abu Dhabi Police, are enabling a new era of proactive, data-driven law enforcement, which will drive a shift towards applied intelligence-led policing defined by enhancements in decision-making and operational agility. Our platform's intelligent digital investigator, real-time threat detection, and predictive analytics capabilities empower officers to anticipate and respond to challenges with unprecedented speed and precision. Together, we are shaping a future where cities are not only smarter, but fundamentally safer." This strategic alliance supports the transformation of public safety infrastructure, enabling enhanced decision-making and streamlined emergency response. The joint efforts will also explore innovative models to modernize law enforcement practices, emphasizing ethical AI usage and data-driven policing. The partnership is a significant step forward in realizing Abu Dhabi's vision of a future-ready, AI-enabled smart nation, reinforcing its position as a global leader in technology adoption and urban safety.
Zawya
23-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Space42 secures $695.5mln facility to fund UAE satellites
The Abu Dhabi-listed Space42 has secured a $695.5 million Export Credit Agency (ECA)-backed financing facility to fund the development of UAE's next-generation geostationary satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5. The AI-powered SpaceTech firm, which is backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala, G42 and the International Holding Company, said the facility has been arranged by Crédit Agricole CIB, Santander CIB, Societe Generale, and Natixis and backed by Bpifrance Assurance Export. Space42 said the facility will provide long-term financing that is aligned with its satellite development timeline, whilst strengthening its liquidity position to support future growth. The Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 programme is underpinned by a 17-year, $5.1 billion government contract commencing in 2026, with the satellites scheduled for launch in 2027 and 2028. Space42 debuted on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in October following the merger of Bayanat and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat).
