Latest news with #United Arab Emirates
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Cisco unveils CX predictions: AI, personalization, and proactive engagement take center stage
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Cisco has shared its predictions for a fundamental transformation in customer service. Advancements in artificial intelligence, hyper-personalization, rich communication services, and unified data are expected to enhance customer loyalty and address rising expectations in the Middle East and beyond. For many organizations, delivering an outstanding CX remains a challenge; a global study conducted by Cisco showed that many customers feel let down by the experiences they receive from brands. Only 25% of customers globally said they were very satisfied with their last service engagement—and 94% have abandoned interactions due to poor experiences. To meet growing customer expectations, businesses in the Middle East are leveraging AI, data analytics, and integrated platforms to improve efficiency, drive customer satisfaction, and support sustainable growth. Ahmad Zureiki, Director of Collaboration Business, Cisco Middle East and Africa, commented: 'As customer experience leaders evaluate their investments, it is important to anticipate what's around the corner, assessing how future developments may impact CX strategy and execution. Leaders in CX are approaching AI technology with a clear, strategic focus – one that prioritizes customer impact, agent empowerment, and operational efficiency. The widespread adoption of AI will enhance customer experiences and redefine engagement benchmarks, solidifying its role as a vital component of customer service in the region.' AI agents will revolutionize self-service AI agents will redefine self-service by enabling more intelligent, human-like interactions across voice and digital channels. Unlike traditional virtual assistants, these advanced AI-driven agents will engage customers in natural conversations. They ensure faster and more effective resolutions, while freeing human representatives to handle complex or high-value cases. Brands will increasingly tailor these kinds of agents to reflect their unique values, creating more authentic and emotionally resonant experiences. Additionally, the rise of low-code and no-code tools will make AI more accessible, allowing non-technical employees to deploy and refine artificial intelligence solutions easily. With AI adoption accelerating, leading companies are already leveraging AI agents at a significantly higher rate than their competitors, emphasizing its role in shaping superior customer experiences. In fact, Cisco's global study showed that 79% of 'CX Leaders' (companies with the highest business performance) have an AI virtual agent, whereas 7% of 'CX Laggards do' (companies typically slower to adopt new ideas, technologies, or trends). Hyper-personalization will become mission critical for CX AI will revolutionize personalization by helping organizations extract valuable insights from customer data to anticipate needs, tailor experiences, and drive upsell opportunities. Businesses will leverage AI to create hyper-personalized journeys that seamlessly transition between automated and human-assisted interactions, enhancing CX and fostering long-term loyalty. A key element of this transformation is proactive communication. Brands that engage customers with timely, automated messages will reduce friction, resolve issues before they arise, and strengthen relationships. As AI adoption grows, these proactive, personalized experiences will set new customer expectations, with CX leaders already leveraging AI at a significantly higher rate than their competitors. It is notable that 61% of CX Leaders deliver proactive communications using AI. Rich Communication Services (RCS) adoption will skyrocket Rich Communication Services (RCS) will see a surge in adoption as its support on both iPhone and Android expands its global reach. With its ability to deliver rich media, interactive messaging, and two-way engagement, RCS is poised to become the industry standard for business communication. Brands will leverage its advanced features for promotions, reminders, and seamless interactions while benefiting from improved security through end-to-end encryption and verified sender profiles. As businesses recognize its value, RCS will play a crucial role in building customer trust and elevating digital engagement. CX data will have to become unified Unifying customer data will be essential for delivering AI-driven, hyper-personalized experiences across multiple channels, including RCS. While large organizations face challenges in consolidating data from disparate sources, achieving a holistic customer view will be fundamental to optimizing CX. By integrating data from various systems, businesses will empower AI and human agents with real-time insights, enabling faster resolutions and more seamless interactions. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of customer needs will maximize AI's potential, allowing brands to anticipate issues, proactively engage customers, and provide trust. With unified data, organizations can identify trends, reduce friction points, and refine experiences at every touchpoint. As the CX landscape and customer expectations continue to evolve, Webex by Cisco is helping to bridge the digital divide with an AI-powered, self-learning contact center that delivers unmatched self-service, empowers agents with essential tools, and connects data to drive real business results. By equipping agents with real-time insights, journey data, and context for each customer, organizations can strive to not only meet but exceed expectations, delivering the best experience, every time.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trucks looted, Hamas enraged: The new reality of humanitarian aid in Gaza
Gazan reports have indicated that the purpose of bringing in the humanitarian aid is to 'flood' the markets, leading to lower prices and ensuring the residents do not attack aid trucks. Humanitarian aid trucks sent from Egypt and Jordan entered the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel's humanitarian pause entered its second day. The Jordanian Air Force, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, airdropped supplies into Gaza as well. The humanitarian ceasefire was implemented to allow aid entering the Gaza Strip to be organized in warehouses and then distributed to the residents who need it. However, there are still reports from Gaza of trucks being looted, both by civilians and Hamas terrorists. Additionally, based on updates regarding the prices of goods in the Strip, it is apparent that the humanitarian aid entering Gaza has not yet affected the prices of goods, meaning those goods are not being sold at affordable prices to the local population. Al-Sahaba market in Gaza City, July 28 2025. (CREDIT: Majdi Fathi / TPS) For example, in the refugee camp Nuseirat, a kilogram of sugar costs 400 shekels, and a kilogram of tomatoes costs upward of 100 shekels. Egyptian involvement in humanitarian aid to Gaza Reports from inside Gaza have indicated that the purpose of bringing in the humanitarian aid is to 'flood' the markets, leading to lower prices and ensuring the residents do not attack aid trucks. This would allow an Egyptian security company to return and secure the trucks. Hamas has pushed for humanitarian aid to be conducted by UN organizations, primarily because of the ties revealed between those organizations and Hamas. As a terrorist organization, Hamas has used the humanitarian aid as leverage to renew negotiations and continue to intensify its demands. "There is no meaning to continuing talks under siege, destruction, and the starvation of Gaza's residents," Hamas' chief negotiator and the head of its Gaza operations, Khalil Al-Hayya, said in a recorded statement released Sunday. Hayya also stated that the immediate entry of food and medicine into the strip in a dignified manner for its people is a serious and genuine expression of commitment to continuing negotiations. Ultimately, the residents of Gaza have understood that the reality is different than what Hamas pushes. 'We want a solution for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid, and to stop the bloodshed. These are our demands." one Gazan resident heading to receive humanitarian aid said. Solve the daily Crossword
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Baron Capital expands global footprint and establishes office in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates & NEW YORK - -(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Baron Capital, a premier growth equity investment firm with a 43-year track record of long-term fundamental investing, today announced the opening of a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Located in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), the Firm will operate pursuant to a DFSA securities license. This on-the-ground presence in Dubai marks a significant step in Baron Capital's global expansion and underscores the Firm's commitment to serving clients in key financial markets worldwide. Over time, Baron Capital expects to further grow its presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The new office enhances the Firm's ability to serve investors across the Middle East by offering local access to Baron Capital's investment capabilities. The office is led by Rabih Sultani, Senior Executive Officer of Baron Capital Management (DIFC) Limited, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the Middle East and a deep understanding of the region's investment priorities. 'It's a privilege to represent Baron Capital in the Middle East,' said Rabih Sultani, SEO and Head of Middle East Business Development. 'For 43 years, the Firm has specialized in investing in exceptional growth businesses with a long-term perspective—an approach that has consistently delivered strong results for clients. That disciplined philosophy, combined with Baron Capital's independent structure and deep family values, align well with the priorities that guide many family offices, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds in the GCC, who seek both performance and partnership that endures across generations.' 'The opening of our first Middle East office marks an important milestone in the continued expansion of our global business,' said Katya Rosenblatt, Global Head of Distribution and Business Development at Baron Capital. 'We are committed to deepening our presence in the region and supporting our local clients with the same dedication, discipline, and partnership that have defined Baron Capital for over four decades.' About Baron Capital Baron Capital is a premier asset management firm focused exclusively on delivering growth equity investment solutions to institutions, financial advisors, and individual investors. Since its founding in 1982, Baron Capital has been united under one style of investing with a single objective—to be long-term investors in secular growth businesses with durable competitive advantages, run by great management teams. With $44.2 billion in assets under management (as of 6/30/2025) across 20 strategies, Baron Capital prides itself on delivering the best solutions and outcomes for clients globally. More information about Baron Capital is available by visiting To speak to a member of the Baron Capital team, please contact: Rabih Sultani Senior Executive Officer Baron Capital Management (DIFC) Limited Email: RSultani@ Kuwait This document is not for general circulation to the public in Kuwait. The shares have not been licensed for offering in Kuwait by the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority or any other relevant Kuwaiti government agency. The offering of the shares in Kuwait on the basis of a private placement or public offering is, therefore, restricted in accordance with Law No. 7 of 2010 (the Kuwait Capital Markets Law) (as amended) and the bylaws thereto (as amended). No private or public offering of the shares is being made in Kuwait, and no agreement relating to the sale of the shares will be concluded in Kuwait. No marketing or solicitation or inducement activities are being used to offer or market the shares in Kuwait. Oman Baron Capital Management, Inc. neither has a registered business presence nor a representative office in Oman and does not undertake banking business or provide financial services in Oman. Consequently, Baron Capital Management, Inc. is not regulated by either the Central Bank of Oman or Oman's Capital Market Authority ('CMA'). The information contained in this document neither constitutes a public offer of securities in the Sultanate of Oman as contemplated by the Commercial Companies Law of Oman (Royal Decree 4/74) or the Capital Market Law of Oman (Royal Decree 80/98), nor does it constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy Non-Omani securities in the Sultanate of Oman as contemplated by Article 139 of the Executive Regulations of the Capital Market Law (issued by Decision No.1/2009). Additionally, this document is not intended to lead to the conclusion of a contract for the sale or purchase of securities. This document has not been approved by the CMA or any other regulatory body or authority in Oman, and no authorization, license or approval has been received by Baron Capital Management, Inc. from the CMA or any other regulatory authority in Oman, to market, offer, sell, or distribute the securities within Oman. Baron Capital Management, Inc. does not advise persons or entities resident or based in Oman as to the appropriateness of investing in or purchasing or selling securities or other financial products. Nothing contained in this document is intended to constitute Omani investment, legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. The recipient of this document represents that it is a financial institution or a sophisticated investor (as described in Article 139 of the Executive Regulations of the Capital Market Law) and that its officers/employees have such experience in business and financial matters that they are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investments. Qatar The materials contained herein are not intended to constitute an offer, sale or delivery of the shares or other financial products under the laws of Qatar. The shares have not been and will not be authorised by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority or the Qatar Central Bank in accordance with their regulations or any other regulations in Qatar. The shares are not and will not be traded on the Qatar Stock Exchange. Saudi Arabia This document may not be distributed in the Kingdom except to such persons as are permitted under the Investment Funds Regulations issued by the Capital Market Authority. The Capital Market Authority does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this document, and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from, or incurred in reliance upon, any part of this document. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby should conduct their own due diligence on the accuracy of the information relating to the securities. UAE The Fund is a UCITS ICAV (an Irish collective asset management vehicle) and will be managed by BAMCO, Inc., domiciled in the U.S.A. regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The management company of the Fund is FundRock Management Company S.A. In accordance with the provisions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Securities and Commodities Authority's (SCA) Board Decision No. (9/R.M) of 2016 Concerning the Regulations as to Mutual Funds, the shares in the Fund to which this prospectus/KIID relates may only be promoted in the UAE as follows: without the prior approval of SCA, only in so far as the promotion is directed to (i) financial portfolios owned by federal or local governmental agencies; (ii) investors following a reverse enquiry; or with the prior approval of the SCA. Any approval of the SCA to the promotion of the Fund units in the UAE does not represent a recommendation to purchase or invest in the Fund. The SCA has not verified the prospectus/KIID or other documents in connection with this Fund and the SCA may not be held liable for any default by any party involved in the operation, management or promotion of the Fund in the performance of their responsibilities and duties, or the accuracy or completeness of the information in the prospectus/KIID. The Fund shares to which this prospectus/KIID relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective investors should conduct their own due diligence on the Fund shares. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorised financial advisor. View source version on Source: AETOSWire Contacts Media Contact: Prosek Partners Pro-BaronCapital@
Emirates 24/7
2 days ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
New DUBAI REEF Footage Reveals Thriving Marine Life and Ecosystem Growth in Dubai's Waters
DUBAI REEF, a pioneering purpose-built reef development and one of the largest in the world, is demonstrating significant progress in enhancing marine ecosystems within Dubai's waters. New underwater footage from the initiative's proof-of-concept site showcases a thriving marine environment, with abundant fish populations and habitats developing around the reef modules. Surveys at the site indicate a substantial increase in fish populations across 15 native species, including snappers, groupers, and barracuda. Early data suggests a potential 10% increase in marine biodiversity, accompanied by an eightfold increase in fish biomass - clear indicators of the initiative's positive impact on the local ecosystem. DUBAI REEF's first pillar, Marine Habitat Restoration, will see the fabrication and deployment of 20,000 modules across 600 km² of the Emirate's waters by 2027, establishing ideal conditions for marine ecosystems to thrive in the years ahead. Since its launch in 2024, 39% of the total reef modules have been fabricated, with 3,660 modules already deployed. The initiative also includes two additional pillars - Marine Life Rehabilitation and Marine Conservation Research - each contributing to the broader vision of marine conservation and sustainability. A sustainability initiative by Dubai Can, DUBAI REEF was launched under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The initiative is driven by a collaboration of strategic public and private partners including Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority (DECCA), DP World; Dubai Chambers; Nakheel, a member of Dubai Holding Real Estate; Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC); and Emirates. Together, they are advancing Dubai's shared sustainability objectives and supporting several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17- Partnerships.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
ServiceNow Index: Whilst AI investment is rising, AI maturity falls across Europe and the Middle East
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – ServiceNow, the AI platform for business transformation, has released its latest Enterprise AI Maturity Index in partnership with Oxford Economics. The findings reveal a surprising trend in Europe and the Middle East: although AI investment continues to grow, the average AI maturity score across the region has dropped by 10 points year over year. As enterprises struggle to keep pace with rapid innovation, many are finding it difficult to translate AI ambition into scalable, effective execution. The index examines five key components: leadership and strategy, workflows, talent, governance, and investment. Together they provide a comprehensive view of how prepared organisations are to scale AI successfully; their AI maturity level. Now in its second year, the global report draws on insights from almost 4,500 respondents globally, including 1,950 across nine markets in Europe and the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. It shows that emerging technologies such as agentic AI are fuelling experimentation and delivering early returns across the region. However, the pace of change is moving faster than organisations' ability to scale AI in a structured, governed way. To this end, the region's average AI maturity score has dropped 10 points year on year, from 44 to just 34 out of 100. Cathy Mauzaize, President, EMEA at ServiceNow, says 'Organisations across Europe and the Middle East are accelerating their AI projects, but many are still in the early stages of their journey. They recognise the potential and now is the time to build on that energy. To keep moving forward, organisations are exploring how to lay the right foundations to make the data work for them, and give their people the skills to use AI with confidence. According to IDC, European spending on artificial intelligence will reach $144.6 billion in 2028 [1]. The opportunity is huge, but only if we focus on getting the basics right today.' The report also outlines three major trends shaping the region's AI journey and what's needed to turn early success into lasting transformation. AI is outpacing organisations' capacity to harness it There is a clear appetite for innovation, with nearly half (47%) of organisations in Europe and the Middle East launching more than 100 AI use cases in the past year. UAE-based organisations are showing similar AI activity (49%), reflecting growing interest in large-scale experimentation. Still, most remain in the early stages of implementation, as reflected in this year's overall European AI maturity score of just 34. The majority of the region's organisations are focused on experimentation and expansion, with only 6% reaching the augmentation stage, which is the most advanced stage identified in the survey. In the UAE, the AI maturity score stands at 35 which is the highest in Europe and the Middle East, tied with the UK with 9% of organisations progressing to the most advanced stage. Agentic AI presents a clear opportunity Agentic AI, the AI that can act autonomously, is positioned to reshape enterprise automation. However, awareness varies widely across the region. While 15% of organisations in Europe and the Middle East are already using agentic AI and 42% plan to implement it within 12 months, familiarity is still in its early days. Only one in five organisations are very family with agentic AI, revealing a significant knowledge gap. The opportunity is clear, with over half of early adopters in Europe reporting improved gross margins (58%), greater efficiency and productivity (59%), and better experiences (60%). Governance is the missing link Rising adoption brings rising risk. AI at scale introduces serious challenges around cybersecurity, privacy, and regulatory compliance. And while the number of UAE organisations that have made significant strides in AI data governance rose slightly from 42% in 2024 to 45% in 2025, there is a need for a greater focus on managing AI risk effectively. This is particularly true given that data security is cited by UAE organisations as the top barrier to realizing AI value. To scale AI safely and effectively, governance must be foundational — not an afterthought. That means embedding policy, oversight, and accountability into platforms from the outset and approaching new technologies like agentic AI with a clear strategy in place. Read the full report at to learn more. Methodology ServiceNow paired again with Oxford Economics to survey just under 4,500 executives from 16 countries and 11 industries to measure organisational performance across five pillars of AI maturity: AI strategy and leadership, workflow integration, talent and workforce, AI governance, and AI investment. Based on responses, ServiceNow assigned each organisation an overall AI maturity score between 0 and 100. About ServiceNow ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is putting AI to work for people. We move with the pace of innovation to help customers transform organizations across every industry while upholding a trustworthy, human centered approach to deploying our products and services at scale. Our AI platform for business transformation connects people, processes, data, and devices to increase productivity and maximize business outcomes. For more information, visit:
