Latest news with #digital economy
Times of Oman
18-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Collaboration programme inked with Indian firm to establish company for designing VLSI circuits in Oman
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, signed a collaboration programme with Indian company 'Kaynes Semicon' to establish a company to design very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits in the Sultanate of Oman. The move aims to enhance the position of the Sultanate of Oman as a regional centre for advanced technologies, The company's activities will focus on promoting semiconductor design innovation and developing national cadres. According to the collaboration programme, Kaynes Semicon will execute a 12-month qualification program funded by the Ministry of Labour for 80 Omani engineers on semiconductor design techniques to qualify them as semiconductor specialists who can keep up with the requirements and updates of the future labour market in this field through the company's commitment under this collaboration to transfer global knowledge and standards in the field of semiconductors to the Sultanate of Oman. This collaboration is part of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology's efforts to implement a digital industry programme under the 'National Program for Digital Economy.' The initiative aims to attract international technology projects to the Sultanate of Oman in order to enhance the digital economy's contribution to the GDP. Additionally, it seeks to localise technology, hire qualified Omani personnel, improve the competitiveness of Omani youth in the semiconductor sector, and strengthen the semiconductor system and organisation in Oman. The program was signed by Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communication, and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources and Raju Panicker, CEO of Kaynes Semicon. Al Shidhani, said that signing this collaboration program with Kaynes Semicon is a remarkable step to build up an integrated sector in the field of the semiconductor industry, which forms an essential pillar of the international digital economy. This step is part of the strategic inclinations of the Sultanate of Oman to localise advanced technologies, attract qualitative investments that promote national potentials, and increase the quality of Omani cadres. He added that the center will be an axis point for the company operations of designing semiconductor chips on the regional level, while relying on national cadres qualified and trained to handle the latest advanced technologies. In the context of executing a digital industry program Al-Shidhani said that the Ministry is working on creating an environment that attracts advanced technology investments that goes in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 towards a diversified and knowledge-based economy that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. On his turn, Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour said that signing this program is part of the ministry's efforts to qualify national cadres, which undoubtedly will promote the digital economy and market requirements and needs. He also added that this program is part of the Ministry of Labour's programs related to the labour market, which represents a fundamental step towards diversification and innovation, given that the Sultanate of Oman has achieved considerable accomplishments in its modern renaissance.
The National
12-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Sheikh Hamdan hails Dubai's technology partnerships after Google visit
Dubai's collaborations with companies on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence are helping to secure the emirate's position as a 'global digital economy hub', Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said after visiting Google's Dubai offices. In a post on X, Sheikh Hamdan said he had explored the company's latest AI initiatives. 'We take pride in our long-standing partnerships with global technology leaders who have chosen Dubai as their regional hub,' he wrote. Sheikh Hamdan, who also posted a video showing his visit, added that collaborations with companies like Alphabet-owned Google were playing a significant role in advancing the goals of the Dubai's D33 economic agenda. D33, launched in 2023, seeks to double the size of Dubai's economy. The 10-year economic plan also aims to establish Dubai as the world's safest and most connected city, and a preferred destination for major international companies and investments. Sheikh Hamdan's visit to Google's Dubai offices comes after several recent developments related to the UAE and Google. Early last month, UAE officials announced the creation of a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence with support from Google. The centre is expected to involve the creation of more than 20,000 jobs and help attract foreign investment estimated at $1.4 billion by 2030, according to state news agency Wam. It will also help to prevent billions of dollars in cyber crime-related losses. In recent weeks, Google, along with Nvidia and Saab, participated in an inaugural event for UAE think tank Trends Research and Advisory, as it opened an office in Washington. Dubai, like the rest of the UAE, aspires to be a leader in the burgeoning AI sector. Late last month, Sheikh Hamdan launched the Dubai AI Academy which hopes to educate 10,000 emerging and experienced leaders on AI, and also position the emirate as a leading provider of training and certification programmes.
Al Arabiya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia ‘on cusp of AI revolution,' says CEO of PROVEN Arabia
Saudi Arabia is 'on the cusp of an AI revolution' as the Saudi market continues to evolve rapidly, according to the Co-Founder and Group CEO of Saudi holding company PROVEN Arabia. 'With Vision 2030 as the national blueprint, we're seeing accelerated investments in AI, automation, IT infrastructure, and cloud services. These technologies are becoming the foundation of our digital economy,' Zaid al-Mashari, told Al Arabiya English in an interview. According to CEO, AI is expected to become 'deeply embedded in the critical infrastructure' and to serve as the 'backbone' for any organization that aims to stay competitive and future-ready. 'Every day, through the momentum we're part of at PROVEN Arabia and the energy across the ecosystem, I witness how Saudi Arabia is transforming into a global player in AI, not just in adoption but in creation, investment, and export,' he said. Building an AI ecosystem Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious goal to become a global leader in AI by 2030 – positioning AI as a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), established in 2019, is spearheading this initiative by overseeing the National Strategy for Data and AI. The Kingdom's strategy will transform the Saudi Arabia into a data-driven economy, fostering innovation and technological advancement, al-Mashari explained. What makes this transformation powerful is the culture of invitation and empowerment that the Kingdom fosters, he said. 'It's not limited to Saudi nationals. Saudi Arabia is becoming a true hub for creators, innovators, and ambitious companies from across the world,' the PROVEN Arabia co-founder and CEO said. Over the next five years, AI will reshape industries – from smart cities and healthcare to logistics and finance – by transforming service delivery, customer experience, and operational efficiency, he told Al Arabiya English. 'Saudi [Arabia] is actively creating an AI startup ecosystem that helps support local talent, innovation hubs, and incubators. Combining this with developing ethical frameworks and advanced regulatory structures makes Saudi Arabia a serious contributor to the global AI landscape and a leader in the region,' he added. The main driver of AI adoption in Saudi Arabia has been the government sector, according to the PROVEN Arabia co-founder. 'Government entities are showing strong readiness, infrastructure, and leadership mindset to integrate AI across services and operations. What's interesting is that the equity in adoption between government and private sectors is becoming quite balanced but with key differences in capability and scale,' al-Mashari said. Moreover, large private companies have also actively embraced AI, particularly those with the maturity, resources, and operational scale to benefit from it efficiently, he noted. However, when it comes to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the landscape is different. AI adoption is still in its early stages, often limited to individuals within companies using off-the-shelf AI tools rather than the business itself having a structured AI strategy, al-Mashari explained. 'This gap in adoption reflects both the opportunity and the challenge. The more we empower SMEs with localized, scalable AI products, the faster they can contribute to the national digital transformation. And as the ecosystem continues to mature, I believe we'll see more alignment across all organizational sizes,' he said. Tackling challenges The speed of change at which the Saudi market is evolving is both a challenge and an opportunity, according to the PROVEN co-founder and group CEO. Businesses must adapt quickly to evolving regulations, customer expectations, and technologies, he said. 'Localization is at the heart of our innovation strategy. At PROVEN Arabia, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all technology. Instead, we develop AI solutions and products that are deeply rooted in the cultural, linguistic, and regulatory realities of Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East,' al-Mashari told Al Arabiya English. PROVEN Arabia leverages its regional footprint, including offices across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and India, to 'combine deep market understanding with global technical capability' and serve the entire region with 'highly relevant, scalable technologies.' Whether it's intelligent document understanding in Arabic, robotics interfaces designed for local users, or VR content built around regional healthcare practices, every product is designed with precision and purpose, al-Mashari explained. 'We aim to take our solutions to the global stage, competing with the best from right here in Saudi Arabia. We believe Saudi-built innovation can lead in international markets, and we are building our products and teams to deliver on that vision.' Through strategic investment, rapid and thoughtful adoption, and exporting solutions that are built here for the world, Saudi Arabia is on the right path to becoming a major player in shaping the future of AI, the PROVEN Arabia co-founder said. 'The ambition is real, the foundation is in place, and we are already contributing to this future through PROVEN Arabia's work across AI, robotics, and emerging technologies.'
