Latest news with #in5


Mid East Info
23-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
in5 set to spotlight capacity-building in AI and digital economy as Strategic Partner of Dubai AI Festival - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, UAE: in5, the region's leading start-up and entrepreneurship incubator, is set to empower innovators and spotlight the vital role of capacity-building in artificial intelligence (AI) as Strategic Partner of Dubai AI Festival, taking place on 23-24 April at Madinat Jumeirah. A uniting platform for innovators to unlock global growth, in5 was founded by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013, and accelerates entrepreneurship through four dedicated verticals for the tech, media, design, and science sectors. In line with its goal of empowering innovators to harness the transformative pow-er of AI, in5 will offer networking and educational opportunities at Dubai AI Festival. 'Nurturing a thriving tech ecosystem is crucial to unlock exponential economic growth,' said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group PJSC, on behalf of in5. 'Our Strategic Partner-ship with Dubai AI Festival is aimed at solidifying Dubai's position at the forefront of the digital econ-omy, and we will continue to empower the next generation of AI experts, innovators, and technologists, in line with Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' and UAE Digital Economy Strategy.' At Dubai AI Festival, in5 will spotlight the region's leading innovators and entrepreneurs that have un-locked business success from its ecosystem, including KinesteX, an AI-powered fitness trainer and Viewit, a PropTech start-up specialising in video listings. Supporting start-up success: To further support start-up success, in5 is hosting a five-day bootcamp to help entrepreneurs unlock the practical applications of AI. Titled 'Build Your AI Team in5 Days', the bootcamp on 21-25 April at in5 Tech empowers entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by leveraging AI for tasks such as building automated teams and creating data dashboards that enable smarter decision-making. Connect with in5 on its official Instagram channel @in5Dubai to explore the free-to-attend bootcamp, led by Jen Blandos, Founder of Female Fusion. Ahead of the event, in5 hosted an academic hackathon at in5 Tech in Dubai Internet City alongside start-ups ABCurr Entrepreneurial Institute and Pupilar, with students participating from UAE-based universities to deliver real-world AI solutions for three key economic sectors – Mobility, PropTech, and Healthcare & Life Sciences. The hackathon's winners will participate in a competition at Dubai AI Fes-tival, with in5 supporting cash prizes on the closing day. in5 has nurtured more than 1,000 start-ups that have raised AED 7.8 billion in funding since its incep-tion. A facilitator of partnerships, mentoring, and advisory opportunities, in5 offers a platform for in-ternational entrepreneurs and talent interested in exploring regional opportunities from Dubai. in5 is part of TECOM Group, which has contributed to Dubai's economic ambitions for more than two decades through sector-focused districts including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Industrial City. About in5: in5 is the region's leading start-up incubator founded by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013 to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs for the greater good. An enabling platform that offers creative spaces, training and mentorship programmes, networking events, and access to investors, in5 helps enterprises grow into commercially viable ventures, with more than 1,000 in5 start-ups having raised over AED 7.8 billion since the incubator's launch in 2013. in5's dedicated Tech, Media, Design, and Science verticals provide access to a diverse communi-ty of global experts, helping students, entrepreneurs, and start-ups nurture globally impactful innovation.


Zawya
23-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
In5 set to spotlight capacity-building in AI and digital economy as Strategic Partner of Dubai AI Festival
in5, part of TECOM Group PJSC, will highlight networking and educational opportunities to em-power entrepreneurs during the two-day event Dubai, UAE: in5, the region's leading start-up and entrepreneurship incubator, is set to empower innovators and spotlight the vital role of capacity-building in artificial intelligence (AI) as Strategic Partner of Dubai AI Festival, taking place on 23-24 April at Madinat Jumeirah. A uniting platform for innovators to unlock global growth, in5 was founded by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013, and accelerates entrepreneurship through four dedicated verticals for the tech, media, design, and science sectors. In line with its goal of empowering innovators to harness the transformative pow-er of AI, in5 will offer networking and educational opportunities at Dubai AI Festival. 'Nurturing a thriving tech ecosystem is crucial to unlock exponential economic growth,' said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group PJSC, on behalf of in5. 'Our Strategic Partner-ship with Dubai AI Festival is aimed at solidifying Dubai's position at the forefront of the digital econ-omy, and we will continue to empower the next generation of AI experts, innovators, and technologists, in line with Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' and UAE Digital Economy Strategy.' At Dubai AI Festival, in5 will spotlight the region's leading innovators and entrepreneurs that have un-locked business success from its ecosystem, including KinesteX, an AI-powered fitness trainer and Viewit, a PropTech start-up specialising in video listings. Supporting start-up success To further support start-up success, in5 is hosting a five-day bootcamp to help entrepreneurs unlock the practical applications of AI. Titled 'Build Your AI Team in5 Days', the bootcamp on 21-25 April at in5 Tech empowers entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by leveraging AI for tasks such as building automated teams and creating data dashboards that enable smarter decision-making. Connect with in5 on its official Instagram channel @in5Dubai to explore the free-to-attend bootcamp, led by Jen Blandos, Founder of Female Fusion. Ahead of the event, in5 hosted an academic hackathon at in5 Tech in Dubai Internet City alongside start-ups ABCurr Entrepreneurial Institute and Pupilar, with students participating from UAE-based universities to deliver real-world AI solutions for three key economic sectors – Mobility, PropTech, and Healthcare & Life Sciences. The hackathon's winners will participate in a competition at Dubai AI Fes-tival, with in5 supporting cash prizes on the closing day. in5 has nurtured more than 1,000 start-ups that have raised AED 7.8 billion in funding since its incep-tion. A facilitator of partnerships, mentoring, and advisory opportunities, in5 offers a platform for in-ternational entrepreneurs and talent interested in exploring regional opportunities from Dubai. in5 is part of TECOM Group, which has contributed to Dubai's economic ambitions for more than two decades through sector-focused districts including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Industrial City. About in5 in5 is the region's leading start-up incubator founded by TECOM Group PJSC in 2013 to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs for the greater good. An enabling platform that offers creative spaces, training and mentorship programmes, networking events, and access to investors, in5 helps enterprises grow into commercially viable ventures, with more than 1,000 in5 start-ups having raised over AED 7.8 billion since the incubator's launch in 2013. in5's dedicated Tech, Media, Design, and Science verticals provide access to a diverse communi-ty of global experts, helping students, entrepreneurs, and start-ups nurture globally impactful innovation. For more information, please visit


Mid East Info
16-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Dubai's leading tech hub to showcase talent and innovation shaping the future of tech at inaugural GITEX Asia
The regional hub for tech leaders including IBM, Google, and Microsoft will showcase Dubai's dynamic digital economy in Singapore Dubai Internet City and in5, TECOM Group's start-up incubator, will attend GITEX Asia as part of a delegation led by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism Dubai, UAE: Dubai Internet City, the enabler of the Middle East's digital economy, will join a delegation led by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at GITEX Asia, taking place on 23-25 April in Singapore. The region's leading tech hub, part of TECOM Group PJSC, will showcase the dynamism and innovation of Dubai's digital economy at the first edition of GITEX Asia. Dubai Internet City has been instrumental in enabling globally impactful innovation for 25 years, contributing significantly to digital transformation efforts and encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies. Today, Dubai Internet City generates 65% of Dubai's technology sector GDP and has facilitated the creation of more than 125,000 jobs since its inception in 1999, according to the Dubai Internet City – Impact Assessment study conducted in partnership with Accenture and released this February. Participating at GITEX Asia, Dubai Internet City, which has added AED 100 billion to Dubai's GDP over the past 15 years alone, will reinforce its commitment to accelerating the city's position as an internationally impactful tech hub. 'Digital transformation thrives through collaboration with global technology policymakers and industry leaders, and GITEX Asia is a springboard to showcase the robust fundamentals of Dubai's world-class digital economy to international peers and partners,' said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City. 'We look forward to showcasing the transformative potential of Dubai Internet City's ecosystem and fostering partnerships that will shape the future of the technology sector, strengthening Dubai's and the UAE's position as a preferred global destination for business, investment, and innovation, in line with the visionary Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy.' Dubai Internet City's presence at GITEX Asia will showcase success stories from its vibrant ecosystem of 4,000 customers – including multinational giants, Fortune 500s such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft, and start-ups – and more than 31,000 professionals. The district's offering is further strengthened by 19 Innovation and research and development (R&D) Centres operated by global leaders including 3M, IBM, HP, Ericsson, and Cisco. in5, the start-up and entrepreneurship incubator founded by TECOM Group in 2013, has supported more than 1,000 start-ups across the tech, media, design, and science sectors since its inception, and will join Dubai Internet City at GITEX Asia. Dubai Internet City will be located at DET's stand, HB-C80, in Hall B of Marina Bay Sands during GITEX Asia. Alongside in5, Dubai Internet City is part of TECOM Group's portfolio of business districts and services, which includes Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Industrial City, and Dubai Design District (d3). About Dubai Internet City: Dubai Internet City, one of TECOM Group PJSC's 10 business districts, is the cornerstone of the dynamic regional digital economy. The pioneering hub has fostered the growth of 4,000 businesses and a vibrant community of 31,000 professionals since its establishment in 1999. Driving innovation across diverse sectors, Dubai Internet City has served as a strategic uniting platform for multinational firms, Fortune 500 leaders, and agile start-ups for 25 years by enabling collaboration, cutting-edge advancements, and sustained growth.


Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai's leading tech hub to showcase talent and innovation shaping the future of tech at inaugural GITEX Asia
Dubai Internet City and in5, TECOM Group's start-up incubator, will attend GITEX Asia as part of a delegation led by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism Dubai, UAE: Dubai Internet City, the enabler of the Middle East's digital economy, will join a delegation led by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at GITEX Asia, taking place on 23-25 April in Singapore. The region's leading tech hub, part of TECOM Group PJSC, will showcase the dynamism and innovation of Dubai's digital economy at the first edition of GITEX Asia. Dubai Internet City has been instrumental in enabling globally impactful innovation for 25 years, contributing significantly to digital transformation efforts and encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies. Today, Dubai Internet City generates 65% of Dubai's technology sector GDP and has facilitated the creation of more than 125,000 jobs since its inception in 1999, according to the Dubai Internet City – Impact Assessment study conducted in partnership with Accenture and released this February. Participating at GITEX Asia, Dubai Internet City, which has added AED 100 billion to Dubai's GDP over the past 15 years alone, will reinforce its commitment to accelerating the city's position as an internationally impactful tech hub. 'Digital transformation thrives through collaboration with global technology policymakers and industry leaders, and GITEX Asia is a springboard to showcase the robust fundamentals of Dubai's world-class digital economy to international peers and partners,' said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City. 'We look forward to showcasing the transformative potential of Dubai Internet City's ecosystem and fostering partnerships that will shape the future of the technology sector, strengthening Dubai's and the UAE's position as a preferred global destination for business, investment, and innovation, in line with the visionary Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy.' Dubai Internet City's presence at GITEX Asia will showcase success stories from its vibrant ecosystem of 4,000 customers – including multinational giants, Fortune 500s such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft, and start-ups – and more than 31,000 professionals. The district's offering is further strengthened by 19 Innovation and research and development (R&D) Centres operated by global leaders including 3M, IBM, HP, Ericsson, and Cisco. in5, the start-up and entrepreneurship incubator founded by TECOM Group in 2013, has supported more than 1,000 start-ups across the tech, media, design, and science sectors since its inception, and will join Dubai Internet City at GITEX Asia. Dubai Internet City will be located at DET's stand, HB-C80, in Hall B of Marina Bay Sands during GITEX Asia. Alongside in5, Dubai Internet City is part of TECOM Group's portfolio of business districts and services, which includes Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Industrial City, and Dubai Design District (d3). About Dubai Internet City Dubai Internet City, one of TECOM Group PJSC's 10 business districts, is the cornerstone of the dynamic regional digital economy. The pioneering hub has fostered the growth of 4,000 businesses and a vibrant community of 31,000 professionals since its establishment in 1999. Driving innovation across diverse sectors, Dubai Internet City has served as a strategic uniting platform for multinational firms, Fortune 500 leaders, and agile start-ups for 25 years by enabling collaboration, cutting-edge advancements, and sustained growth. For more information, please visit


Campaign ME
11-04-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Navigating PR for businesses in the MENA region
According to estimates, the PR industry in the MENA region is set to double in value by 2030, reaching an impressive $2bn. One key driver of this growth is the UAE's commitment to nurturing its startup ecosystem. In just 50 years, the Emirates has transformed into a global economic powerhouse. As highlighted in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024, the UAE ranks as the second-strongest startup hub in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Additionally, one of its key emirates, Dubai, holds the 18th spot among the world's most promising emerging startup ecosystems. The UAE's booming startup scene In recent years, the UAE government has rolled out numerous programs to support startups. For example, the accelerator Hub71, established in 2019, has welcomed more than 260 businesses over the years, which have collectively raised over $1bn in venture capital. The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center is another stellar initiative, assisting over 150 startups and creating 1,400 jobs. Business also plays a crucial role in developing the startup ecosystem in the UAE. A prominent example is the in5 hub for startups, founded in Dubai by the publicly listed TECOM Group. It provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, workshops, and support in connecting with investors and other valuable partners. Since its launch in 2013, in5 has hosted more than 500 startups, according to its official website. The country is also attracting entrepreneurs and investors through the Gold Visa, granting long-term residency permits that extend up to a decade. In 2023, Dubai alone had 158,000 holders of such visas. That is double to the number of visas granted in 2022. In addition, the UAE authorities have established investment funds to support technological entrepreneurs, including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, an initiative by the Ministry of Finance launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Meanwhile, venture capital markets in the region are evolving. In 2024, startups across MENA raised $1.9bn, marking a 29 per cent decline compared to 2023. However, the number of active investors in the region grew by 20 per cent, suggesting that the venture capital market could see a rebound in 2025. In contrast, Saudi Arabian startups secured $750m, but this represented a 44 per cent drop compared to the previous year. PR in MENA and UAE: an art of connection Thriving startup ecosystems needs media relations specialists who can help these technological companies to stand out. In the first months of 2025, the number of inquiries for media relations increased sharply, according to Wordstat. This highlights growing demand for PR. Many PR pros come from abroad. Some of them are established experts, but, as experts say, there is a need to combine these talents with local professionals who understand cultural nuances. PR in the MENA region is distinct from the Western or Asia-Pacific, and each Arab nation possesses unique characteristics too. As the International Public Relations Association website further states, 'It is crucial not to ignore the significance of regional differences,' and effective strategies in one MENA country may not necessarily be applicable in a neighboring state. 'To truly establish your presence in the Arab world, your PR campaign must be targeted, localised, adapted to local conditions, and conducted in the appropriate languages.' In the UAE, dozens of local PR agencies offer support to businesses, including startups, with service costs typically ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per month. Collaborating with them presents both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, local pros offer a deeper understanding of the local market and the knowledge of the Arabic language. On the downside, many local PR specialists maintain a more traditional approach to public and media relations, viewing it primarily as the distribution of press releases to the media. Using AI in PR in MENA Technologies are becoming more and more prominent in business. According to McKinsey's estimates, 72 per cent of organisations worldwide have already adopted AI in at least one business function, and PR and communications is no exception. According to Statista, 86 per cent of pros worldwide with different frequencies use AI tools with 20 per cent using them all the time. According to a recent survey, content creation is the most common task where communication professionals utilise AI, with 54 per cent of respondents indicating its use. Data analysis ranks second, followed by background or landscape research. Other notable AI applications in PR include media relations (24 per cent), coverage reporting (20 per cent), and measuring PR impact (16 per cent). AI can also adapt pitches and press releases to different media creating highly personalised email campaigns and increasing the likelihood of successful coverage. PR departments in MENA should harness this technology, but see it as a complement to, not a replacement for, human interaction. Clients may use AI to inform their decisions, yet they highly value the presence of a human counterpart in their PR. Media landscape in the UAE Media in the UAE can be classified into English-language and Arabic-language outlets. The UAE hosts correspondents from esteemed media outlets like Forbes Middle East and The New York Times. Dubai is home to offices of Bloomberg, Reuters, CNN, Wired Middle East, and the English newspaper Gulf News. Abu Dhabi hosts a CNN hi-tech hub, plus, here The National is published. Engaging with English-language and Arabic-language editorial boards involves different strategies. English-speaking journalists prefer email communication and are occasionally active on X (ex-Twitter). Arabic journalists, on the other hand, respond to email and WhatsApp, with Facebook searches often proving futile. Arabic media outlets in the UAE tend to prioritise interactions with local residents. This makes collaborating with a professional who is fluent in Arabic and, if possible, has local connections, advantageous. However, this is not a strict requirement; the key factor is the direct relevance of your product or project to the UAE. Journalists typically receive from 200 to 300 press releases per day. Hence, it is highly recommended to follow up on your initial communication. Without it, there's a 50 per cent chance that your press release may go unnoticed. It's crucial to note that English-language media places a high premium on exclusivity, whereas Arabic may cover news that has already been disseminated. If an Arabic media outlet approves your submission but doesn't publish it the next day, don't be alarmed; Arabic journalists often operate at a more deliberate pace, with releases typically appearing 2–3 days later. Nonetheless, working with journalists in the UAE has some advantages over Europe and America. Just about ten years ago, it was common for journalists to request company CEOs to write articles directly. Newspapers often offer columns as part of standard advertising packages, but exceptionally high-quality content may be published independently. Tips to get media attention Startups operating within the MENA and in the UAE in particular enjoy a near guarantee of being covered in Arabic media. Government-related news also usually receives coverage from all media outlets. However, businesses not based in the UAE or not entering its market may struggle to gain attention. To ensure your PR campaign thrives in the Emirates, take into account several factors: Relevance to the UAE: your product or project should directly connect to the country. This accounts for nearly half of the success. your product or project should directly connect to the country. This accounts for nearly half of the success. Language : while not obligatory, speaking Arabic can be a significant advantage. : while not obligatory, speaking Arabic can be a significant advantage. Patience : adapt to the different work pace and atmosphere compared to Western counterparts. : adapt to the different work pace and atmosphere compared to Western counterparts. Contacts : keep your journalist contact list up-to-date, as there's high turnover in UAE media. : keep your journalist contact list up-to-date, as there's high turnover in UAE media. WhatsApp: embrace this as the primary mode of communication, as it's the most popular messenger in the UAE. embrace this as the primary mode of communication, as it's the most popular messenger in the UAE. Personal connection: strive to build personal relationships and remember gifts on key holidays. A successful PR campaign in the country combines local understanding with global expertise, following fundamental PR principles while adapting to the unique characteristics of the market. By Evgeniya Zaslavskaya, founder and CEO at Zecomms.