Latest news with #الإمارات
Arabian Business
12 hours ago
- General
- Arabian Business
UAE announces Eid Al Adha 2025 holiday for public sector
The UAE government has announced the Arafah and Eid Al Adha holidays for ministries and federal entities for the year 1446 AH. The holidays will begin on 09 Dhu Al-Hijjah 1446 AH, corresponding to Thursday, June 05, 2025, and will continue until 12 Dhu Al-Hijjah 1446 AH, corresponding to Sunday, June 08, 2025. حسب تعميم للهيئة.. عطلة وقفة عرفة وعيد الأضحى للوزارات والجهات الاتحادية لهذا العام 1446هـ سوف تبدأ من 09 ذي الحجة 1446هـ الموافق يوم الخميس 05 يونيو 2025، وتستمر لغاية 12 ذي الحجة 1446هـ الموافق يوم الأحد 08 يونيو 2025م، على أن يستأنف الدوام الرسمي يوم الاثنين 09 يونيو 2025م. — FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) May 28, 2025 Official work will resume on Monday, June 09, 2025.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE: More Arabic AI models needed to preserve cultural identity, says UAE official
As the global AI race heats up, the UAE is making a strategic push to ensure that the Arabic language isn't left behind. A top official at the 23rd Arab Media Summit (AMS) in Dubai stressed the urgent need for more Arabic-focused artificial intelligence models to safeguard cultural identity and empower future generation. 'The integration of Arabic into AI isn't optional , it's essential for preserving who we are,' said Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University. 'Language is not just a means of communication, it's the environment of thought. If we want our future generations to retain their cultural identity, Arabic must be embedded in our AI systems and educational tools.' Earlier this month, the UAE launched a new Arabic language AI model. Falcon Arabic, developed by Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), that aims to capture the full linguistic diversity of the Arab world through a high-quality native (non-translated) Arabic dataset. This year's three-day summit, which began in Dubai on Monday, will bring together top media figures, policymakers, and cultural influencers from across the Arab world and beyond, to discuss challenges and transformations in the media and education sectors. Cultural bridges Nusseibeh, a key figure in the establishment of major Western academic institutions in the UAE such as Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi, emphasised that the goal was never to import foreign models blindly, but to create cultural bridges. 'The idea behind bringing global universities here was to expose Arab youth to global education while preserving their identity,' he explained. 'French was the language of Sorbonne, English for the American University, but the cultural environment has always remained Arab.' Elias Bou Saab, Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament and Executive Vice President of the American University in Dubai, who took the stage in the session with Nusseibeh, added: 'Western institutions in the UAE should be seen as bridges, not branches,' he said. ' The UAE model proves you can adopt international standards without compromising your roots.' Both Nusseibeh and BouSaab stressed the urgency of anchoring modern education in Arabic language and culture. 'In this digital age, it's easy for young Arabs to become detached from their heritage,' Nusseibeh warned. 'It is the responsibility of parents, educators, and policymakers to ensure that Arabic remains central, even in tech-driven educational environments.' Leading in gamification, digial storytelling Highlighting the rapid evolution of media education in the country, Bou Saab noted that universities in the UAE are taking the lead in fields like gamification and digital storytelling. 'The American University in Dubai, in partnership with the University of Southern California, was among the first to introduce gaming into media studies,' he said. He added that today's students are not just consuming content, they're creating it. 'With AI and digital platforms, anyone can become a content creator. That's why our curricula must adapt to teach ethical responsibility, fact-checking, and cultural context.' The UAE's early investment in culture and education has made it a regional model for transformation. 'When Sheikh Zayed founded UAE University in 1976, some advisors told him it wasn't a priority,' Nusseibeh recalled. 'Today, it ranks among the top universities in the Arab world, and is on its way to breaking into the global top 200.' With over 80,000 graduates now contributing across the public and private sectors, UAE University reflects the country's broader vision: to blend global excellence with Arab authenticity. 'In everything from the Louvre Abu Dhabi to Sorbonne University to the Falcon AI model, the UAE is showing the world that cultural confidence and global ambition are not mutually exclusive,' said Nusseibeh.
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan to begin official visit to Oman
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, will begin an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on Monday, leading a high-level delegation. The Crown Prince will meet with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan of Oman, during the visit. He will hold discussions with senior Omani officials with the aim of enhancing cooperation and reinforcing the bonds between the two countries, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement. حمدان بن محمد يقوم بزيارة رسمية إلى سلطنة عُمان غداً على رأس وفد رفيع المستوى. ويلتقى سموه خلال الزيارة جلالة السلطان هيثم بن طارق، سلطان عُمان، ويجري مباحثات مع عدد من كبار المسؤولين العمانيين حول سبل تعزيز الشراكة والتعاون الثنائي ضمن مختلف المجالات التنموية في ضوء العلاقات… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 25, 2025 Dubai Crown Prince's Oman visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation Sheikh Hamdan will be accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will also accompany the Crown Prince during the visit. The delegation includes several ministers and officials. Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, will join the visit. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, will also be part of the delegation. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, will accompany the Crown Prince. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Application, will also attend. Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State, will be included in the delegation. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, will participate in the visit. Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, will join the delegation. Lieutenant General Talal Belhoul Al Falasi, President of Dubai's State Security Department, will also accompany the Crown Prince. Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, will be part of the visit. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, Chairman and CEO of DP World, and Chairman of the Dubai International Chamber of Commerce, will complete the delegation.
Arabian Business
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE's Islamic T-Sukuk auction attracts AED 6.93bn in bids
The UAE Ministry of Finance announced the successful completion of the May 2025 auction of UAE Dirham-denominated Islamic Treasury Sukuk (T-Sukuk) amounting to AED 1.1 billion. The issue received an overwhelming response, with the total bids reaching AED 6.93 billion, amounting to an oversubscription rate of 6.3 times. The overwhelming response underscores the strong confidence of investors in the country's creditworthiness and Islamic finance framework, the ministry said. The issuance forms part of the T-Sukuk issuance programme for the year 2025. The auction attracted robust demand from eight primary dealers across both tranches – the reopening of the May 2027 tranche and the newly issued 5-year tranche maturing in May 2030, the ministry said. The Islamic Treasury Sukuk auction continues to succeed in enhancing the investment environment and boosting the competitiveness of the local debt capital market. Discover the results for May. #MoFUAE — وزارة المالية | الإمارات (@MOFUAE) May 22, 2025 The auction results highlighted competitive, market-driven pricing with a yield to maturity (YTM) of 3.99 per cent for the May 2027 tranche and 4.06 per cent for the May 2030 tranche. The Islamic T-Sukuk programme plays a vital role in supporting the development of the UAE's dirham-denominated yield curve, offering secure investment instruments for a wide range of investors. Besides, it reinforces the local debt capital market, contributes to the development of the broader investment landscape, and supports the UAE's long-term economic sustainability and growth objectives.
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UAE Releases Falcon Arabic AI Model To Outcompete Mideast Rivals
A research arm of the Abu Dhabi government has released a powerful new Arabic-language artificial intelligence model in a bid to preserve its technological lead over rivals in the Middle East. The new system, called Falcon Arabic, was trained on a dataset spanning Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the Abu Dhabi group behind Falcon, claims the new offering matches the performance of models up to 10 times its size. TII also launched Falcon H1, a small model that it said outperforms similarly sized options from Meta Platforms Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
