Retail Free delivery is decisive for UAE and Saudi shoppers Among the myriad discounts and perks offered by the Gulf’s retail sector, one factor that stands as a vital consideration for UAE and Saudi shoppers is free delivery, a report has found. A survey by the buy-now-pay-later platform Tabby found that free shipping outweighs the allure of customer loyalty schemes. In all, 29 percent of […] February 9, 2024
Analysis Health Gulf embraces a personalised approach to healthcare The Gulf is shifting towards a more personalised approach to healthcare, but the growth of the sector faces challenges in terms of talent and data management according to experts. Traditional medicine tends to address only the initial health issues without tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each patient, says Vadim Fedotov, CEO of Bioniq, […] February 1, 2024
Analysis Retail The perks and pitfalls of the UAE’s retail loyalty sector When customers consistently fly with Emirates or buy their daily coffee at Tim Hortons, the chances are high that they are members of a loyalty programme – and companies deploy them to ensure they return to the brand. But UAE consumers are increasingly discerning about the brands and products with which they interact. “The direct […] February 1, 2024
Tech Oman invests $210m in Sohar data centre project Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone has signed a land-lease agreement with Green Data City to develop a data computing centre. The facility aims to provide hosting, processing and data mining in the free zone, reported the state-owned Oman News Agency. Green Data City is a data miner, which means using computers and automation to search […] January 30, 2024
People & Lifestyle Kuwait and Bahrain propose changes to working week Lawmakers in Kuwait and Bahrain are pushing for major amendments to the working week, aiming to improve workers’ rights and boost the work-life balance in the two Gulf states. In Bahrain, the focus is on extending the weekend to three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “There is an urgent need to keep pace with global […] January 29, 2024
Tech Abu Dhabi sets up council to regulate AI Abu Dhabi has established a new artificial intelligence council as part of efforts to regulate the technology and create research opportunities. The Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) will be responsible for developing and implementing policies and strategies related to AI research, infrastructure and investments and advanced technologies in the emirate, the Abu Dhabi […] January 24, 2024
Tech Mena IT spend expected to reach $184bn this year IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa is projected to increase by four percent in 2024, as companies focus on upgrading software and embracing generative AI. Spending is estimated to reach $183.8 billion, a slight increase from $176.8 billion in 2023, according to US tech company Gartner. The use of generative AI will […] January 24, 2024
Tech Saudi is ‘young market’ for video surveillance tech Demand for video surveillance technology is expected to grow rapidly in Saudi Arabia over the next few years, industry experts have said. “Saudi Arabia is a new and young market for video surveillance, and regulations are still being drafted,” Ettiene van der Watt, regional director at Swedish manufacturing company Axis Communications, told AGBI last week […] January 22, 2024
Tech UAE ransomware attacks decline but payout size grows Ransomware attacks in the UAE have declined significantly but the amount of money being demanded has risen, according to the Gulf state’s Cyber Security Council chief Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti. Speaking at Intersec, the security and safety conference in Dubai, Dr Al Kuwaiti did not disclose specific numbers, but cybersecurity company Kaspersky has reported a […] January 19, 2024
Exclusive Retail Dubai is building bricks-and-mortar appeal, says Jumbo CEO Dubai will remain a stronghold for bricks-and-mortar shopping despite the increased competition from online retailers, according to the chief executive officer of the UAE conglomerate Jumbo Group. “The city’s unique market dynamics, such as demand for luxurious goods, coupled with a significant tourist influx contribute to the continued relevance of physical stores,” Vikas Chadha told […] January 18, 2024
Analysis Tech Making sense of Arabic machine translation Some estimates indicate the Arabic language consists of more than 12 million words. While the exact figure is much debated by academics, to put it into perspective the Oxford English Dictionary contains around 273,000. Arabic “has dozens of dialects and millions of unique words, and there are many ways to say the same thing,” says […] January 12, 2024
Analysis Tech For Gulf businesses, chatbots are a difficult conversation In an era in which chatbots are on the rise, attempting to reach customer support often proves to be a frustrating experience in the Gulf. My recent encounter with a prominent UAE bank highlighted this reality, as the default option of AI chatbots – a computer programme that allows humans to interact (by voice or […] January 8, 2024
Tech Half of UAE businesses feel at risk from data attacks More than half of UAE businesses still perceive themselves at risk from data security threats, a new report has found. The Data Risk Management 2023 UAE report by Veritas Technologies showed that in the past two years 73 percent of organisations surveyed fell victim to ransomware attacks. That is substantially higher than the global figure […] January 7, 2024
Analysis Tech Reality still beats deepfake technology … for now Technology experts are confident that artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes will not dominate or replace human talent. “It sounds tremendously fake, even when it sounds ‘real’,” Ahmad Haffar, the voice behind Dubai Metro and managing partner at Mindloop Studios, told AGBI. Deepfakes are manipulated videos, images or audio recordings created using AI. They are increasingly commonplace in […] January 7, 2024
Tech Tech startups shape future of UAE mobility sector Technological advances and evolving consumer demands are bringing massive growth to the UAE’s mobility and logistics startup sectors. Logistics startups in the Middle East and Africa raised $5.9 million in funding in December, according to venture capital firm Wamda. This ranked the sector third behind “cleantech” (technology designed to reduce negative environmental impacts) and fintech […] January 4, 2024
Tech UAE’s drone sector flies high but challenges persist As the drones sector in the UAE continues to grow, Microavia, a Dubai-based drone company, is using its drones to explore for critical minerals in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. These drones, equipped with AI and computer vision technology, conduct geophysical surveys at low altitudes, providing cost-effective geological information compared with ground-based exploration. The story is […] January 4, 2024
Analysis Finance Top 10 fintechs to watch in 2024 Fintechs are big business in the Middle East. An increasing number of financial companies are integrating technology into their services and products, meaning the market is forecast to treble from $1.5 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion by 2025, according to McKinsey & Company. Here are 10 fintech firms to look out for in the coming […] January 3, 2024
Retail UAE enforces new rules for buy-now-pay-later operators Updated regulations for buy-now-pay-later service providers and other finance companies providing short-term credit facilities have been introduced by the Central Bank of the UAE. Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), a business model that allows consumers to make immediate online purchases and spread their payments over interest-free instalments, has grown in popularity in the Gulf post Covid-19. Last month, […] January 2, 2024
Analysis Tech Gulf tech trends to watch in 2024 Technological breakthroughs in 2023 have transformed society and the world economy, but we must always look ahead. These are the cutting-edge discoveries and technologies that will define 2024. Quantum computing Quantum computing – using the principles of quantum mechanics to tackle problems too complex for traditional computers – is set to revolutionise industries. Global tech […] January 2, 2024
Real Estate Bahrain introduces real estate data service for investors Bahrain’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority has launched an online service providing investors with data on the kingdom’s real estate sector. Aqari Data Bank uses artificial intelligence to give up-to-date information on transaction volumes, property valuations, land classifications and the locations of commercial complexes, healthcare facilities and educational institutions. The subscription-based platform provides interactive maps and […] December 27, 2023
Transport Dubai electric bike firm plans UAE expansion Dubai last-mile delivery company Eco Way plans to replace the UAE’s many thousands of petrol motorcycles with electric bikes. The startup currently operates 45 electric bikes in Dubai and has partnered with companies including Talabat, Pizza Hut, Amazon, Deliveroo, KFC and Emirates Post Group. Founder Ivan Kroshny said Eco Way also wants to expand from […] December 27, 2023
Tech Middle East hit by wave of brand impersonation scams Cybersecurity experts in the Middle East are warning of a rise in brand impersonation attacks which persuade unsuspecting consumers to part with sensitive information. International Holding Company, a global investor based in Abu Dhabi, said in a disclosure to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange last week that scammers are using the company’s name and logo […] December 18, 2023
