Ajman issues new law to attract more investment in property sector
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
12 minutes ago
- The National
Dubai unveils first AI-generated 'Emirati family'
Dubai has introduced its first AI-powered virtual Emirati family, set to serve as the face of the government's digital strategy. The interactive cast of characters will operate as brand ambassadors for Digital Dubai, the organisation tasked with promoting the integration of online services and advanced technology in everyday life. The first member of the futuristic family was revealed on Thursday. The remarkably lifelike young girl – dressed in traditional attire – is shown in a short video smiling at the camera as she plays in a park. To help encourage community participation, she invited the public to help select her name from three options – Dubai, Mira, or Latifa. The project will introduce more members of the family − including the father, mother and brother − to form a complete digital representation of an Emirati household. They will be used to raise awareness of digital services on offer in Dubai in a light and relatable fashion. The initiative highlights how such AI technology is developing at a rapid pace. In 2023, a Kuwaiti media outlet unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence, with plans for her to read online bulletins. Fedha appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt. A cutting-edge vision for a future transformed by technology was under discussion at Dubai AI Week in April. The conference heard how the rapid evolution of AI may soon result in digital replicas of employees in workplaces, potentially reshaping job roles and intellectual property rights. This was one of the predictions in Gartner's top trends for AI, which were revealed during a panel session. Joe Youssef Malek, vice president for executive programmes for the Gulf, India and emerging markets at the American research and advisory company, said their research showed that digital twins of employees could be a reality by 2027. Dubai embraces AI Dubai has ranks in the top five world cities in a new report on the adoption of AI, beating San Francisco − widely considered the birthplace of the modern tech industry. Singapore took the top spot, according to Counterpoint Research, which sought to examine the affinity and readiness for AI among 100 of the world's largest metropolitan areas. and Abu Dhabi. The UAE is the only country from the Middle East with cities in the top 10 of the 2025 Global AI Cities Index.
The National
42 minutes ago
- The National
Dubai outstrips San Francisco for AI adoption and usage, report finds
Dubai ranks in the top five world cities in a new report on the adoption of artificial intelligence, beating San Francisco, widely considered the birthplace of the modern tech industry. Singapore took the top spot, according to Counterpoint Research, which sought to examine the affinity and readiness for AI among 100 of the world's largest metropolitan areas. Seoul received the study's second highest AI score, followed by Beijing, Dubai, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi. The UAE is the only country from the Middle East with cities in the top 10 of the 2025 Global AI Cities Index. "Counterpoint analysed over 5,000 initiatives in the private and public sectors, strength of communications infrastructure, data centre and supercomputing initiatives, university output and strength of the start-up ecosystem, among other factors," the report said. Marc Einstein, a research director for Counterpoint, said Dubai "has an AI strategist in every government department". "All teachers are now being given AI training and they have a programme to train one million AI engineer," with Abu Dhabi "not far behind", he said. Mr Einstein said as a whole the Middle East is a region to watch in terms of AI adoption. He said that while cities in North America remain in the lead in the global AI race, China was starting to close the gap. Regulatory hurdles were blunting AI development in Europe, he said. Counterpoint Research's analysis on the Middle East echoes a report by the international Monetary Fund that indicated AI could help to boost gross domestic product by as much as 35 per cent in the UAE by 2030, and that the fast-developing technology could make up at least 12 per cent of Saudi Arabia's GDP. The UAE − the Arab world's second-largest economy − has expressed the desire to be an AI front-runner as it diversifies its economy from oil. The country's push has resulted in the establishment of start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders such as Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI. Those types of investments also played a large role in Counterpoint's rankings. "In the 2025 AI City Index report, Microsoft emerged as the most active vendor as the company expanded its AI data centre footprint significantly, engaged in several AI training initiatives, and set up new AI innovation hubs," read the report. Counterpoint also said US-based Nvidia's partnerships with Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, the Dubai operator known as du, helped propel the city's ranking in the recent study. The UAE's investments in AI have also led to the creation of language models such as Falcon Arabic, part of an effort to ensure aspects of Arabic culture are not left behind in the AI surge, as many large language models were initially based on English language data. In 2019, the UAE announced the establishment of a university dedicated to AI, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. Two years earlier, the Emirates was among the first country in the world to appoint an AI Minister, Omar Al Olama. This month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, introduced a new classification system with "icons" to indicate when AI has been used in research and publications.
Tahawul Tech
an hour ago
- Tahawul Tech
Quantum-safe networks are cornerstone of tomorrow's digital infrastructure
In a world where nearly every aspect of our lives is connected, encryption is what keeps our digital systems trustworthy. It protects everything from financial transactions to national intelligence. But that protection won't hold forever. Quantum computing, once the stuff of science fiction, is edging closer to practical reality. With it comes a new set of challenges to how we keep information secure. Here in the Gulf, where digital transformation is accelerating at breakneck speeds, the stakes are rising. Initiatives like the UAE's Digital Government Strategy and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 have led to an explosion of digital services, cloud platforms, and cross-border data flows. But with this growth comes a stark reality: adversaries are already harvesting encrypted data today, waiting for quantum computers to break the cryptographic algorithms we rely on. Rethinking network security for the quantum age Quantum-safe networks (QSNs) are emerging as a vital part of the solution. These systems combine post-quantum cryptography (typically at application layer) with techniques like symmetric key infrastructure and / or quantum key distribution (at IP and Optical level) to build layered security frameworks across infrastructure. The goal isn't just to defend against future risks but to harden networks now, add risk mitigations measures with long term security, especially as cyberattack sophistication and frequency increase. This shift is already underway. In Europe, a live trial between Proximus and Nokia demonstrated how quantum encryption can be layered into live networks. In Asia, similar pilots with SK Broadband and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power have proven scalability. And closer to home, operators in the GCC are laying the groundwork for similar capabilities, driven by the region's urgent push toward digital sovereignty. This is happening against the backdrop of a booming data center market. The GCC's data center sector is projected to more than double in size by 2030, growing from $3.48 billion in 2024 to over $9.4 billion. As demand for AI applications, cloud infrastructure, and sovereign hosting grows, securing these environments from emerging threats becomes mission critical. Making the shift: what it really takes Getting quantum-ready is not an overnight process. It begins with mapping what you already have. Surprisingly, a large share of organisations still lack complete visibility into their cryptographic assets, a gap that becomes riskier as quantum threats move from theoretical to practical. Alongside conducting audits, organizations can begin implementing Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC), particularly at the network layer—IP and optical—where deployment is significantly faster than at the application level. This approach enables immediate risk mitigation by securing critical infrastructure early, while teams are trained to adopt crypto-agile and resilient processes and prepare for broader integration.. This transition also needs to be seamless. With the help of zero-touch encryption, automated policy management, and advanced orchestration platforms, it is possible to strengthen security without compromising performance or uptime. These tools are especially valuable in the Gulf's smart infrastructure environments, where service continuity is non-negotiable. Scaling security for the region's digital ambitions Telecom operators, hyperscalers, and data centre providers across the Middle East are already feeling the pressure to enhance their security posture. The GCC cybersecurity market is projected to skyrocket, from $4.8 billion in 2024 to nearly $15 billion by 2031. That growth isn't just driven by threat vectors. It's a direct response to the expanding digital landscape and the geopolitical importance of regional infrastructure. Modern chipsets now support encryption at speeds of 800G and deliver up to 75% energy savings over previous generations. In the Gulf's hot and high-demand environments, that's a significant advantage. At the same time, architecture must accommodate encryption across long-haul optical networks and sovereign cloud environments without adding latency. These are the very requirements regional carriers are tackling now, often in collaboration with international partners and standards bodies. A strategic opportunity to lead This isn't just a defensive play. It is a chance to lead. The global market for quantum-safe technologies is expected to grow rapidly in the years ahead. And countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are already investing in quantum computing R&D and advanced AI ecosystems, signaling their intent to be at the forefront of this wave. The GCC's focus on cyber resilience is also accelerating. National cybersecurity agencies, such as the UAE Cyber Security Council, are actively collaborating with private and international entities to address vulnerabilities and raise the region's security posture. A 2025 report highlighted over 223,000 vulnerable assets in the UAE alone, with many remaining exposed for years, making quantum resilience a non-negotiable pillar of future planning. Operators in the region have a unique chance to go a step further by offering quantum-safe infrastructure as a service. In doing so, they won't just be securing their own networks, they will be enabling banks, hospitals, utility providers, and governments to do the same. Resilience isn't optional, its foundational Quantum computing is no longer an abstract concept. While it promises breakthroughs in everything from medicine to logistics, it also threatens the cryptographic systems our societies rely on. In regions like the GCC, where digital growth is central to economic strategy, the consequences of inaction could be severe. By embedding quantum-safe technologies into the core of their networks, Gulf organizations can secure their most valuable data, protect their national priorities, and lay the foundation for trusted digital ecosystems. In the quantum age, it's not just about reacting to what's coming. It's about shaping it. Because when trust, privacy, and security are on the line, resilience isn't a luxury. It's the cornerstone of progress. This Op-ed is authored by Carlo Corti, Head of Optical Networks, Nokia Middle East and Africa
