Yango Launches Yasmina AI Assistant in Oman
Yango Group, a global technology company, has announced the launch of Yasmina, a bilingual AI assistant, in Oman.
Yasmina is integrated into Yango's smart speaker lineup, including the Midi, Mini, and Lite. The assistant supports both Arabic and English, offering natural, human-like voice interactions tailored for the region.
The company revealed that Yasmina is powered by an upgraded large language model, part of the YangoAI suite. This suite includes advanced AI technologies designed for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Yasmina provides more than just music streaming or smart home control. It delivers localized features, such as: Prayer times specific to Muscat
Traditional recipes like Omani Shuwa
Travel planning to destinations like Wadi Shab
It also supports religious activities by playing Surahs, setting Adhans, and using the Hijri calendar for accurate date tracking.
The assistant aims to boost curiosity and learning across all age groups. It simplifies complex topics, encourages language development, and offers interactive storytelling. Yasmina also translates between Arabic and English, supporting bilingual users, educators, and content creators.
Islam Abdul Karim, Regional Head of Yango Group Middle East, stated that AI is reshaping lives and should be accessible to everyone. He highlighted Oman's strong embrace of AI as part of its digital strategy and affirmed Yango's commitment to supporting technological sovereignty.
ITHCA Group, the technology investment arm of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), expressed support for Yango's efforts. The group emphasized that Yasmina aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and helps bring AI into daily life in practical ways.
Yango reported that the Yasmina smart speakers are now available for purchase across various retail and online outlets in Oman.
To access all features, users require an active Yango Play subscription, which may be subject to fees. Yango Play is an AI-powered entertainment app available in multiple GCC countries.
The launch reflects Yango's broader goal of bridging advanced technologies with local communities across the region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Newcastle reject Liverpool opening bid to sign striker Isak, say reports
Newcastle have rejected Liverpool's opening bid to sign unsettled Sweden striker Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday. Isak has been training at his old club Real Sociedad this week after reportedly telling Newcastle he wants to leave St James' Park. The 25-year-old has been linked with Liverpool since the end of last season and the Premier League champions are now believed to have formalised their interest with an offer of around £110 million ($159 million) plus potential add-ons. But Newcastle, who reportedly value Isak at £150 million, remain keen to hold onto their prize asset and have rebuffed Liverpool's initial bid. Isak, who joined Newcastle in a £60 million move from Real Sociedad in 2022, scored 23 Premier League goals last season to help Newcastle qualify for the Champions League. He has three years left on his Newcastle contract, but did not travel to Asia for the Magpies' ongoing pre-season tour, with the club saying he had a minor thigh injury. On Thursday, Real Sociedad confirmed he was at their Zubieta facility with his own trainers. It was reported on Friday that Newcastle had told Isak he could agree a new deal containing a get-out clause for next year, but he responded by insisting he wants to move now. Liverpool manager Arne Slot has already bolstered his attacking options by signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike and Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz during the current transfer window. But the Reds are keen to make their forward line even more formidable by adding Isak as they look to win back to back English titles for the first time since the 1980s. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe struck a defiant note earlier this week when he said: 'He is still our player. He's contracted to us. 'We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. 'My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control.' Liverpool have spent over £250 million so far in the summer window, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili joining Wirtz and Ekitike at Anfield. Meanwhile, Premier League side Chelsea loaned teenage defender Mamadou Sarr back to sister club Strasbourg on Friday for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. The French club confirmed the loan move on its website, having sold the highly rated Sarr to Chelsea in June. Strasbourg is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022. The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international. He was a regular last season, playing 27 league games as Alsace-based Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He previously played briefly for Lyon. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League. Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee. Strasbourg opens their league campaign at Metz on Aug. 17. Elsewhere, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced on Thursday. Agencies
Broadcast Pro
16 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
Co-Production Salon returns to MIPCOM Cannes for second year
Co-Production Salon will debut the 2025 MENA Co-Production Guidebook, host curated in-person and virtual networking sessions, and launch a year-round Virtual Networking Lounge to connect Arabic producers with global partners and showcase key industry insights and projects. Co-Production Salon, a platform dedicated to nurturing co-production partnerships and investment channels involving the Arab world, is set to return to MIPCOM Cannes for the second year in a row. Scheduled to run from October 13 to 16, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals, the initiative will feature an upgraded presence at the MIP Creative Hub, strategically positioned along the Cannes beachfront. The event underscores Co-Production Salon's growing role in linking Arabic content creators and investors with international distributors, broadcasters, and financiers to develop globally marketable content. Heba Korayem, Founder of Co-Production Salon, said: 'CoProduction Salon was created to bridge worlds — bringing Arabic production houses and investors together with international partners to create meaningful, marketable content. MIPCOM gives us the stage to make more of those connections happen.' A recent Omdia report predicts the region's VOD market will grow fivefold to reach $8.4bn by 2029, while Parrot Analytics data points to a dramatic rise in demand for Arabic content — up 400% in Saudi Arabia, 300% in Morocco, and 200% in Iraq since 2020. Since its inception, Co-Production Salon has facilitated over $12m in partnership deals. For 2025, the platform is introducing several new initiatives aimed at deepening engagement and insight. These include the launch of the MENA Co-Production Guidebook (2025 Edition), offering in-depth analysis of market trends and investment opportunities, and a Networking Power Hour, designed to foster real-time, curated meetings between Arabic and international stakeholders. Additionally, a Virtual Networking Lounge will provide continuous access to industry data, professional connections, and project highlights throughout the year. The initiative invites participation from a wide array of industry players, from production companies and distributors to investors, broadcasters, OTT platforms, and advertising agencies, all seeking to tap into one of the fastest-growing, youth-driven content markets in the world. Participants will gain access to premium projects, vetted partnerships, and curated networking opportunities. The Virtual Lounge already features over 200 verified profiles from top-tier MENA content entities, including Saudi Broadcast Authority, Thamaniya, Sadaf Media Production, Rise Studios, Cedars Art and Pixitoon. The physical lounge at MIPCOM will serve as a key venue for face-to-face engagement with these and other leading industry names. With its enhanced presence and expanded programming, Co-Production Salon is positioning itself as a central force in the internationalisation of Arabic content. Visitors can connect with the team at PALAIS C12 HUB 6, explore ongoing projects, or join high-level networking events at MIPCOM. 'Our goal is to make those partnerships not just possible but profitable,' added Heba Korayem.
The National
a day ago
- The National
UAE influencers say new licence to redefine payments and rates
Influencer marketing in the UAE is set for a significant shake-up as new rules will soon require anyone posting promotional content − paid or unpaid − to hold an advertiser permit. The regulation, announced this week by the UAE Media Council, will take effect in three months and aims to bring the fast-growing digital advertising sector under stricter regulatory oversight. While social media influencers have been required to hold licences for paid collaborations since 2018, the new permit expands the rule to cover unpaid or gifted promotions as well. The move is expected to formalise the sector and could reshape how influencers are compensated and recognised by brands, according to experts. The UAE's influencer advertising market is projected to reach nearly $97 million by 2030, from $69.35 million in 2024, according to Statista. Despite this rapid growth, influencers often face payment delays, with major brand partnerships taking up to 120 days, Deloitte reports. The regulation could alter how brands approach influencer compensation, said Ahmad Daabas, regional director of the Mena region at Bold Management, a global talent agency representing influencers and creators. Once influencers are required to hold a licence, even for unpaid content, 'the expectation is that they are running a business', he told The National. This would likely push brands to 'pay more formally: via contracts, official invoicing, and proper accounting', helping reduce delays and adding structure to negotiations. 'Influencers will also be in a stronger position to request fair compensation now that they're officially recognised as 'advertisers' under the law,' Mr Daabas said. He added that agencies may need to take on more financial responsibility. 'Agencies may need to act as intermediaries, covering influencer payments upfront … something we have been providing and executing as Bold Management since we started in the region. This will increase risk and require stronger financial planning,' said Mr Daabas. Still, it could also open opportunities for agencies to evolve into 'end-to-end solutions providers … more like production houses or talent-led media agencies', he said. PR industry response Rani Ilmi, founder of Dubai-based Frame Publicity, said the permit could streamline relationships between agencies and influencers. 'Hopefully, this new permit means relationships will be more streamlined and formalised, no more chasing posts and deliverables after contracts are signed,' she told The National. The move will narrow the pool of available talent as brands and agencies will have to work only with licensed influencers, according to Ms Ilmi. 'Planning will be massively affected … our pool of talents to select from will be narrowed down considerably if everyone isn't licensed STAT,' she said, adding that the law could help fix long-standing issues with influencer payments. Part of the timely payments issue is the illegitimacy of how their contracts and payments are currently constructed, Ms Ilmi said. "With a more legally recognised framework for influencer revenue, their payment terms should be able to be formalised too." She also expects the new rules to favour full-time professionals over casual influencers. 'It will bring transparency into the influencer economy and focus on higher quality content, so full-time, truly 'influential' talents are able to shine for their professionalism,' Ms Ilmi said. More professional market Calling the regulation 'a major shift" toward formalising the industry, Mr Daabas said the move will 'increase the legitimacy of influencer-led campaigns, raise accountability, and strengthen trust with both brands and regulators'. However, it could also 'add friction in campaign execution if not implemented carefully', particularly for short-term or spontaneous content deals. Agencies must now verify influencers' permits before campaigns. 'This means integrating compliance cheques … operationally, this adds time … but … short-term, there will be adjustments and added overhead,' Mr Daabas said. Influencer reactions Ali Hennaoui, a UAE-based content creator, described the new permit as 'a step forward in regard to regulation in the creator space'. It would 'set forth a fundamental pillar in trust between not just creator and brand but also creator and audience' and 'set clear and transparent guidelines that will facilitate the work between creators and brands', he told The National. 'As content creation is a business, its logistics should be formal and follow a proper set of guidelines and procedures.' Widad Taleb, another Dubai-based influencer, said that having a licence gives her "a stronger footing" with brands. "It shows that influencers are recognised as legitimate advertisers, which makes it easier to justify rates and have transparent pricing conversations,' said Ms Taleb. She told The National that the rules will encourage influencers to invest more in business structures, but 'could feel overwhelming for smaller creators … it might make it harder for part-time or micro-influencers to enter the market'. On displaying licence numbers publicly, she said it 'signals to brands and agencies that I'm a licenced advertiser, which builds trust and gives me more confidence going into negotiations'. Mr Daabas added that a visible licence number serves as 'a verification stamp … assuring brands that the influencer is compliant and professional … and adds a layer of protection and accountability'. It could become 'a filter for brand briefs: only licenced influencers will be eligible to receive work', he noted. Regional ripple effect Saudi Arabia already requires influencers to obtain a licence to operate commercially, costing about $4,000 for three years, as part of efforts to professionalise the sector. Mr Daabas expects other Gulf markets to follow. 'The UAE often leads … we're monitoring Qatar and Kuwait, who … will follow with similar structures,' he said. He added that Bold Management is already preparing by creating standardised compliance procedures … and is in early discussions about regional compliance hubs and shared tools that can streamline this process for cross-border campaigns. Future of influencer marketing Experts say the regulation could transform digital advertising, enhancing transparency and attracting global brands to the Gulf. With a huge rise in market spend projections, agencies and creators alike expect a more structured, professional environment, one that could establish the UAE as a model for influencer regulation across the Middle East.
