Latest news with #StephenAnderson
Mid East Info
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
WFP partners with Careem to deliver food aid in Gaza - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, UAE – July, 2025: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), through its award-winning ShareTheMeal app, has partnered with Careem, a leading multi-service app in the Middle East, to launch a donation campaign across Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative enables Careem users to support WFP's emergency food assistance efforts in Gaza and the West Bank directly through the Careem app. WFP is delivering life-saving food aid in Gaza despite worsening security, limited access, and rising desperation. A recent assessment shows nearly one in three people are going days without food, putting more lives at risk. Since May 21, WFP teams have dispatched dozens of aid convoys with over 1,200 trucks carrying 18,247 metric tons (MT) of food into Gaza. Through Careem's in-app donations platform 'Right Click', users can contribute directly to WFP's emergency response, with donations going towards delivering wheat flour, hot meals, and nutrition supplements to communities across Gaza and the West Bank, where WFP aims to reach over 1.5 million people this year. 'We welcome this important partnership with Careem, which empowers those in Jordan and the UAE to directly support families in Gaza through our joint platforms. These meaningful contributions will enable WFP to save lives in one of the toughest operations to date,' said Stephen Anderson, Director of WFP UAE Office & Representative to GCC Region. 'At Careem, we believe in using our platform to empower communities and respond to moments that matter. The crisis in Gaza is a humanitarian emergency that demands urgent action, and through our partnership with the World Food Programme, we're enabling our customers in Jordan and the UAE to make a direct impact,' Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem. 'With just a few taps in the app, you can contribute to life-saving food assistance for families who are facing unimaginable hardship.' In Gaza, food aid has become the only realistic option for people to eat, as flour prices have soared to 3,000 times pre-war levels, and cooking fuel is virtually impossible to find. Currently, WFP has pre-positioned over 116,000 metric tons of food assistance just outside Gaza, enough to feed the entirety of Gaza's population for two months. In 2025 alone, Careem has facilitated over $200,000 in donations to various causes, including emergency relief and education support, reflecting the ongoing commitment of Careem customers to making an impact through the app. WFP's campaign is now live on Careem's donations platform 'Right Click' in Jordan and the UAE. Download the latest version of the Careem app on iOS or Android to donate and be part of the impact. About WFP: The United Nations World Food Program is the largest humanitarian organization in the world, which saves lives during emergencies and provides food assistance to build a road to peace, stability and prosperity amongst populations which are recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter: @WFP_GCC and Instagram: @wfp_gcc Subscribe to our WhatsApp channel. About Careem Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East, making it easier than ever to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Careem is led by a powerful purpose to simplify and improve the lives of people and build an awesome organisation that inspires. Since 2012, Careem has created earning opportunities for over 3.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of over 75 million customers, and built a platform for the region's best talent to thrive and for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Careem operates in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.
TECHx
21-07-2025
- Business
- TECHx
WFP Partners With Careem to Support Gaza Food Relief
Home » Tech Value Chain » E-commerce » WFP Partners With Careem to Support Gaza Food Relief The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a new partnership with Careem, a multi-service app in the Middle East, to launch a donation campaign across Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The campaign is facilitated through WFP's award-winning ShareTheMeal app and Careem's in-app donation feature, 'Right Click.' It allows users in both countries to support WFP's emergency food assistance efforts in Gaza and the West Bank directly from the Careem app. WFP revealed that it continues to deliver life-saving food aid in Gaza despite severe access limitations, rising insecurity, and growing humanitarian needs. A recent assessment indicated that nearly one in three people are going days without food. Since May 21, WFP teams have dispatched dozens of aid convoys, with over 1,200 trucks carrying 18,247 metric tons of food into Gaza. Through the partnership: Donations help provide wheat flour, hot meals, and nutrition supplements. WFP aims to reach over 1.5 million people in Gaza and the West Bank this year. Stephen Anderson, Director of the WFP UAE Office and Representative to the GCC Region, welcomed the partnership, stating it empowers people in Jordan and the UAE to make a direct impact. He emphasized the importance of such contributions in one of WFP's toughest operations. Careem's CEO and co-founder, Mudassir Sheikha, also highlighted the urgency of the crisis and the company's role in enabling customers to respond with immediate action. In Gaza, food aid has become the only viable option for survival, with flour prices increasing up to 3,000 times compared to pre-war levels. Cooking fuel is nearly unavailable. WFP has already pre-positioned over 116,000 metric tons of food assistance outside Gaza, enough to feed the entire population for two months. Careem reported that in 2025 alone, its users have donated over $200,000 through the app to causes such as emergency relief and education support. WFP confirmed the donation campaign is now live on the Careem app in Jordan and the UAE. Users can donate by downloading the latest version of the app on iOS or Android.
Qatar Tribune
10-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Strategic adoption of AI and sustainability may add $232 billion to Middle East GDP by 2035: PwC
Satyendra Pathak Doha Strategic adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and decisive climate action could unlock as much as $232 billion in additional economic value for the Middle East by 2035, according to a new report released by PwC Middle East. The study, titled 'Value in Motion: The Middle East's Time to Lead is Now', outlines three future scenarios that explore the region's potential economic trajectory amid accelerating AI disruption, climate-related risks, and the convergence of traditional sectors into new, dynamic domains of growth. The research reveals that under an optimal scenario, the region's GDP could reach $4.68 trillion by 2035, up from $3.57 trillion today—an increase of $1.11 trillion. A significant portion of this growth, about 8.3 percent, could be attributed to AI-driven productivity gains if adoption is widespread, responsible, and strategically focused. However, physical climate risks such as rising temperatures, water scarcity, and flooding could erode up to 13.9 percent of GDP potential, highlighting the importance of integrated action across both AI and climate agendas. Under a business-as-usual approach, the region's real GDP is projected to grow by 41.8 percent, reaching $4.57 trillion by 2035. But when adjusted for climate-related losses, the net growth would fall to 27.9 percent, emphasising the urgent need for proactive, coordinated strategies to mitigate these risks. 'The decade ahead will challenge the region's imagination and capabilities like never before,' PwC Middle East Chief Strategy & Technology Officer Stephen Anderson said. 'To stay ahead, businesses and governments must act with pace, purpose and partnership—reimagining traditional models to unlock the competitive advantage the region is uniquely positioned to deliver.' The report introduces a forward-looking framework centered on emerging domains of growth—such as how we move, fuel, build, care, compute, and connect—which break down traditional industry silos and open up cross-sectoral value creation. These domains are expected to define the next wave of regional transformation, as organizations pursue more integrated, human-centric strategies. The Middle East, with its world-leading renewable energy potential and rapid digital infrastructure development, is uniquely poised to lead in this new era. The convergence of clean energy and AI is seen as a pivotal opportunity to position the region as a global AI hub, particularly as global hyperscalers increase investment in digital infrastructure. 'A critical factor will be how effectively the region balances the cost and scalability of AI with the availability and affordability of clean energy,' said Dr. Yahya Anouti, Partner at Strategy& and PwC Middle East Sustainability Platform Leader. 'Striking this balance will be essential to unlocking the region's full potential.' The report calls on governments, businesses, and academic institutions across the Middle East to take bold and coordinated steps to secure the region's economic future. Governments are encouraged to restructure institutions to meet evolving human needs—such as by creating ministries dedicated to mobility or caregiving, and by establishing innovation funds to accelerate AI integration in public services. Businesses are urged to rethink their operating models to thrive in a digital-first, low-carbon economy and to build more resilient, collaborative supply chains. Meanwhile, academic institutions must play a leading role in cultivating a workforce equipped for future challenges, advancing applied research in strategic sectors, and embedding entrepreneurship across the educational spectrum. With visionary leadership, cutting-edge digital capabilities, and abundant clean energy resources, the Middle East is uniquely positioned not just to adapt to global change, but to lead it. PwC's report concludes with a call to action: the value is already in motion—now is the time to act.
Biz Bahrain
08-07-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Strategic AI adoption and climate resilience could add $232bln to Middle East GDP by 2035, reports PwC
New research published today by PwC outlines three divergent data-driven scenarios for the Middle East in 2035, revealing a US$232 billion opportunity if regional governments and businesses successfully harness AI-driven productivity gains and manage the economic impacts of climate change. The research, Value in Motion: The Middle East's time to lead is now, also suggests that over the next decade, industries will reconfigure to meet human needs in new ways, leading to the formation of new 'domains' that cross traditional sector lines. These shifts will create opportunities for businesses and organisations to reinvent themselves and target new client bases, form cross-sector alliances and innovate their service and operating models. With bold climate commitments, access to the world's lowest-cost renewable energy and rapidly advancing AI capabilities and infrastructure, the Middle East holds a unique strategic advantage and is well-positioned to lead the next wave of sustainable, tech-enabled economic growth. PwC's modelling shows that under a business-as-usual scenario, regional real GDP could grow by 41.8% by 2035. But when factoring in climate-related risks – such as heatwaves, water scarcity and flooding – this growth drops by 13.9 percentage points to a net increase of 27.9%, placing GDP at US$4.57 trillion. This serves as the foundation for assessing three distinct future scenarios globally, and their impact in the Middle East. At stake is US$232 billion – the gap between the region's most optimistic and constrained economic futures. In the most optimistic scenario, widescale AI adoption could add 8.3% through productivity gains; this, combined with decisive climate action could lift GDP to US$4.68 trillion by 2035. Stephen Anderson, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer at PwC Middle East, said: 'The decade ahead will challenge the region's imagination and capabilities like never before. As the dynamics of the 'three tomorrows' unfold, they will reshape the Middle East's economy. To stay ahead, businesses and governments must act with pace, purpose and partnership – reimagining traditional models to unlock the competitive advantage the region is uniquely positioned to deliver.' The research introduces a new framework structured around emerging 'domains of growth' – such as how we move, fuel, build, care, compute and connect. These cross-industry ecosystems signal the future of value creation, replacing traditional sector silos with more dynamic, interconnected opportunities. The report also highlights the role of clean energy in powering AI infrastructure and scaling innovation. As global hyperscalers ramp up investment, the Middle East's renewable energy advantage could help it become a regional and global AI hub. Dr. Yahya Anouti, Partner at Strategy& and PwC Middle East Sustainability Platform Leader, said: 'A critical factor will be how effectively the region balances the cost and scalability of AI with the availability and affordability of clean energy to power it – especially as AI adoption accelerates at an unprecedented pace. Striking this balance will be essential to unlocking the region's full potential.' The report calls on governments, business leaders and academia to take bold, coordinated action to shape the region's future. It urges governments to redesign institutions around evolving human needs – by establishing ministries focused on care or mobility and creating dedicated funds to fast-track AI adoption in public services. Business leaders are called on to reinvent operating models for a more localised, digital and low-carbon economy, while strengthening supply chain resilience and cross-sector alliances. Meanwhile, academia must anchor national progress by developing future-fit talent, advancing applied research in strategic areas, and embedding entrepreneurship across the education system. With bold visions and world-leading capabilities, the region has the opportunity not just to adapt, but to lead. The value is already in motion – now is the time to act. Read the full Value in Motion report on our website. at
TECHx
07-07-2025
- Business
- TECHx
PwC Reveals $232B AI Opportunity for Middle East
Home » Emerging technologies » Artificial Intelligence » PwC Reveals $232B AI Opportunity for Middle East PwC has released new research outlining three data-driven scenarios for the Middle East by 2035. The report highlights a US$232 billion economic opportunity if the region effectively harnesses AI and manages climate risks. Titled Value in Motion: The Middle East's time to lead is now , the study reported that regional governments and businesses could significantly boost productivity through AI adoption. PwC revealed that if AI-driven gains are realized and climate change is addressed, the region's real GDP could reach US$4.68 trillion by 2035. However, in a business-as-usual scenario, GDP is expected to grow by 41.8%, reaching US$4.57 trillion. Factoring in climate risks like heatwaves and water scarcity could reduce this growth to 27.9%. At stake is a potential US$232 billion gap between the most optimistic and constrained futures. The most positive outcome includes: An 8.3% GDP boost from widespread AI adoption Additional growth through decisive climate action The research introduces a framework built around new 'domains of growth.' These domains redefine how industries operate across areas like mobility, energy, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and connectivity. According to PwC, these shifts will create cross-sector opportunities and encourage innovation. The report also emphasized the region's strategic advantages, including bold climate goals, access to low-cost renewable energy, and rapid AI infrastructure growth. PwC noted that these factors position the Middle East to lead in sustainable, tech-driven growth. Stephen Anderson, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer at PwC Middle East, said the coming decade will test the region's imagination and capabilities. He urged businesses and governments to move with 'pace, purpose, and partnership' to remain competitive. PwC reported that clean energy will play a critical role in powering AI infrastructure. As global hyperscalers expand, the region could become a hub for AI and cloud services. Dr. Yahya Anouti, Partner at Strategy& and PwC Middle East Sustainability Platform Leader, noted that balancing the cost of AI with clean energy scalability will be essential to unlocking the region's potential. The report called on regional stakeholders to act decisively. It recommended: Governments redesign institutions to reflect evolving human needs Businesses revamp models to align with a digital, low-carbon economy Academia develop future-ready talent and foster innovation PwC concluded that the Middle East has the tools and vision to lead. The value is already in motion. Now is the time to act.
