The revolutionary potential of 5G is not yet fully understood by the public. While the switch from 3G to 4G was mostly a matter of increased speed, the rise of 5G will unlock the potential of a flood of new technologies. From self-driving cars to virtual reality, from Internet of Things to drones, 5G has the power to propel the Middle East forward on its path to digitalization.
SAP will enable the Middle East's smart cities and smart future of connected vehicles, Internet of Things, cloud, and telecommunications, thanks to innovative digital marketplaces, partnerships, and solutions announced at Mobile World Congress 2018 which was held last week in Barcelona.
Affirmed Networks, a company specializing in virtualized mobile networks, announced that du, part of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has selected its Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) mobile core to provide an industry-leading 3GPP core network for IoT use cases, enabling a wide range of smart city use cases.
Saudi telecom operator Mobily (Etihad Etisalat) has awarded Ericsson a modernization contract to upgrade its access network in the western region of Saudi Arabia, deploying the latest features of the Ericsson Radio System.
Huawei's decision to join the NVIDIA'S AI smart cities platform will ultimately make cities much smarter and safer. This was a deliberation given by Safder Nazir, VP of Digital Industries Huawei Middle East during in an exclusive interview with Telecom Review at GITEX Technology Week at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Nokia and Zain Saudi Arabia have taken a significant step towards the creation of an IoT ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the successful trial of NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) technology at a live site in Mina area of Makkah Province.
The GSMA today announced the first speakers for its Mobile 360 Series - Middle East and North Africa (MENA) conference taking place 9-10 October in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The two-day event, which is now in its fifth year, will bring together senior-level delegates from across the region to debate and discuss the key opportunities and challenges facing the mobile industry. The program includes topics such as the Internet of Things, 5G, digital identity, artificial intelligence and more.
The human need to communicate is constant. From the earliest gestures, symbols, first language and writing, to today's digital torrents, people have always felt the need to connect, share, and reach out to each other. Huawei's vision is to build a Better Connected World, to enrich lives through communications.
36,000 years ago, in the Chauvet Cave in France, Palaeolithic humans used hematite and charcoal to draw images of animals, and record the spectacle of a volcanic eruption. Today, we select emojis to compose and communicate our emotions. The technology may change, but not even the profoundest gulfs of time can alter the impulse to connect.
Connection can be a spoken exchange; it can be the transmission of knowledge; or the spread of culture. In the past, the urge to record and communicate drove us to painstakingly hew wooden tablets, or use the skins of wild beasts to make parchment. Now, art students from remote corners of the world can travel by video to the banks of the Seine, take a virtual tour of the Louvre, and hear lecturers expounding on the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa.
Connection is an expression of love. Years ago, youths from the village over the hill would write long letters avowing their love for girls they had only glimpsed a few times. And how many of those letters actually made it into the hands of the intended recipients? Today, our loved ones are only a video call away, and we do not have to miss a moment with them. Over a video connection, smiles still draw an instinctive smile in reply, and tears can be shared.
Connection is a way to work better, together. In the past, the fastest pony express would still take days to arrive. For the most part, we had to solve our own problems. Today, a Silicon Valley scientist can consult seamlessly with a research team in Dubai and a customer in KSA. All it takes is a broadband connection.
Connection is an exploration beyond the boundaries of physics and physiology. Little more than 100 years ago, the world was stunned when the first telephone call ended the tyranny of geography. Today, astronauts speak to mission command from the reaches of space.
Huawei believes that connection makes for a better world. Our sons and daughters may travel far from home, but connection transmits their love and care back to the parents to whom they owe so much. Students have always buried themselves in textbooks, but connection opens up new worlds for them to learn. Our sweetheart may not be by our side, but connection can carry love across the miles and down the years.
In the future, a Better Connected World will bring us a different kind of experience. It will revolutionize every part of our lives, our economy, our communities.
India, 2042. Sanjay, nine years old, suffers from a rare PNET cancer. The tumor has hemorrhaged, and must be removed now if he is to survive. But in his home town, there is no surgeon qualified to perform the operation. The hospital log on to a global AI medical network, and finds a brain specialist in London who is ready to perform remote surgery.
High-definition video cameras and MRI equipment capture every detail of Sanjay's condition, and transmit it in real time to the London hospital. The surgeon takes control of a multipurpose computer-assisted surgical robot, and begins the operation - the network reproducing every sensation 100%, so that her fingers feel just as if she were right there in the operating theater.
The operation is a success. For young Sanjay, this is much more important than the technology and governance that allowed it to happen. In fact, the UN resolution to pool global medical resources was passed before he was born. But it has already saved countless lives in underdeveloped areas.
China, 2035. Liu Wei climbs into his new driverless vehicle. The car has no indicator lights at the front or back - but of course, the roads are fully automated now, so who needs indicators? Liu tells the car where he wants to go, and the onboard navigation system connects to city transport control, to check for traffic jams. The roads are clear, and the computer displays a precise estimated time of arrival. On the way, Liu schedules his next few days of work, with music on in the background. Every second of the journey, his car is making digital "handshakes" with hundreds of other vehicles, learning their speed, route, whether they are about to change lane. This is how the roads have been made safe: today there are almost no injuries or deaths from traffic accidents.
The central transport network is constantly collecting data from tens of thousands of cars on the road, analyzing traffic flows, and delivering optimum route advice. In fact, this data is now being used to help plan where new roads should be built. As a result, even for residents of Liu's packed city, "I was stuck in traffic" is no longer an excuse.
USA, 2028. Every second of the day, internet users all over the world upload millions of video footage. John is developing a new search engine that will recognize and understand the people, objects, and situations in those videos. An AI engine with machine learning capabilities is reaching out to data centers all over the world, collecting the archives of HD video that they contain. John is confident that the new engine will help users find the exact video clips that they want. More important, though, will be its analytic capabilities. It will tell fashion designers what colors and cuts young people are favoring. It will show toy makers the latest games. And it will help governments understand what their citizens think of the latest public projects.
In the future, we believe that connectivity will be as ubiquitous as the air that we breathe. Connections between people, person to device, and thing-to-thing, will feed into real-time intelligent analysis and communications. They will help satisfy our every economic need. Using these connections will feel as natural to us as breathing. In fact, we will barely be aware that they exist. Our focus will naturally lie on the applications and services that connectivity enables.
From the deep past of Chauvet, to real-time video links; from messages that echo down the millennia to data that flashes across continents, technology is enabling connection and satisfying a basic human need. Welcome to the Better Connected World.
Middle East organizations are adopting the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technology infrastructure to drive the wider region's US$ 8 billion market, SAP said.
US-based communications infrastructure giant CommScope has stated it is 'well-positioned' to assist the efforts of operators to 'modernize' and expand their networks as they prepare to make the transition towards the implementation of 5G. CommScope has a huge presence in the MENA region, and the organization attended the 5G MENA event which was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. CommScope showcased a series of its innovative solutions at the exhibition - and highlighted the role it will play as the telecommunications industry edges closer to an era of 5G.
Vidsys, the leading global software technology manufacturer of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) and Converged Security and Information Management (CSIM) software, announced that neXgen Group, a leading smart city advisory and managed services provider based in the UAE, will be offering Smart Safety & Security as a service leveraging Vidsys' CSIM multi-tenant cloud-based solution.
Ooredoo announced the expansion of its Managed Connectivity Platform to Qatar, taking the number of countries covered by the service to four, alongside Indonesia, Tunisia and Kuwait. In expanding the service to major markets, Ooredoo is positioning itself as a leading regional IoT player, and the company is in discussion with a number of global leaders looking to use its network during this week’s Mobile World Congress.
Connected devices are already counted in the billions, and analysts predict these numbers will hit 6.4 billion worldwide by the end of the year. While there's plenty of business potential in these expanding connections, there's a big downside however - with security vulnerabilities growing exponentially. Moath Ismail, Telecommunication Solutions & Services Director for Middle East at Gemalto, explains that because the Internet of Things (IoT) makes virtually every aspect of information governance more complicated, providing hacker-tight security has become more complicated too. With more devices and more information comes more vulnerability.
Recent preliminary results from Gartner, Inc. shows that worldwide PC (personal computer) shipments totaled 72.6 million units in the fourth quarter of 2016, a 3.7 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2015. In total, for the year 2016, PC shipments totaled 269.7 million units, a 6.2 percent decline from 2015. The significance of PCs is diminishing as the smartphone trend and popularity of connected devices takes center stage. PC shipments have declined annually since 2012, while mobile broadband subscriptions have been growing by around 25 percent annually, increasing by approximately 190 million in Q3 2016 alone, Ericsson reports.
As the world now prepares for next-generation 5G networks knowing that rollouts are still three to five years away, companies like Apple, Samsung and Intel are working hard to ensure they stay ahead of the curve on 5G research and development. Chip giant Qualcomm believes there are incredibly complex challenges facing the industry as it attempts to bring 5G technology to commercial reality.
In a significant development in Bahrain’s infrastructure, Siemens Energy has emerged as the sole bidder for Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority’s (EWA) 400 kV substation project in Sitra Industrial Area, submitting a bid of BHD 59 million (USD 157 million).
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) unveiled its vision for the future of digital life and smart cities at the 43rd edition of GITEX Technology Week 2023.
The UAE was ranked 37th in the 2023 edition of the United Nations' Technology and Innovation Report titled “Opening Green Windows: Technological Opportunities for a Low-Carbon World.” The report ranks countries according to their readiness to use, adopt and adapt a range of frontier advanced technologies with a focus on green innovation.
Abu Dhabi ranked as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023, according to the annual IMD Smart City Index released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland. This will be the third consecutive time the UAE capital has received this prestigious recognition.
The IMD surveyed 120 residents in 118 cities worldwide. Abu Dhabi surpassed several international capitals to rank 13th globally out of the 141 cities included in the current ranking. The study evaluated current infrastructure and digital services available to residents, relying on variables related to residents' perceptions and interactions with government efforts in five main pillars: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities (work and education systems) and governance.
Commenting on the achievement, H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), said, “Abu Dhabi's leadership in this field is a translation of the leadership's vision and commitment to supporting the digital transformation journey and utilizing it to serve the community and enhance its well-being and quality of life. Through employing next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) and developing smart city initiatives across various societal, service and economic sectors, including public and smart transportation, Abu Dhabi has been able to establish itself as a smart and sustainable city and one of the best global destinations to live, work and visit.”
Zurich took the lead in this year’s survey, with Oslo in second place and Canberra in third.
Asian and European cities dominated the top 20 cities out of the 141 studied. Six cities show either continuous improvement or year-on-year stability. These “super-champions” are Zurich, Oslo, Singapore, Beijing, Seoul and Hong Kong. The 2023 findings also demonstrate the increasing “smartness” of second-tier cities such as Montreal, Denver, Lausanne and Bilbao.
Also Read: GCC Countries Revealed Strong Digital Transformation Efforts in 2022
Smart cities contribute to the development of many key sectors in the emirate, such as the smart transportation sector and the smart economy, which is based on advanced software that helps develop many sectors such as supply, delivery, and joint support services.
Additionally, interactive platforms are built with the public to identify their needs and aspirations and interact with them transparently, placing them at the center of government work in addition to developing and facilitating access to services for citizens.
The Smart Cities Index issued by IMD is considered an important reference for international organizations, decision-makers, and institutions to measure the impact of national strategies on enhancing levels of welfare, achieving progress and promoting the quality of life for people.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) use of the latest innovative technologies contributes to enhancing efficiency at the Jebel Ali Power Generation & Water Production Complex, which is one of the main pillars for providing Dubai with reliable, efficient and high-quality electricity and water services.
Abu Dhabi is focusing on stemming the impacts of climate change through various stringent policies and initiatives. Aligning to this objective, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has put environmental sustainability at the top of its priorities by setting strict policies and procedures to tackle climate change challenges like extreme weather conditions, droughts, wildfires, storms, floods and sea level rise that affect the biodiversity, food security and water availability in the emirate.
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), signed an MoU during ADIPEC 2022 whereby du will join the UAE’s Champions 4.0 Network.
With the goal of driving public and private sector innovation, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have launched a new AWS Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has launched the Dubai Research and Development (R&D) programme to support key economic sectors and create new opportunities for growth by providing a comprehensive framework for research, development and innovation across the emirate.
Dubai CommerCity, a part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ ), has unveiled a new corporate identity aligned with its new strategic direction of transforming its operations and services to digital commerce in line with the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy.
Dubai Urban Tech District, located on the creekside of the Al Jaddaf area, will become home to the most innovative entrepreneurs while creating 4,000 jobs in green urban tech, education and training.
The probability of an “ideal future city” for the ultimate urban living experience could soon become a reality in Saudi Arabia.
In a bid to turn Dubai into a role model in metaverse technologies with an applicably robust digital infrastructure, the Dubai government launched its Dubai Metaverse Strategy which aims to present Dubai as one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies as well as a global hub for the metaverse community.
UAE’s NextGenFDI campaign aims to bring more than 300 global technology firms as well as software developers, data scientists and coders to the country.
du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), will support ‘Dubai Can’ – an innovative citywide sustainability initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, that encourages and empowers communities to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles. In light of this initiative, the telco has implemented multiple initiatives at its new headquarters in Dubai Hills. du’s sustainable and technologically- advanced headquarters symbolize its journey to a leading digital telco with new values that drive a purpose-driven mindset and sustainable ethos.
It seems like cities' continued growth and success are one of the great triumphs of modern civilization, with the future of design becoming virtual and driven by data.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy presided the 69th meeting held virtually. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, also took part.
The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA Group), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi University (ADU) to accelerate technical, societal and environmental solutions in the energy sector through research and development. The cooperation aims to promote ties between both entities through training programs and knowledge exchange.
The Corona virus-laden two years drastically transformed how the world operated and functioned. Both governments and their citizens were compelled to go through circumstances that had not been figured in the slightest imagination. Overnight, the system of work, education, social lives, travel, and supply chain took a hit, leaving us to reel under utter confusion and potential loss of lives.
The world’s first fully regulated carbon trading exchange and carbon clearing house is set to be established in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Dr. Saoud Al Shoaili, director general, policies and governance in the ministry of transport and communication, Oman, talked about the significance and the impact on the country for the being the Arab digital capital for 2022. He also spoke about Oman’s digital transformation journey in its various aspects.
Yahsat, UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider has announced that its dedicated government arm, Yahsat Government Solutions (“YGS”), has been awarded a AED 909.5 million (USD 247.5 million) mandate to provide enhanced managed services to the UAE government for its satellite communications capabilities. The agreement augments the previous operations and maintenance services provided, to include technology management support, from January 2022 until the end of 2026.
Honeywell and solutions by stc, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help develop strategic mega projects across the Kingdom in support of Saudi Vision 2030 and its efforts to create a more diverse and sustainable economy and accelerate digital transformation.
Energy demand in Dubai increased in 2021 by around 10% compared to 2020. Energy demand in 2021 reached 50,202 gigawatt-hours compared to 45,712 gigawatt-hours in 2020, DEWA has announced.
Abu Dhabi Energy Services (ADES), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), has signed agreements with leading government entities, including the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) to identify power and water savings opportunities in their facilities and buildings across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched the DEWA-SAT 1 nanosatellite in collaboration with NanoAvionics, becoming the world’s first utility to use nanosatellites to improve the maintenance and planning of electricity and water networks. This new achievement underlines DEWA’s leadership in developing and using the latest world-class technologies.
Tata Communications, a global digital ecosystem enabler, and Zain KSA, a pioneering mobile telecommunications and digital services provider that is committed to supporting innovation and spearheading the next-generation’s technological revolution in the Middle East, announced a strategic engagement to fuel digital transformation journeys of enterprises and government organisations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). With this collaboration the combined ecosystems will deliver solutions and platforms to remodel cities with smart street lighting, smart waste management, connected workplace, healthcare and connected cars.
With the aim of attracting investment, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s (ADIO) has extended its partnership with Amazon, who will be setting up a technologically advanced fulfillment centre in the region. The project is expected to be launched by 2024.
The region’s first truly cognitive city OXAGON is the next big project on NEOM’s master plan after the 170 kilometer ‘Line’ project.
The ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) is constructing the first government facilities using 3D printing technology, including the Al Madam Court and District Attorney’s Office in Sharjah.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution Programme, known as ‘UAE Industry 4.0,’ recently announced by the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), will help encourage innovations in 4IR technologies, placing the UAE at the heart of the global Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to top officials and industry executives.
Smart and dynamic growth through collaboration between government and private entities, academia and citizens are most essential with a reliable infrastructure as the backbone for major national transformation programmes stimulating economic growth and gearing smart cities towards a sustainable future, said Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Etisalat Group.
NXN, a leading provider of end-to-end smart digital services for digital transformation in the MENA region, has announced that it is to become part of ZainTech, a new regional entity established by Zain Group, a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services. The news follows the buyout of remaining minority shares of NXN’s MENA operations, in accordance with the strategic investment and agreement that was entered into by Zain Group and NXN’s co-founders in 2016.
Ooredoo Group will be the title sponsor of Qatar's first-ever Formula 1 race, which will be officially named the Formula 1 Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix.
The UAE has been ranked the top country in the Arab world for its preparedness for the future by the Future Readiness Economic Index report, produced by Washington-based Portulans Institute and Google. It placed UAE in the third position among 27 emerging global economies and 27th out of 123 other countries, according to a news report.
Under the supervision of the Higher Committee of Digital Government in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Department of Government Support (DGS) represented by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) has announced the official internet top level domain name for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, ".abudhabi", which represents the digital identity of the emirate in the virtual world, promoting it locally, regionally and internationally across the tourism, culture and economy sectors.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) issued its 8th annual Sustainability Report 2020, which focuses on DEWA’s efforts in promoting sustainability with its social, economic, and environmental aspects.
Recognizing the importance of energy conservation in the efforts to reach the global net zero carbon targets, the Sharjah Sustainable City, a fully sustainable community by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers, will be the first community in the region to give residents access to a renewable energy storage solution.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in its Report 2020 has ranked Bahrain as the first in the GCC for having advanced computer programming talent in Information and Computer Technology (ICT)sector.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has launched the second generation of the Emirates ID card as part of the new generation of Emirati passports and national ID card project.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report on cities and the importance of achieving a net-zero world.
The UAE has maintained its overall global position, ranking ninth in the top 10 most competitive countries in the world in the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2021 published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Under the wise guidance and direction of the UAE leadership, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has achieved many milestones in promoting clean energy and digital transformation in the energy and water sectors by efficiently utilizing the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies.
Invest in Dubai (IID), the integrated digital business set-up platform has recorded robust growth in its use, establishing Dubai’s position as a leading global business destination for investors and entrepreneurs.
Smart Dubai has launched a new bundle of residency services on its flagship DubaiNow application in collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s award-winning sustainability pioneer will leverage technologies such as digital data capturing, weighing system, and GPS monitoring to track and report the collection and recycling of of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics in an ambitious waste management drive in the UAE.
EVOTEQ signed a new strategic partnership agreement with Movilitas to bring SmartTrack to the UAE and the region, a revolutionary track and trace platform that ensures product integrity in the supply chain suitable to various industries.
Omantel and Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) have entered a partnership deal to accelerate digital transformation across Oman.
Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and NXN, a leading provider of end-to-end smart digital services for digital transformation in the smart cities sector, have announced a partnership to deliver advanced solutions for the Arabian Gulf’s urban ecosystems.
Located within the heart of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), the Block 7 Innovation Hub will cater to key sectors like healthcare, computer science, robotics, mobility, and renewable energy. This ultra-modern infrastructure includes dedicated IT facilities, smart office complexes, exhibition centers, as well as retail and entertainment spaces.
The world roughly produces over two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste every year. This is the amount of garbage that can fill over 800,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) alone, the picture of municipal waste management is not so pretty. By 2025, the total waste generated across the GCC is expected to touch 164 Mn MT per annum from 128 Mn MT in 2019. The existing landfilling strategies are not adequate to tackle the waste efficiently, according to reports.
As part of the series of continuous digitisation efforts by the Dubai Government , Smart Dubai has collaborated with the UAE Zakat Fund to launch a new and secure Zakat payment service on the government service application DubaiNow during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The business community of Dubai can have access to 50 smart services offered by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce through its website and mobile applications. The services include everything from certificates of origin, attestation, ATA Carnets and credit reports, among many others.
In all the 17 surveyed markets, a majority of consumers said their shopping habits have changed during the pandemic.
The Academy Company for Information Communication Technology (ACICT), the technological investment arm of the Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT), has launched a strategic partnership with Logix, a leading company in smart transformation and information security, to launch the largest smart and secure educational platform in Egypt and the Arab World.
stc announced the signing of a partnership with dizmo to launch a smart home platform in the future city of NEOM, as one of the set of sustainable solutions for smart cities, based on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and orchestrated home control.
The number of unique clinical records in Malaffi is close to 241 million and captures more than 85% of the total number of inpatient and outpatient encounters in Abu Dhabi.
In line with the Saudi Vision 2030, KPMG has signed an agreement with Oracle to accelerate the adoption of cloud-based emerging technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This will support the growth of the country’s digital economy.
The Executive Council of Dubai chaired by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has approved the development of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030 -- a roadmap for Dubai’s innovation-driven growth in the current decade.
As part of the civic body’s new digital strategy, Dubai municipality announced seventy ambitious digital programmes to be undertaken in partnership with the private sector for a future-ready government department. The announcement was made during the first edition of its annual Digital Forum – Towards Building a Digital City that took place virtually.
Qatar is set to add one more floating hotel in its range of such hotels. But this one is going to be special.
As part of an important policy goal under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 agenda, the Saudi Telecom Company (stc) and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), represented by the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop and improve the Kingdom’s data capabilities.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been voted among the best global cities to work, according to Decoding Global Talent, Onsite and Virtual joint report by the Boston Consulting Group and Bayt.com.
Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing firm G42 seals the partnership with international public services company Serco Middle East through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to deliver the fully-integrated digital transformation of public services.
Saudi Cabinet approves the establishment of Digital Government Authority (DGA). This shows the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a leading digital economy.
The Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) signed an agreement with Fiber Misr Systems (FMS) to implement the smart application system that would manage the soon-to-be-established Knowledge City being built by the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), supported by the Ministry of Community Development honoured the winning teams of the 4th UAE Hackathon 2021 “Data for Happiness & Wellbeing at a virtually held event.
Aiming to develop an advanced technology framework over the next three years, the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Orange Egypt, the leading provider of integrated telecommunications services, brings Triple Play services and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology within 90 Avenue, a luxurious real estate project handled by Tabarak Development, the leading real estate developer in Egypt.
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has appreciated the data insights by the World Digital Report 2021, published in partnership between We Are Social and Hoot suite. The report sheds light on the digital lifestyle in the UAE, based on group data that monitored individuals and companies' behavior during the year 2020, which witnessed the Corona pandemic.
Nearly 79% of UAE residents said they would be happy living in a smart city and more than half (53%) of them highlighted living in a sustainable city as the most exciting innovation for smart cities, according to a survey conducted by Mastercard in collaboration with Smart Dubai and Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to map the scope of cooperation between the Authority and SHRM to empower the talents of the Authority and apply best global practices in human resources competency development.
Smart Dubai awarded the 100 percent Digital Stamp to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Sports Council, and the Dubai Statistics Center for fully implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy, marking their transition to 100% paperless entities when executing internal transactions or when delivering customer services.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) Jebel Ali Power Generation & Water Production Complex has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world. The Complex has an electricity generation capacity of 9,547 MW, adding to DEWA’s record of global achievements.
Leveraging the use of artificial intelligence technology for remote patient monitoring, The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that it would collaborate with Enpy, a local start-up, for the non-invasive medical device. The announcement came during the ongoing UAE Innovation Month 2021.
Smart Dubai has announced the completion of the design phase of the Unified Registry for Dubai Government Employees, an initiative launched in response to a directive from the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) to create a unified data register for Dubai government employees.
The UAE ranked first in the Arab world and 31st globally in a recent report about the best countries for remote working.
The Smart Living initiative has achieved savings up to 179.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 67.7 million gallons of water, since its launch in July 2020 until January 2021. This is equal to savings of AED 52.6 million. Smart adoption of the initiative has reached 100% while 1.24 million digital visits have been recorded. The initiative reduced 15,643 tonnes of carbon emissions. Customer trust has increased to 92% while their satisfaction reached 98%. The initiative has improved the productivity of employees by 27% while the service quality has reached 94%.
Alfanar and Saudi Aramco have agreed to boost sustainable cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which covers various initiatives that are aimed to augment localization, innovation, digitization and sustainability in the Kingdom.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced the launch of the 4th edition of UAE Hackathon: Data for Happiness and Wellbeing organized by TRA virtually with support from the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing across the seven emirates of the country. The opening ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General and Head of the UAE Digital Government, and H.E. Salem Al Hosani, Acting Deputy Director General of the Information and Smart Services Sector.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – has launched a new Focus Group to contend with the increasing prevalence and severity of natural disasters with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
Etisalat has partnered with Smart Dubai to provide a comprehensive suite of multi-layered cybersecurity services and skilled expertise that will further strengthen Dubai government entities’ resilience to cyber attacks. The services will be offered by Help AG, the cyber security arm of Etisalat Digital.
Orange Business Services, a network-native digital services company, has announced that it will design and build a new data center to provide cloud services for Egypt’s ‘New Administrative Capital'.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced the launch of the 4th edition of the UAE Hackathon “Data for Happiness and Wellbeing” with the support of the Ministry of Community Development represented by the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing, in the seven emirates of the country.
Turkish private tech giant Türk Telekom has announced that the company has deployed disaggregated fixed broadband access technology based on the SDN-Enabled Broadband Access (SEBA) reference architecture developed by the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) in two provinces in Turkey.
Dubai has launched a digital platform to help entrepreneurs to start a business in the emirate.
Smart Dubai celebrated the graduation of 35 participants from its Digital Service Design Professional Diploma, designed in collaboration with the University of Dubai and the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) and targeting Smart City Experience Specialists.
The UAE has made innovation a way of life and an administrative approach to modernising government work and strengthening sustainable economic development based on clear plans and strategies, enabling the country to be ranked first in the Arab region and 34th globally in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has allocated $1.15bn (AED4.26bn) to supply the Expo 2020 Dubai with electricity and water as well as supporting its electricity and water infra projects using the latest smart systems as the Official Sustainable Energy Partner of Expo 2020.
EVOTEQ, a UAE based digital transformation catalyst and GS1 UAE, a leading provider of supply chain standards and solutions, have announced a partnership agreement to work collaboratively for the creation and deployment of best-in-class traceability solutions. The strategic new alliance is expected to address a diverse range of traceability challenges being faced by various industry verticals, including the pharmaceutical industry. The move is seen to curb the proliferation of counterfeit goods, particularly across the food and beverage industry, where the need for traceability and focus on food safety has never been stronger.
Bee'ah, the Middle East’s award-winning sustainability pioneer, and Sharjah Cement Factory signed a long-term contract today for the supply of alternative fuel from Bee’ah’s Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) plant, in line with the UAE’s commitment to promote the use of cleaner fuels and protect the environment.
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), witnessed the signing of a collaboration agreement between Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA, and Huawei, a multinational technology company, to launch the multi-tenant Huawei Cloud Stack hosted in the UAE at Moro’s Green Data Centre, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
The Consortium of the main Saudi telecom carriers, Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Integrated Telecom Company (ITC) signed the agreement of the Saudi National Fiber Network (SNFN) modernization project with their partner Huawei. By building the first 5G and B2B-driven, ultra-broadband optical backbone network in the Middle East, the SNFN project will contribute to the end-to-end network transformation and agile automation strategy as part of the 2030 Vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Etisalat Digital has announced Shahada, a tamper-proof digital certificate platform which is to be introduced to all educational institutions in the region, in collaboration with Smartworld.
Abu Dhabi Municipality has chosen to partner with Huawei to help guide its digital transformation journey.
By: Michael Cade, Senior Global Technologist, Veeam
Emirates has announced a collaboration with Huawei to promote the Emirates app to Huawei phone users and build a more convenient and rewarding experience for passengers as travel demand recovers in the post-pandemic era.
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), witnessed the signing of an agreement between Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA and Moro Hub (Data Integrated Solutions), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA to join MORO’s newly launched Smart Cities Command and Control Centre.
Huawei recently held an online launch summit of the Intelligent Traffic Management Solution with the theme of "Transform the Way We Move" where they officially launched Intelligent Traffic Management Solution for overseas markets.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s award-winning sustainability pioneer, is expanding into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Saudi Vision 2030, after being awarded three contracts for waste management services in Madinah, covering the North, West and East regions.
The GCC region has been renowned as one of the most prominent tech adopters. The region is comprised of the Middle East’s most fruitful economies with unique yet unified visions to better the lives of their residents by developing smarter cities.
Smart Dubai has upgraded its ‘Smart Inventory’ project in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to enhance current inventory management system and render them paperless and more efficient, all the while utilising advanced technologies and smart solutions to save time.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s leading sustainability pioneer, announced that it will convert 47 hectares of Al Saja’a landfill area into a state-of-the-art solar energy facility in Sharjah once the landfill is capped.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, officially launched its new Biomass Facility at the Bee’ah’s Waste Management Complex in Al Sa’jaa, Sharjah.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has inaugurated today the Smart Cities Command and Control Centre of Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA.
Sanitizexperts, the Dubai-based professionals in home, office and industrial air sanitization introduce the Automated UVC Robot, the latest intelligence in the UAE in the fight against Covid-19.
Tech giant Huawei and Saudi service provider and operator, Smart City Solutions Company (SC2), have announced a newly signed agreement to collaborate on smart city projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The UAE’s northernmost emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, has been providing its citizens with access to over 400 smart services as part of its ongoing digital transformation program.
Bee’ah, a pioneering sustainability leader in the Middle East, has launched disinfection pods for businesses to safeguard public health during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber) highlighted the readiness of its array of seamless smart services which are available to the business community to conduct their work easily and efficiently.
Bee’ah, UAE-based sustainability and environmental services pioneer, has been appointed the waste management partner for both of Dubai Airports’ airports, Dubai International (DXB), the world’s busiest airport, and Dubai World Central (DWC).
STC has announced the successful deployment of the first ‘5G Smart Campus’ solution in the MENA region.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched a first-of-its-kind advanced digital platform for pharmaceutical public and private facilities as well as health practitioners to store their data.
ServiceNow, the company that delivers digital workflows that simplify employee experiences to unlock productivity, has announced a new industry solutions strategy to deliver workflows that help companies in specific industries address their unique digital transformation challenges and create value at scale.
Bee’ah, the UAE-based sustainability and environmental services pioneer, has been appointed as the waste management partner for Egypt’s new Administrative Capital, which is being developed by the Administrative Capital for Urban Development and is one of the largest urban development projects in the world.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, signed MoUs with Unilever Gulf, one of the region’s leading suppliers of beauty and personal care, home care, and foods and refreshment products and UAE-based startup Seramic Materials Ltd, a pioneer in sustainable ceramics made from recycled materials, at the World Future Energy Summit during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2020.
The Cedar International Festival has launched a new Smart Forest solution in collaboration with Eurisko Mobility which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor and protect seven forests in Lebanon.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s leading sustainability pioneer, and National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed), the leading international district cooling developer based in the UAE, have signed a partnership agreement to jointly explore the development of large-scale district cooling projects in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Government and private entities signed a number of MoUs to implement and activate the UAE Pass, during a forum organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) and Smart Dubai.
Honeywell, a global technology leader, willdemonstrate cutting-edge Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies that support the development of smart, connected and more efficient buildings and cities in Egypt at Cairo ICT 2019.
Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) recently organized an interactive seminar entitled “How to Measure Productivity” as part of its ongoing partnership with Dubai Customs.
CASIO Middle East has announced the arrival of the 4000-lumens WUXGA projector Superior Series XJ-S400 models which feature a range of technological advances that are set to facilitate teaching in the region’s classrooms. Designed with the educator in mind, Superior Series projectors are optimized for the modern classroom, boasting easy, single-step set-up as well as a Moderator Function that allows for greater student participation.
Microsoft has announced that it will open an AI Centre of Excellence for Energy in the United Arab Emirates – a global first for the company – to empower organisations in the industry in accelerating digital transformation, equipping the workforce with AI skills, as well as collaborating on coalitions to address sustainability and safety challenges.
To mark the inaugural international Sharjah Architecture Triennial, Bee’ah, the Middle East’s leading sustainability pioneer, is presenting the exhibition Shaping the Future, in collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects and American University of Sharjah (AUS).
In a one-on-one interview with Smart Cities World Forums, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA commented on DEWA’s current and future projects saying, “We have ambitious plans to exceed 7% of clean energy by 2020 thanks to many initiatives like Shams Dubai which provides a total capacity of more than 130 Megawatts.”
In line with their commitment to adopting best industry practices and technological innovations, Bee’ah, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and Tandeef, Bee’ah’s waste collection and management division, have added Ducati electric mobile waste collection units to their existing fleet, to further enhance operations while continuously promoting Bee’ah’s sustainability agenda.
Etisalat Digital has partnered with DMCC - the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – to transform Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) into an innovative smart and sustainable district, powered by the 5G network.
UAE’s leading telecommunications services provider, du is driving major digital transformation with Oracle to accelerate the uptake of the UAE Federal Government Network (FEDNet) program that provides a common infrastructure resource for any federal government entity. This implementation will allow du to offer cost effective, integrated, secure and scalable cloud infrastructure services to power various Smart Government initiatives including ‘mGovernment’ and ‘Big Data’.
Avaya Holdings Corp. today previewed Avaya IX Onespace, an industry-first solution in unified communications and collaboration that expands the capabilities of the Avaya IX Workplace UC portfolio.
Nokia and Etisalat have set a capacity record during the world’s first field trial of single-carrier terabit-per-second data transmission on a deployed fiber network.
Etisalat has announced the launch of its Video Surveillance (VSAAS), providing small and medium businesses (SMBs) with a value-added service that addresses their security and regulatory compliance needs.
District 2020, Chinese investment and incubation company, announced a collaboration with Shanghai-based Atlas Capital Holding as the latest tenant to join its development project.
Huawei launched a series of 5G and AI-based innovative energy solutions at World Energy Congress 2019, under the theme 'Innovation Is Redefining Energy'. Huawei collaborated with over 70 energy ministers, 500 energy CEOs, and numerous partners, with these attendees coming from over 150 countries to expand the vision driving sustainable energy development by innovative ICT.
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Municipality has selected Danish water and climate solutions Grundfos to provide an audit of HVAC, irrigation, water supply and disinfection pumping systems across 50 buildings and operational facilities, including large-scale sewage plants.
Bee’ah, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, has launched a new project to enhance waste segregation and recycling practices, to supplement the efforts of the company’s ongoing residential recycling programme.
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ:AMZN), today announced the opening of the AWS Middle East (Bahrain) Region. With this launch, AWS now spans 69 Availability Zones within 22 geographic regions around the world, and has announced plans for nine more Availability Zones across three more AWS Regions in Indonesia, Italy, and South Africa.
Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has selected Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT), as a partner to initiate smart railway and digital transformation in the Kingdom.
B-Yond, the California-based leader in proven world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) based network automation solutions, signed a collaboration agreement with Centrigent, one of the UAE’s leading Consulting 4.0 and Technology Operations firms, to bring the patent-pending INFINITY platform to the Telecom Services Providers (TSP) in the Middle East.
VSAT+, the ground-breaking maritime satellite service from Thuraya, will be unveiled in Europe at this year’s Nor-Shipping conference and exhibition event in Oslo, three months after its commercial launch at the annual Thuraya partner conference in Dubai.
Smart Dubai released a report titled ‘Decentralized Data for Dubai’ within which it has partnered up with Outlier Ventures to explore the prospect of using data, the fourth industrial revolution, and Web 3.0 in smart city building.
The UAE’s expert in wired and wireless telecom networks and security solutions, Esharah Etisalat Security Solutions, showcased some of its latest innovations at the 7th edition of the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) 2019 in Dubai World Trade Center.
The UAE PASS initiative, the platform which aims to bring all government services together and make them accessible via smartphone, has completed phase one of its programme.
SAS and NVIDIA have announced a new partnership which aims to help organizations bring artificial intelligence (AI) into their businesses.
Recognizing Dubai as the epicenter for innovation in region, Avaya Holdings Corp has announced that it will be building on its long-standing relationship with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) by opening a Customer Experience Center (CEC) at One Central, a new international Grade-A mixed-use development in the heart of the city.
Dubai has been rated as one of the top five cities in using smart technology to better the lives of its residents, according to the latest Smart Cities Index.
The GCC could save up to US$ 10 billion in infrastructural investment in the coming year through the use of smart grids, according to the MENA Power Industry Outlook.
Telco du has partnered with Orange Business Services to deliver smart services at Silicon Park – Dubai’s first integrated smart city.
Smart Dubai has launched its third-stage global search for blockchain start-ups that will contribute to the implementation of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy 2020.
The 2nd edition of Smart Cities World Forums was held on December 11th at the Meydan Hotel, Dubai, UAE, under the theme “Building the SMART Future”. The event offered the attendees the opportunity to know more about all aspects of smart cities and meet leaders in this particular field. Smart Cities World Forums spoke to Eng. Mohammed Alsharif, Program Director Madinah Smart City, AlMadinah AlMunawara Development Authority, who explained the Authority’s role in accelerating digital transformation in the Kingdom.
The city of Toronto, Canada has won ‘Best Global Smart City’ at the Telecom Review Excellence Awards.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a Dhs590m ($160.6m) project to manage its smart traffic system with the aim of containing bottlenecks and accidents through a control center which will be built in Al Barsha.
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced that DEWA has installed 595,755 smart water meters across Dubai. This is 80.6% of the total number of water meters in the Emirate, with all water meters in Dubai to become smart meters by the end of next year. The announcement was made at the 20th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2018), which DEWA is organizing at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 23-25 October 2018.
Nama Group has announced the commencement of the live operation of its centrally implemented Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) project designed for high value customers in the electricity sector in Oman.
Millions of Kuwait's residents and organizations will be able to benefit from a digital experience when it comes to electricity and water services, thanks to an innovative smart meters partnership announced today by the Ministry of Electricity and Water.
Dubai Police and Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in areas that empower, deliver and promote an efficient, seamless, safe and impactful city experience for residents making Dubai the smartest and happiest city globally. Under this agreement, a Smart Police Station will be developed at the company's flagship new Dubai Community, Tilal Al Ghaf, as part of its innovative Smart Districts plan.
Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has called upon all businesses, entities, and cities in the United Arab Emirates and the region to formally endorse and sign the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
As renewable energy sources continue their global success story, the demand for integrating them into the current energy and industry landscape has seen a sharp rise in the UAE. thyssenkrupp now offers a key technology for renewables integration: industrial scale water electrolysis for large projects. By splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, this technology delivers "green" hydrogen, a clean, CO2-free energy carrier.
The Sustainable City, the Middle East’s first fully-operational sustainable community, has become the first gated community in the region to release its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory. The initiative is part of The Sustainable City’s strategic collaboration with Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF(EWS-WWF).
Etisalat Digital, the UAE telco's digital transformation business unit, announced its strategic agreement with the UAE's Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) to provide them with machine to machine (M2M) connectivity solutions to empower their smart metering project that will provide advanced services to all FEWA customers.
The needs of electric car owners must be included in future plans for residential buildings, along with clear strategies for retrofitting existing homes with overnight recharging points, Hyundai's top manager in Africa and the Middle East said.
Abdullah Alsawaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology (CIT) in Saudi Arabia has appreciated Saudi Telecom Company’s role in implementing the ministry’s plan to deploy broadband all around the Kingdom, after the company delivered FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) to 51K homes in Riyadh.
Nokia will modernize and expand Zain Iraq's radio networks with its most advanced technologies across Karbala, Najaf and Basra, with a special focus on the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, to support the expected increase in data and voice traffic during the annual Holy event Zeyara as millions of people converge on the region.
Nokia and Zain Saudi Arabia have successfully completed the Middle East's first trial of LTE-Unlicensed, combining unlicensed spectrum in the 5GHz frequency band with 1800 MHz spectrum to deliver a downlink speed of 223 megabits per second.
Nokia and Jordanian telecom operator Orange Jordan are deploying a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network that will bring new ultra-broadband access and triple-play services to thousands of homes and businesses across Jordan besides Orange Jordan's existing ADSL (Asymmetric digital subscriber line) technology.
Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have launched the Mars Science City project.
Turkey is set to become home to the first ever 'completely digital' airport in the world. Istanbul International Airport has formally unveiled its construction plans that will see it become the envy of other airports all over the world.
The Jordanian region of Saraya Aqaba is the first in the country to get Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connectivity. The luxury mixed-use tourism and leisure destination located on the shores of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba in Jordan was fitted with the infrastructure by R&M, A Swiss producer of products and systems for communication and data networks.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have announced that it has entered into negotiations with a number of French-based companies in relation to the possibility of installing 'smart light poles and solar roads. Dubai is one of the most progressive and technologically driven cities in the entire world, and has its own dedicated government led initiative entitled Smart Dubai.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) said it increased Wi-Fi coverage in Makkah and Holy Sites to prepare for pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj. The coverage includes tunnels, bridges, and a number of public utilities in Mina which received pilgrims to start their Tarwiah day on August 30.
Huawei launched its largest Middle East-based Innovation Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 31, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Salem Al Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) and H.E. Li Huanxin, the Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Esri, the global leader in spatial analytics, is partnering with NXN (formerly neXgen), a leading smart city consulting and digital service provider in the Middle East and Africa. Through this collaboration, NXN will augment its Smart City as a Service digital platform with Esri technology to deliver geospatially enabled smart and digital services in real estate and government.
Rapid urbanization has made public safety a top priority of city governance. Governments worldwide recognize that urban safety plays a vital role in protecting people's lives and property, and is the cornerstone of economic growth in modern cities. To make cities smarter and safer, they are adopting innovative information and communications technologies (ICT) designed to prevent and react to evolving threats.
An innovative waterfront development project which has drawn inspiration from the world famous French Riviera, is now underway. UAE-based Azizi Developments have announced that construction has started on the 'Azizi Riviera', which will represent Dubai's very own version of the French Riviera.
Smart UAE Wallet, a new service introduced at Dubai International Airport, allows departing passengers to use their smartphones at the smart gates instead of their passports.
In line with the Qatari government's National Vision Strategy 2030, Global ICT leader Huawei shared its vision for future cities during the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar that was held in Doha on April 11 - 12, 2017.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has officially opened the world's largest Solar Park in Dubai - which will generate clean and renewable energy that according to officials involved in the project will ultimately pave the way for a more ‘stable electricity tariff rate' in the long run. The second phase of the park was inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The inauguration ceremony coincided with the International Day of Happiness - and the innovative Solar Park reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE.
Our cities are changing. With growing populations and increasing urbanization from rural communities and international relocation, governments are re-evaluating how they will manage their resources and engage their citizens in the future. The burgeoning use of smart devices is also demanding a rethink from city planners. How they can make the best use of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the anticipated 5G ultra broadband to create smarter solutions for our cities across areas such as:
Road and Transport Authority (RTA) have begun trialing smart signals technology in an effort to ensure a safe crossing for pedestrians and reduce the number of accidents in Dubai. The RTA have begun conducting tests and the sensor-based light system was installed by RTA on Al Saada Street, which is located in the densely-populated area close to Dubai's financial district.
The SEA-ME-WE 5 Consortium announced the completion of the 20,000-kilometer subsea cable infrastructure developed by a 16-nation consortium. The SEA-ME-WE 5 subsea cable system, spanning over 16 countries from Southeast Asia to Western Europe, is a technological breakthrough which marks a global communications milestone. It is designed with a capacity of 24 Terabits per second on 3-fibre pairs, fully capable of accommodating the future demand of data from other bandwidth-intensive applications.
In preparation for the mega sports events Qatar is set to host, and which are set to attract millions of visitors, the country is rapidly developing public-private partnerships for the construction of connected stadiums and the enhancement of national team competitiveness, youth development, technology and communications infrastructure.
Masdar City has officially initiated testing of innovative autonomous vehicles, a transformative approach to advancing sustainable urban transportation.
The United Arab Emirates has announced Dubai International Vertiport (DXV) as the country’s first commercial vertiport for flying taxis, marking a significant step towards the future of mobility.
Abu Dhabi Airports has announced the forthcoming opening of its state-of-the-art new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Known as the Midfield Terminal Building during the construction phase, “Terminal A” is scheduled to begin operations in early November 2023.
The Museum of the Future and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are showcasing future mobility solutions, from personal jet packs to self-driving cars.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has finalised a master plan for investing its data in line with the provisions of Law No. 26 of 2015 Regulating Data Dissemination and Exchange in Dubai and subsequent policies.
NEOM, the sustainable regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia, and SAUDIA, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, have created a strategic partnership to begin offering weekly service to international destinations from NEOM Bay Airport (NUM), representing the inauguration of commercial services at the airport.
Swiss based start-up THE JET ZeroEmission announced that it has inked an agreement with Zenith Marine Services LLC, a UAE based company; and DWYN LLC to manufacture and operate ‘THE JET’ – the first clean-energy, hydrogen-powered flying boat.
Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, chief executive officer of Sharjah Sustainable City shares his views on the importance of Green transport systems.
Urban air mobility (UAM) will soon be a reality in many modern cities across the world. Pioneers of electric vertical and take-off landing (eVTOL) aircraft say that the 2020s will be the decade when the much-hyped urban air mobility revolution will happen. According to recent market research, between 2023 and 2035, the global market for urban air mobility is projected to grow at over 26% year on year and reach some $86.8 billion by 2035. Moreover, a Chinese company Ehang recently launched a new eVTOL vertiport and maintenance facility in China’s UAM test city, Guangzhou.
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