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Canada is set to introduce driverless trucks to its transportation fleet despite the imminent threat it poses to many jobs in the country. 2017 was a year in which the self-driving electric truck industry made huge advancement in autonomous technologies and has paved the way for the driverless trucks to be deployed on Canadian roads by 2019.

Car manufacturing giants Hyundai and Volkswagen have announced that they’ve signed a partnership agreement with US autonomous vehicle technology firm Aurora Innovation, which is spearheaded by a number of former executives from Google, Tesla and Uber.

The US state of Boston has unveiled a new technology center designed to help the city embrace 'smart mobility' solutions in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion issues.

The Department of Transportation in the US state of Minnesota has announced that it has officially commenced trials of its new driverless bus shuttles. The US state becomes the latest in a whole host of North American cities to trial new autonomous technology which if tested successfully will be subsequently integrated into its public transportation sector.

Aurora has become the first of several cities in the state of Colorado to deploy a smart bike-share system. Colorado is accelerating its effort to address the urban mobility issues which affect most of its cities, and officials believe the introduction of the 'Spin dock-less bike-share system' can finally resolve the problem.

Project Loon, a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to extend Internet connectivity to people in rural and remote areas, developed by Alphabet subsidiary 'X' (formerly Google X), has been working with satellite company SES to restore 4G/LTE connectivity to disaster-stricken Puerto Rico.

Ford Motor Company said it has formed a partnership with ride-sharing service Lyft to deploy self-driving vehicles on Lyft's network in large numbers by 2021. The two companies will work together to design software that will allow Ford vehicles to communicate with Lyft's smartphone applications.

US chip firm Qualcomm has announced that it has released a chipset which has been specifically designed based on 3GPP cellular standards for the 'connected cars'. In a statement issued to the press, Qualcomm introduced the 9150 Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) chipset which combines LTE network connectivity with direct communications in the internationally harmonized 5.9GHz band.

Experts have suggested that Canada looks set to join the US, Europe and Japan in the race to develop, deliver and deploy driverless technology. The claim was made following the announcement by Canadian automotive parts firm Magna International that they have developed its own autonomous technology.

Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, introduced its first-announced Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) commercial solution based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 14 specifications for PC5-based direct communications, the Qualcomm C-V2X Reference Design, which will feature the 9150 C-V2X chipset with integrated GNSS capability, and include an application processor running the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) V2X stack and a Hardware Security Module (HSM).

US cities Seattle and Portland are set to get 'smarter' following the launch of a free app which allows users to search for on-demand rides. It will be formally introduced after the completion of a successful three-month test period.

US car manufacturer Ford Motor Co is partnering with Domino's Pizza in order to conduct an innovative self-driving initiative. Ford announced its collaboration with Domino's this week and revealed that it will launch a self-driving pizza delivery service.

German car manufacturing firm Volkswagen has delighted their customers by publicly announcing its plans to reincarnate its famous microbus! The iconic VW microbus which became a symbol of hippie counterculture in the 60's was in production from 1950-1980.

It has emerged that the most likely frontrunner in the candidacy for the role of CEO at the world's largest ride-hailing service Uber, is former General Electric CEO, Jeff Immelt. Reports from several US media agencies continue to speculate that Immelt is the man that will be tasked with the responsibility of steering Uber out of choppy waters following the high-profile and controversial decision by Travis Kalanick to step aside as CEO in June.

A Colombian-based non-profit organization is set to launch an initiative aimed at tackling Miami's mounting mobility issues that are afflicting the city. The traffic issues concerning Miami have been a long-term headache for business and civic leaders who have been tasked with the responsibility of solving the region's problems.

Fiat Chrysler has become the latest car manufacturer to throw its weight behind the development of autonomous vehicles - after it was formally announced that it would join an existing consortium that includes BMW, Intel and Mobileye.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has claimed that there has been close to half a million reservations on the eagerly anticipated Model 3. Musk made the comments as the US-based electric car manufacturer released the first 30 Model 3 vehicles to employee buyers.

The focus on self-driving technology, electrification and autonomy continues to accelerate and that was evidenced further by the investment in Silicon Valley based start-up NAUTO, by General Motors and SoftBank Group.

Testing of futuristic technology aimed at revolutionizing the transportation sector is currently underway in Nevada, USA. Hyperloop One, a Los-Angeles-based company responsible for developing the technology is working on a technical vision which was provided by Tesla founder and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it has increased the amount of spectrum reserved for 'connected cars' in a bid to accelerate the development of new specifications and features which are ultimately aimed to improve safety.

New legislation in relation to self-driving technology and autonomous transportation which is currently being drafted by the US Republican party - will prevent individual US states from establishing and forming its own set of rules and guidelines in relation to the design, testing and subsequent deployment of self-driving cars.

Uber's efforts to revolutionize the freight hauling sector with the introduction of self-driving trucks has been met with a wave of skepticism by a number of leading analysts and industry executives. Analysts and industry executives with the trucking sector have questioned what exactly the ride-hailing service can bring to its sprawling $700 billion industry.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the technology colossus is now focusing on the development of autonomous systems as they join the global race to develop the technology for driverless cars. In an interview with Bloomberg, Cook described the challenge of building autonomous vehicles as 'the mother of all' artificial intelligence projects.

The US Transportation Department has confirmed that revised self-driving guidelines will be unveiled by US President Donald Trump's administration within the next few months. The announcement was made following mounting pressure from technology companies and car manufacturers who are aggressively pursuing automated vehicle technologies.

US chipmaker Intel Corp has announced that they have entered into a collaborative agreement with Delphi Automotive PLC and BMW to develop a highly-automated self-driving platform for the German automaker.

Global ride-hailing service Uber has taken its very first steps to expand its self-driving research into foreign markets with the announcement that it plans to open a research facility in Toronto, Canada. This latest expansion is for Uber's Advanced Technologies Group, which is responsible for the majority of the firm's research on autonomous vehicles. Uber also disclosed that University of Toronto professor Raquel Urtasun has been tasked with the responsibility of leading the new research center.

Google has ramped up their self-driving project by acquiring an additional 500 Windsor-made Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans. The US tech giants are offering rides to the general public as it continues to carry out initial tests of the technology in the minivans.

US-based ride-hailing service Uber Technologies has announced that its expecting to be in a position to be able to deploy its 'flying' taxis by 2020. The company which has had endured a number of setbacks in recent months - also revealed the two cities in which the 'flying taxis' will first be deployed in.

US technology colossus Apple has been awarded a permit which allows them to test autonomous vehicles in California. The decision to grant the permit has only served to heighten speculation that Apple is working on self-driving technology and is set to join a growing number of companies with ambitions to offer self-driving vehicles to the masses.

A US ride-services firm has bolstered its attempts to compete for market share with its fierce and larger rival Uber Technologies Inc. by raising $600m in fresh funding. Lyft which was launched in 2012 - has continued to invest in its growth in order to expand its services. This year, the company has extended its services to 100 new cities.

US-based global ride-sharing platform Uber Technologies Inc. has resumed its self-driving programs following the suspension of the pilot program due to a crash in Arizona. The Uber car involved in the accident was in self-driving mode when the collision occurred. However, it has been established that it was human-driven vehicle that failed to yield that was the cause of the car accident.

Management at a leading multinational automotive retail and services firm have announced that German automaker BMW intends to lead the charge in relation to the ‘electrification' of cars in Latin America. Marco Garcia, Managing Director of Inchcape Chile made the announcement and outlined the vision of some of the other high-profile brands - his organization represent in South America

US-based global ride-sharing colossus Uber Technologies Inc. has suffered yet another setback following their decision to suspend its pilot program for driverless vehicles. Management at Uber decided to ground the innovative self-driving program following a car crash in Arizona - the vehicle involved in the collision was equipped with nascent technology and belonged to Uber police in the US have confirmed.

Canada's government has taken aim at the tax advantages enjoyed by ride-sharing platforms over traditional taxis in its latest national budget which was unveiled by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau's liberal government indicated in its budget statement that it plans to amend Canada's Excise Tax Act to redefine ride-sharing firms as taxi companies. This redefinition would force them to collect the goods and services tax (GST) on every ride provided, just as taxi operators are required to do.

Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick has declared that in order for a business to be successful it has to not only serve the people, but be 'customer obsessed'. The chief executive of the US based global ride-hailing service was discussing 'The Future of Urban Mobility' at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

Tesla has a reputation for producing vehicles capable of quick-acceleration, but they want its cars to be even faster. Its latest model 'electric car' just clocked acceleration times than beat a Porsche and a Ferrari!

Tesla's latest production model Tesla SP100D accelerated from 0-60 miles per-hour in a dizzying 2.28 seconds in a recent test conducted by Motor Trend. The phenomenal speed of the latest electric model from Tesla even caught the American automakers by surprise.

It appears to be that global ride-hailing firm Uber is really serious about developing 'flying taxis' as part of their innovative new project entitled 'Uber-Elevate'. Uber announced the hiring of former NASA engineer Mark Moore in which they confirmed that he would spearhead their flying taxi project.

An Italian company has developed an autonomous robot which is designed to help users carry cargo, such as groceries and complete other mundane chores. Italian company Vespa, better known for producing scooters, has opened a Boston-based division called 'Piaggio Fast Forward' in order to focus on the future of mobility.

Autonomous shuttles are set to arrive in Denver as part of the latest stage of developments in the creation of a futuristic smart city project called Pena Station Next. Pena Station is currently a remote and idle rail station south of Denver International Airport - but it has been chosen as the location for one of the most futuristic smart city developments in the world.

An investigation conducted by the US Transportation Department following a fatal crash involving a Tesla car on autopilot has established that there were no defects found in the system of the vehicle.

An American start-up technology company have unveiled its highly anticipated first production vehicle at CES 2017 – and made the bold proclamation that the vehicle would represent a ‘new species’ for personal transportation.

Faraday Future, which has its headquarters in Los Angeles, has held no secret regarding its ambitions in becoming a market leader in developing intelligent electric vehicles. Management for the tech firm previously outlined their desire to overtake Tesla.

BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye announced on January 8, 2017, that a fleet of approximately 40 autonomous BMW vehicles will be on the roads by the second half of 2017, demonstrating the significant advancements made by the three companies towards fully autonomous driving. Revealing this at a podium discussion held during a joint press conference at CES, the companies explained that the BMW 7 Series will employ cutting-edge Intel and Mobileye technologies during global trials starting in the US and Europe.

Smartphone vendors Blackberry have officially unveiled a state-of-the-art autonomous vehicle innovation center. The fabulous new faculty will be housed within its QNX facility which is located in Ottawa, Canada. The ultimate purpose and vision for the center is to develop production-ready software aimed at accelerating the adoption of connected and self-driving vehicles.

Californian authorities have threatened online transportation company Uber with legal action after they refused to adhere to state regulations in relation to its self-driving vehicles. Uber have deployed a number of its self-driving vehicles on the roads in San Francisco.

Google has yet again reiterated its desire to develop a new way of mobility following the announcement that it will rebrand its self-driving car unit. Management at Google have made a series of decisions in the last number of months which illustrate clearly its desire to ramp up operations in relation to autonomous driving technology.

Google's aspirations to extend the reach of its innovative drone delivery service has encountered a number of issues and plans to begin a wider launch of the product that have been put on hold. Google's parent company Alphabet, a leading software company, has revealed its ambitious plan for a marketplace that could order anything from a coffee to toilet paper and have it within minutes.

Global transportation company Uber, have announced that it will purchase artificial intelligence group Geometric Intelligence in an effort to increase its research into self-driving car technology. It's expected that the acquisition of the artificial intelligence company will form the core of Uber's own research centre.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) have officially announced that they will extend its fleet of Smart Cars - and replace the three wheeled scooters that officers have used for decades to navigate about New York City. The NYPD have already deployed 150 Smart Cars into the fleet, but plan to introduce an additional 75 in the coming months after reaching an agreement with the German automaker Daimler AG.

Apple has confirmed its ambitions to develop self-driving vehicles. There has been widespread speculation in relation to Apple's ambitions in the sector of autonomous vehicles over the last number of years, but it has now been officially revealed.

Ethio Telecom has signed an agreement with the Supreme Court of the Amhara National Regional State to implement a groundbreaking ‘Smart Court’ project to modernize the judicial system in the region.

Dubai has made it to the list of the world’s best-performing digital governments with a “Very High” rating in the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) 2022 issued by the United Nations as part of its bi-annual E-Government Survey. Dubai was ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab World in the Index.

To enhance community well-being and economic sustainability and to solidify the UAE’s leading position at the global level, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has launched the Digital Society Initiative to encourage awareness regarding the use and adoption of digital means to improve various segments of society.

In order to discuss strategy for blockchain and virtual assets in alignment with the Emirates’ economic strategy, the Abu Dhabi Blockchain and Virtual Assets Committee (ADBVAC) held its first meeting under the leadership of H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and chairman of the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).

Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) held a meeting with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the Secretariat General of the GCC to follow up on directives by the GCC Smart Card Technical Team and discuss cooperation related to Information Technology (IT).

Etisalat UAE, branded as etisalat by e&, has integrated the UAE PASS login on the “My Etisalat UAE” app and portal (www.etisalat.ae), enabling all subscribers to seamlessly log in with their secure national digital identity details.

In yet another strategic move to establish Dubai as a world-class digital economic hub, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced the formation of the Dubai Digital Assets Business Group (D2A2).

The UAE Cabinet has approved the formation of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation, which will be headed by Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future.

Keeping its momentum to establish Dubai as a global digital economic hub, the Dubai Government has formed the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy to help shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) by investing in the metaverse and establishing partnerships to boost Dubai’s digital economy. The development follows the recent launch of the Dubai Government’s metaverse strategy.

Digital Dubai, represented by the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), conducted a simulation workshop of a global cyberattack scenario where 18 Dubai-based government and private sector entities took part.

MENA governments are anticipated to spend a total of $13.3 billion in 2022 on information technology (IT) sector, with most budgets going to telecom services ($3.9 billion), IT services ($3.13 billion), and software ($2.56 billion).

Dubai's iconic Museum of the Future and Binance NFT, the NFT marketplace of Binance, the world’s leading blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider aims to develop and launch a range of digital products on the blockchain, starting with their first-ever NFT collection – The Most Beautiful NFTs in the Metaverse.

Adopting the UAE digital economy strategy, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the goal over the next 10 years is to increase the contribution of this sector to the GDP by 20%.

As part of its strategy to diversify its economy, Saudi Arabia has set aside $6.4 billion to invest in future technologies, according to minister of communications and information technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha.

The digital government authority (DGA) launched the regulatory sandbox initiative for government technology companies.

Since 1982, China began to receive loans from the Kuwait Arab Economic Development Foundation, mainly to support the construction of local areas in China. The foundation has so far provided China with nearly 305 million credits. For the past 40 years, the Kuwait Arab Economic Development Foundation has been cooperating well with China and has witnessed the country’s development.

A first-of-its-kind solution opens up in the UAE where merchants can simply provide their WhatsApp-enabled numbers to customers, allowing an easy, convenient, and secure payment process.

In line with its aim to be among the world’s top 10 central banks, the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE) has set its priorities for 2023-2026, including the launch of a digital currency.

UAE’s aggressive digital strategies and policies has put the country in the fifth position in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) partnered with Visa to introduce the UAE’s first biometric authentication solution for e-commerce transactions. This solution leverages the Visa Consumer Authentication Service (VCAS) to deliver an improved customer experience and boost data security.

Commercial Bank of Dubai has become the first banks in the region to use robo-advisory investment solution by launching the “CBD Investr app.” Developed in partnership with InvestSuite, a leading wealthtech company based in Belgium, this innovative investment app is powered by smart algorithms that actively manage investment portfolios to deliver optimal risk-adjusted performance.

Saudi Payments, under the supervision of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), announced the launch of Saudi Arabia’s instant payments system ‘sarie’ in cooperation with IBM and Mastercard.

To provide the UAE residents with safe, convenient and flexible payment solutions through an easy-to-use eWallet mobile app, the Digital Financial Services LLC, a joint venture of Etisalat and Dubai Islamic Bank, has partnered with Lulu Group International to enable secure and contactless payment options for eWallet customers.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Microsoft and E-Tax, a company affiliated with Egypt’s Ministry of Finance, has been signed to drive the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the Egyptian tax systems’ digital solutions.

Global technology company Mastercard, and Geidea, the largest fintech company in Saudi Arabia by market share, have announced a strategic partnership agreement to accept Mastercard payments on Tap-on-Phone solution in Saudi Arabia – the first such agreement to be signed in the Middle East and North Africa. Geidea is the first fintech company to roll out this contactless payment acceptance technology across the Kingdom, which will enable businesses to use smartphones as payment acceptance devices.

Central Bank of UAE granted license to Al Maryah Community Bank, making it the first specialized digital bank to serve the UAE community through using state-of-the-art new age banking technologies.

Digital Financial Services, a joint venture of Etisalat and Dubai Islamic Bank and the operator of eWallet services, has partnered with Al-Futtaim to roll out contactless payment options for eWallet users across the UAE.

As part of the continued efforts to provide seamless and secure payment methods and tools to pay government services fees in the Emirate, the Abu Dhabi government services ecosystem, TAMM has added PayBy to facilitate contactless payment through its strategic partner First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).

The Global Islamic Fintech Report (GIFT) 2021 presents that out of 64 key Islamic Fintech markets, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries dominate the top 10, particularly Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia.

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the licensing of International Digital Solutions Company to provide electronic wallet service (electronic transfer and payment service) and Azm Fintech Company to provide payment services through (SADAD Bill Aggregation Services).

In a bid to increase UAE's industrial revenues to 300 billion dirhams ($81.68 billion) over 10 years, Dubai Ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan announced the plan on Twitter.

The solution for user verification, developed in collaboration with Moscow fintechs VisionLabs and Smart Engines, is integrated into the mobile application of Emirates NBD, one of the largest banks in the UAE. 

Almost half of technology leaders, both globally and in the UAE, expect budgets for IT/technology to increase, driven by a surge in spending on operational efficiencies, customer engagement and data-driven insights. This is among the key findings of The Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey 2020, one of the largest IT leadership surveys in the world, with over 4,200 responses from CIOs and technology executives across 83 countries.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) signed an MoU with Sharjah Environment Company “Bee’ah” to enhance cooperation, partnership and coordination to overcome environmental challenges and unify actions to raise environmental awareness.

DIFC’s FinTech Hive revealed the launch of a new funding accelerator program for FinTech start-ups in the MEASA region.

The word blockchain has been thrown around a lot recently and has become the ultimate buzzword within several industries. Applying blockchain in banking has become one of the most discussed topics within the banking and finance sector.

Saudi Payment’s SADAD, the national electronic bill presentment and payment service provider for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has chosen Oracle solutions to implement a robust payment security system, develop digital economy ready services and drive cost efficiencies.

yallacompare, the Middle East’s leading financial comparison platform, has formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with Smiles, the award-winning deals and rewards program of Etisalat.

The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) has accorded an honorary Master’s Degree award to His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State (UAE) and Executive Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market, during its annual graduation ceremony held at the Guildhall in central London.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, marks a significant milestone today having registered more than 100 FinTech firms in the Centre.

In line with the continuous growth and development of the Dubai International Financial Centre’s financial innovation ecosystem, the DIFC FinTech Hive, announced today the commencement of the 2019 edition of its accelerator programme.

As we move towards a more digitalized future, concerns continue to grow about consumer privacy. Are legal systems adapting to the fast-paced age of emerging tech?

Etisalat Digital, in partnership with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Avanza Innovations, have developed UAE Trade Connect (UTC), a new nationwide platform that will use the latest disruptive technologies to digitise trade in the UAE. The initial phase will focus on addressing the risks of double financing and invoice fraud before turning to other key areas of trade finance.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), has partnered with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the world’s largest non-profit entrepreneurial organisation, to help Indian FinTechs scale their businesses across the region. Throughout a two-day programme, DIFC met with 17 FinTech startups from Mumbai to understand their business models and provide tailored solutions to support their growth in fast-growing emerging markets. 

The UAE’s Minister for AI Omar Sultan Al Olama has openly expressed his belief that EXPO 2020 will be the greatest exhibition in its decorated and storied history. EXPO 2020 is expected to have a $30bn ripple effect if it is as successful as being projected.

A high-ranking US government official has highlighted the need to educate regulators in order for them not to distrust technology. Utah Attorney General, Sean Reyes made the remarks during a robust panel discussion at the AI Everything conference which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai.

The UAE has adopted a new national AI strategy in the hopes of establishing a brand of artificial intelligence within the nation.

Global ride-hailing behemoth Uber has launched a new unique feature described as a global first in an effort to empower women in Saudi Arabia.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi Smart Solutions and Services Authority (ADSSSA), to accelerate the Abu Dhabi government's digital transformation efforts.

Etisalat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abu Dhabi Smart Solutions and Services Authority (ADSSSA) to boost their collaboration in the digital transformation of government services in Abu Dhabi.  

Dubai Land Department (DLD) received Singaporean delegation headed by Lim Sim Seng, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Singapore Land Authority (SLA), in the presence of the Singaporean Ambassador to the UAE.

UAE operator du has always been at the forefront of the country’s technological development with the revolutionary solutions and services that it offers to its customers. Lately, du has been very active in the area of smart cities given the efforts deployed in Dubai to make the city a leading smart city. In this context, it has chosen to take part in the 2^nd edition of Smart Cities World Forums’ “Building the SMART Future” conference as the Smart ICT Partner. At the event, we spoke to Jihad Tayara, VP ICT Business Development, EITC, to know more about the operator’s participation in the event.

Dubai was voted the ‘Best Regional Smart City’ in 2018. Smart Dubai received the award at the Telecom Review Excellence Awards Ceremony which was organized on the evening of December 10th during the 11th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit. The city was chosen following an online voting campaign.

Espeo Blockchain, a consulting brand of Espeo Software with 10 years of experience, declared that it has chosen Dubai as its new hub to set up an office, after recognizing the region's growth potential and interest in blockchain technology.

Dr. Tarig Enaya, Senior Vice President of the STC Enterprise Business Unit has revealed that smart cities-associated technology investments that will take place in the next four years worldwide will reach USD 158 billion by 2022 in accordance with the IDC Report. The figure is expected to reach USD 2.7 billion (SAR 10.125 billion) in the Middle East and Africa.

Smart Dubai has concluded another successful participation in GITEX Technology Week, where it showcased its main strategies, services, and initiatives that seek to cement Dubai's global lead in the smart city sector.

In an unprecedented initiative in Lebanon, the Municipality of Jounieh in collaboration with the Arab Forum for Smart Cities and under the patronage of the Lebanese Prime Minister- Designate Saad El Hariri, organized a workshop entitled "Digital and Smart Transformation in Arab Cities: Reality and Outlook".

Relam Investment, an international investment company headquartered in Dubai, UAE, owned by local entrepreneur Sultan Ali Rashed Lootah, has announced the global launch of its third generation blockchain technology: Hetachain, which promises faster processing time and lower energy use.

With the aim of regulating the use of fintech technology, the UAE's Minister of Economy has announced a regulatory framework for fintech companies adopting experimental licenses to conduct their operations. Similar frameworks were introduced by Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market over the last year.

Smart Cities World Forums is currently conducting a poll in an effort to establish which city our global readership thinks is the 'smartest' in the world.

As the Middle East accelerates its digital transformation and Smart Cities growth, regional data center spend will reach a record-high of USD 5 billion by 2020, industry experts announced today ahead of GITEX Technology Week.

The UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Invest India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the India - UAE Artificial Intelligence Bridge which is dedicated to spur discussion and explore options for both countries to grow their artificial intelligence economies. This partnership will generate an estimated $20 billion USD in economic benefits during the next decade.

Smart Dubai has organized a brainstorming session at its headquarters in Dubai Design District (d3) as part of its Smart Cities Hackathon. It drew representatives from 15 government entities and private companies across various sectors.

Smart Dubai has broken ground on the first phase of implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which seeks to digitise internal and external transactions at government entities and save time and effort for employees and customers alike.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states show great promise for renewable energy deployment, according to a recent study by management consultancy Strategy& Middle East (formerly Booz & Company), part of the PwC network.

Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Batelco and Avaya, has transformed the ministry's communications and collaboration capabilities, with a strategic ICT implementation to connect all ministry employees around the world. The ministry worked closely with Avaya to transform its citizen services by integrating and digitalizing its communications and collaboration capabilities through a two-phased project.

Huawei's global partners Microsoft, Thales, and SAP have discussed the importance of building a collaborative ICT ecosystem for business driven innovation that is relevant to the UAE.

Smart Dubai has announced the introduction of a global online network that aims to connect cities by facilitating and promoting the sharing of knowledge and expertise between smart city stakeholders.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) revealed that the number of data systems provided in cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and other government entities on bayanat.ae has reached more than 500 systems, covering various educational, health, environment and other fields. TRA said that this achievement is the result of cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and more than 36 federal and local entities, to enhance the UAE strategic direction towards digital transformation, keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and utilize data in finding innovative solutions to future challenges.

Global technology company SAP announced today a new investment plan to catalyze Egypt Vision 2030's nationwide digitization and Smart Cities, and support economic, social, and environmental transformation, according the newly-appointed Managing Director of SAP Egypt.

Global ICT solutions provider Huawei will conduct a six-country roadshow across the Middle East from April to May 2018. Under the theme 'Leading New ICT, The Road to Digital Transformation', the roadshow puts the spotlight on advanced ICT technologies that are driving digital transformation and helping to achieve the development agendas in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Pakistan.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has joined the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a partner. DEWA is the first government utility to join the San Francisco-based center, which includes international organizations such as Microsoft, SAP, and ABB. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and develop disruptive technologies in power and water.

Political leaders and dignitaries from all across the globe have gathered in Dubai for the sixth annual edition of the World Government Summit. The three-day event aims to examine and explore how digitalization of traditional industries will transform and completely revolutionize societies as we know them.

At one of the opening sessions of the second day of World Government Summit 2018 (WGS 2018), experts outlined how technology in the digital era can enhance quality of life, if effectively managed.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), represented by ICT Fund, the TRA's funding arm, signed a cooperation agreement today with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Under this agreement, the TRA will fund the Emirates Mars Mission 2117 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

PwC Middle East reports that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will contribute US$320 billion to the Middle East economy by 2030 - the equivalent to 11% of GDP.

The World Economic Forum announced on January 23 an international expansion of its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. New affiliate centers will open in India, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, creating an international network dedicated to maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of emerging technology.

Dubai has achieved a new milestone in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, in getting certified by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. C40 is a leading global network of cities committed to tackling climate change and protecting the planet. The network was established in 2005, and includes 75 major cities that have worked to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through sharing knowledge and best practices among themselves.

Smart Cities World Forums launched its first print edition at the Telecom Review Leaders' Summit in Dubai last week. The magazine was officially unveiled by CEO of Trace Media International, Mr. Toni Eid.

Smart Dubai, an initiative anchored in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to make Dubai the happiest and smartest city on earth. The organization's visionary leader, Her Excellency Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr, Director General, spoke to Telecom Review about the importance of embracing digital practices and data sharing.

NXN's digital transformation platform is completely revolutionizing how government entities and enterprises are taking new innovative initiatives and services to the market. NXN's incredible DNX digital transformation platform essentially allows government entities to reduce 80% of the workload required in the launch of a new initiative and service. The platform can take new services to market within two to three months, which represents a phenomenal difference compared to the traditional timeframe of 12 to 18 months. Smart Cities World Forums Magazine managed to secure an exclusive interview with NXN CEO Ghazi Atallah.

Smart Dubai has expanded its "Paperless Finance" project to cover various Dubai Government entities, where it will fully digitise these entities' financial operations, eliminating paper transactions.

The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) took home the prestigious City Project Award for the Dubai Blockchain Strategy at the Smart Cities Expo & World Congress, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, on November 14-16, 2017. The Strategy won first place following fierce competition against 308 projects from 58 countries.

The Smart Dubai Government Establishment (SDG), Smart Dubai's technical arm, organized a workshop to provide training for Dubai Government institutions around best practices in artificial intelligence (AI) in order to catalyze smart transformation in the emirate.

Saudi Telecom Company (STC), represented by InspirU Business Incubator, announced the signing of an agreement with Riyadah institute to support and provide services for business entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has completed the smart transformation process of the frequency spectrum services as part of its strategy to enhance smart transformation in the UAE. Customers can now receive frequency spectrum services from their location without the need to visit TRA or its service centers, starting by applying for the service, until transaction is completed.

The Sustainable City, the Middle East's first fully operational sustainable community, revealed the results of one year of monitoring at the city during WETEX 2017, which ran from 23rd to 25th October at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Sustainable City, a joint venture between Diamond Developers and SEE Nexus, participated at WETEX for the second consecutive year with the biggest stand at the exhibition, which took place under the theme 'At the Forefront of Sustainability'.

ICANN President and CEO, Goran Marby has praised the UAE for being at the forefront of 'digital transformation' in the Middle East region at ICANN60 held in Abu Dhabi. He also highlighted how the country was a leader in infrastructure development and the growth of digital services.

Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnessed the signing of agreements between Smart Dubai and a number of government entities to implement the Dubai Digital Certificates initiative.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) launched the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) for the first time in the UAE, during its hosting of the RIPE Network Coordination Centre Meeting 'RIPE 75'.

As part of its participation in GITEX Technology Week 2017, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in partnership with Smart Dubai, aiming to develop a unified digital identity in the UAE. The agreement enhances the mutual cooperation between federal and local governments, in line with the UAE's strategy to launch and implement unified projects at the national level that contribute to achieving the goals of UAE Centennial 2071, UAE Vision 2021, and sustainable development.

The Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in the UAE, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, released a statement on October 17 praising the UAE's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI). The UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence is the launch of a sustainable and data-centric future, he said.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved an initiative called 'A Day without Service Centers'. Launched by Dubai Department of Finance (DOF), the initiative aims to encourage customers to turn to smart channels to obtain and complete government services and transactions.

The leading global ICT solution provider Huawei is hosting its second annual Innovation Day, with the theme "Exploration, Lights the Way Forward". Scheduled to take place on the first day of GITEX 2017 at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, DWTC, "Huawei ME Innovation Day" will explore the role of ICT innovations in driving digital transformation and building sustainable knowledge-based economies in the Middle East.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Airports to expand cooperation and promote Smart Dubai. The agreement aims to unify energies and resources, exchange knowledge, innovation, ideas and promotes effective communication to implement DEWA's three smart initiatives at Dubai Airports.

The UAE Space Agency has discussed means of joint cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment during a meeting between high-level Space Agency delegates and the Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Discussions included the possibility of providing data on local and international environmental issues, as well as exchanging knowledge and expertise in relevant fields, in order to help combat the effects of climate change.

Smart Dubai is organizing a trip for Happiness Champions from various government entities in Dubai to attend a training course on the 'Quality of Service' at the Disney Institute in Orlando, USA.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading UAE entity for development aid, has supported Pakistan with grants and concessionary loans valued at AED 1.5 billion (around US$ 408 million) to date, across nine sustainable development projects. The projects spanned diverse sectors, most notable transport, water and agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Dubai is fast moving toward achieving its goal of becoming the world's first government to execute all implementable transactions on blockchain by 2020, an international expert on blockchain has said.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution continues to transform the workplace with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation becoming increasingly prevalent across industries, Dubai-based B2B event specialist QnA International, has unveiled plans for a first-of-its-kind summit to discuss the unique challenges this will place on HR and IT departments in Saudi Arabia.

The Board of Directors of Smart Dubai Office (SDO) held its 10th meeting, which was presided over by H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board. Al Tayer congratulated the board members on the successful completion of the first phase of the Smart Dubai Plan, which proved that all the concerned parties were determined to mobilize efforts to fulfil the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for Dubai to become the smartest and happiest city on earth and a benchmark for smart cities worldwide. He also thanked the work team of SDO and its affiliates for its dazzling success achieved in co-operation with all government and private entities in Dubai.

The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) celebrated the first anniversary of its Happiness Agenda, adopted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in May 2016.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Avanza Solutions has signed an MOU with Smart Dubai Office to implement a citywide blockchain-based payments platform.

In this modern era of big data, it's important to have a central platform to house all government information, said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, at the launch of the Smart Dubai 2021 framework and Smart Dubai's new central government platform to house big data: Dubai Pulse. His Highness said Dubai Pulse is a platform that "taps into the potential of artificial intelligence to spread happiness among people."

The inaugural edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit (GMIS) has been officially opened by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Abu Dhabi.

His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has stated that he believes the key to the nation's sustainability is that the citizens of the UAE must stick to their values and ethics following an address he gave at the World Government Summit in Dubai. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior declared that the UAE's sustainability originates from a blend of its religion, culture, heritage and history which he says were reinforced by the late founding father Sheikh Zayed.

Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has declared that the future is key in order to revive Arab civilization. Sheikh Mohammed made the remarks at his address to leaders at the World Government Summit.

The UAE is among the world's top countries in using e-government services to drive economic competitiveness and citizen happiness, experts announced ahead of the World Government Summit.

Already the UAE is making strong progress in its information management, ranking in the Top 30 in the world in e-government effectiveness, and the top in the Middle East and Africa in online service delivery, according to a recent report by the United Nations.

Thousands of Dubai residents ditched their cars for an awareness campaign highlighting the harmful impact carbon emissions have on our environment.

The campaign, simply entitled 'Car Free Day' is now in its eight year - and Director General of Dubai Municipality, Hussain Nasser Lootah, led a team of directors and senior officials from government departments in riding the Metro from Etisalat Station to the Union Station.

Dubai has expressed its aspirations to become the next FinTech hub. The city has enjoyed decades of rapid growth - and has developed its infrastructure to become a key business center which has now firmly switched its focus towards the FinTech sector.

Dubai-based business tycoon Mohamed Alabbar, prominent in the real estate and property development industry of the United Arab Emirates and former director general of the Dubai Department of Economic Development, announced on November 13 the launch of a $1 billion regional e-commerce site in a joint venture with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and other Gulf investors, called Noon.com.

Global leaders in the satellite industry have combined to help support the humanitarian community in times of devastation and crisis - by signing a Crisis Connectivity Charter which will effectively enhance connectivity during humanitarian emergencies. 

Saudi Telecom (STC) has agreed to purchase a 10% stake worth $100million in UAE-based ride-hailing service Careem. The acquisition comes just months after Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested a stake in Uber – which is the global rival to Careem.

Startups in Jordan and the Palestinian Territories will be vital in driving the Levant's Digital Economy and job creation for technology talents, SAP announced at the Start-up Focus Event in Amman, hosted by startup enabler and technology company SAP and supported by Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) and USAID West Bank and Gaza through its Compete Project.

Dubai has emerged number 1 in a Smart City Index that studied 10 Gulf cities’ strategy and execution of smart city campaigns. Dubai stood out for its strategic vision coupled with a clear understanding of the practical requirements to deliver on its vision, in a study released by Huawei and Navigant on the first day of GITEX 2016.

Industry leaders in telecommunications, key decision makers and political figures gathered at the 7th annual Telecom Review Summit to discuss ICT as being the heart of a ‘Smart City’. Esteemed guests included His Excellency Mr. Yasser El Kady, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Arab Republic of Egypt, who delivered an inspiring keynote speech.

“Our ambition is to create happiness amongst our residents, and our primary purpose is to really embrace technology innovations to improve the life of every individual living in Dubai. Our vision is to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city on earth.” Those were the words of Mr. Younus Al Nasser, Assistant Director General of Smart Dubai Office and CEO of Dubai Data Establishment as he gave his presentation at the 7th annual Telecom Review Summit.

Mr. Wesam Lootah, CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment has outlined some of the key initiatives that Smart Dubai have launched in its attempts to make Dubai the happiest city in the world.

Mr. Lootah was speaking at the 7th annual Telecom Review Summit where he gave a brilliant insight into Smart Dubai’s on-going vision for the city in an informative, engaging and fascinating presentation. He highlighted the importance of the introduction of a ‘happiness meter’ which he said was giving everyone in the region a voice to shape the city they want to live in. The happiness meter subsequently provides key decision makers, city leaders and director generals with critical information about what impact their services are having on residents - and gives them feedback on whether or not the strategies they’ve executed are the correct ones for the city.

Qatar has unveiled Khadoom, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personal assistant that aims to revolutionize daily task management through WhatsApp.

Dubai Future Labs (DFL), an advanced applied research and development (R&D) lab established by Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), is providing cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence know-how to the government, private sector and community.

In a bid to make the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the safest country in the world, du, part of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), and Injazat have selected Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT platform for the Ministry of Interior’s “Hassantuk” system to speed up response time and maintain the highest standards of fire safety.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s R&D Center employs Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) to promote DEWA’s efforts to enrich the experience of customers, employees and stakeholders. The Center also aims to reduce costs and carbon emissions in addition to promoting energy efficiency, smart grid integration and improving the performance of photovoltaic solar panels.

e& enterprise, part of e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group), and Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, have launched the region’s first AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE). The AI center aims to pursue partnerships and collaborations with businesses, governments, investors, and startups to create a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through the co-creation of industry-specific and use case-driven AI solutions.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced the launch of an Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System (ASGR), the first of its kind in the MENA region, to increase the control, management, and monitoring of its power network.

Omantel, the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) to enable the first artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) powered Smart Store in Oman and in the Middle East.

“We have a deep need and desire to connect. Everything in the history of communication technology suggests we will take advantage of every opportunity to connect more richly and deeply,” says Peter Morville, president of Semantic Studios.

Oceans occupy just over 70% of our planet and pose a great many benefits for humankind. Some of these benefits include climate regulation, medicine, food, recreation and many others, essentially fueling the incomes of several major industries. Ocean-based businesses contribute to around $500 billion to the global economy. The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) can be increasingly valuable for humanity’s quest to tackle environmental issues.

5G, one of the most prominent modern leaps in emerging technology, brings with it the promise of efficiency and real-time services. This highly anticipated 5G wireless network technology is expected to be so powerful that it will enable the mass production of highly anticipated autonomous cars, virtual reality in real time, download speeds which are ten times faster than what we are used to and the list goes on.

As the global market for the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) continues to experience exponential growth, the entire landscape of the healthcare industry will continue to evolve and change, all in the name of more efficient patient care.

Huawei recently released the industry's first deterministic networking oriented 5G core network solution, pivoting on the key concept of "Cloud Native, One Core, Real-time Operation, and Edge Computing".

Huawei has released a report on the 10 emerging telecom energy trends in 2025 in an effort to provide a reference for operators on site infrastructure construction.

The Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has held a workshop to accelerate the development of 5G connectivity in the Sultanate, leveraging the latest technologies from around the world to spur national competitiveness in line with Oman Vision 2040.

Etisalat has yet again demonstrated its 5G technological prowess, this time through an adrenaline-pumping freefall from 15,000 feet.

Many cities, all over the world, are working towards becoming ‘smart’. The use of data, AI-powered cameras, IoT-powered technologies, smart management systems, connected devices and even smart street infrastructure are all being developed and deployed to improve services and the quality of life for residents through automation and data analytics.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region has seen an accelerated development in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Even though it is still adopted in limited verticals, stakeholders are exploring and identifying key areas of growth.

Brighter is a health-tech company from Sweden, founded in 2007, with a vision to improve quality of life and reduce the complications of chronic diseases. Brighter developed ‘Actiste’, the world’s first unified diabetes care device with a mobile-connected service for monitoring and treating insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a pocket-sized device that combines the necessary functions for daily diabetes care and shares the data with healthcare providers. At GITEX technology week, Ericsson showcased Actiste as an example of how IoT solutions are being used in healthcare. Telecom Review secured an interview with Petra Kaur, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of Brighter, to find out more about how this will contribute to science and help to reduce the burden on healthcare systems around the world.

Ericsson plans to showcase the latest 5G technology innovations and emerging use cases at GITEX Technology Week 2019 in Dubai, UAE.

Schneider Electric, a leading pioneer in digital transformation of energy management and automation, will showcase its latest innovations that will support the Middle East and Africa's USD 7 billion Internet of Things (IoT) market to enable Smart Cities at GITEX Technology Week.

Linksys are celebrating 30 years of networking and Wi-Fi innovation for the home and business this year, and it has announced that there is rapid adoption of IoT in the Middle East with a growing number of people investing in smart devices for their home, according to latest study by Linksys on consumer Wi-Fi usage trends, ahead of GITEX Technology Week.

The possibilities of IoT in the home are endless, from smart lighting and thermostats to smart fridges to machine learning devices. Linksys’ study shows there is growing use of voice assistants and TV signals that are primarily internet based.

"The number of people using smart devices in the home is increasing rapidly, which means there is also a growing need to upgrade to bigger, faster home Wi-Fi systems," says Amanulla Khan, Managing Director Linksys Middle East, Turkey and Africa. "People may not realize that even if they only stream Netflix on a smart TV, it affects the overall Wi-Fi experience for others in the household by using bandwith."

Smart TVs lead the way:
According to the Linksys study, 85.4% of respondents from the Middle East own at least one smart TV, out of which 27.9% respondents own multiple smart TVs. UAE ranks above Saudi Arabia in the adoption of smart TVs, with 86.6% and 84.2% respondents respectively.

Watching TV through the internet is very popular in the Middle East, with internet-based entertainment being the primary source of TV for 22.3% of respondents. This is widely seen in the UAE, among 26.8% of respondents, and 17.8% seen in Saudi Arabia. Subscribing to TV services is still big in the Middle East and the study highlights about 25.5% of Middle East respondents using their smart TVs for subscription-based TV services. Of this figure, 52.1% use it to download TV series and movies, and 31.4% use it to live-stream sport events.

Voice Assistants on the rise:
The use of chatbots and virtual assistants, commonly called voice assistants, is rapidly increasing. The use of voice assistants such as Amazon Echo, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home is on the rise, with 35.7% ownership amongst respondents.

Other smart devices that have reached the 40% adoption barrier include connected security cameras and smart lighting, with 39.3% and 39.6% of Middle East respondents owning such devices respectively. While the use of smart doorbells is very popular - they are owned by almost half of the Middle East respondents (46.5%) -thermostats by Nest and Netatmo lag behind, with only 24.6% of respondents owning such devices.

The numbers by country:

UAE
Most likely (24%) of all to be classified as smart home adopters
Most likely of all to own a smart or connected TV (87%), and smart plugs (43%)
Most likely of all to consider purchasing a smart or connected TV (88%), and smart plugs (64%)

Saudi Arabia
Most likely (38%) of all to be classified as extreme smart home adopters
Most likely of all to own smart doorbells (48%), smart lighting (42%), smart switches (41%), connected security cameras (40%), voice assistants (38%), and smart thermostats (27%)
Most likely of all to consider purchasing smart lighting (68%), connected security cameras (67%), smart doorbells (63%), smart switches (63%), voice assistants (62%), and smart thermostats (47%)

Living in the digital age, the internet is increasing a part of our daily lives and a new normal for all. Linksys’ study forecasts that 58.5% of respondents who don’t own any smart home devices are keen to adopt IoT in their homes, with UAE at 55% and Saudi Arabia at 62%. Adoption of smart lighting was higher, at 58%, and 52% of respondents are considering investing in this by 2020. The Middle East will see a steady adoption of voice assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, with 28.5% of respondents considering such a purchase by 2019.

Khan explains: "While we are now talking smart lighting and voice asistants, in the next couple of years we’ll move to even smarter connected devices in the home driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Solutions include Phyn, a smart water management system that protects your home from leaks by learning from your usage, and Whirlpool’s smart kitchen range, which automatically preheats the oven and cooks dishes based on recipes. These innovations will accelerate the number of IoT devices in the home and also the need for up-to-speed Wi-Fi.

Whoever wants a smart home needs to be smart and futureproof his or her home network too."

During GITEX, visit the Linksys stand at Hall 1 of Dubai World Trade Centre - the trade fair will run from 14-18 October 2018. Visitors will be able to experience a smart home with Intelligent Mesh™ technology brought to reality by Award Winning Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi system with entry-level Dual-Band offerings. Linksys will also showcase a range of disruptive intelligent business solutions for SMBs.

Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced today ahead of the Arab Future Cities Summit Dubai that the Middle East and North Africa, and especially the GCC, are spearheading the USD 2.6 billion global Smart Cities market.

President of Huawei Middle East, Charles Yang has claimed that as we approach 2020, the growth of 5G-based enhanced mobile broadband networking applications will skyrocket. In a compelling interview, Yang offers his insights into why he believes the rise of 5G is causing such a seismic shift globally in the ICT industry, addresses the challenges in deploying the next-generation technology - and predicts what impact 5G will have in the Middle East.

Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, announced the launch of the Middle East's first Multitenant Internet of Things (IoT) Hosting Center in order to incubate the local digital ecosystem and accelerate IoT business development in the region.

EOH International and wasl Asset Management Group are leading UAE digital innovation with real-time visitor experiences, Internet of Things-connected fleets, and blockchain-backed leases, industry experts announced today.

IBM has formally announced the launch of its Innovation and Industry Client Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Inaugurated under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Government, the center aims to fast track the digital transformation of both public and private organizations through advanced technologies in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, blockchain, security, analytics, Internet of Things and quantum computing.

Internet of Things investment will support Lebanon's IT market growing to LBP 820 billion by 2019, and will transform daily lives and businesses, industry experts announced during the recent SmartEx Lebanon exhibition.

Etisalat Digital announced the launch of the IoT (Internet of Things) gateway solution to connect customers' remote organizational assets securely to the enterprise network, giving them flexibility and efficiency in managing their connected assets.

Etisalat has lined up workshops, lectures, educational activities, and competitions alongside the launch of its innovative products to instill a spirit of creativity and research to mark the UAE Innovation Month.