International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has strengthened its Abu Dhabi presence with the relocation of two senior partners and the appointment of a Construction & Engineering specialist, signalling a long-term commitment to supporting the emirate’s strategic priorities in construction, transport, and energy.

Andrew Carter, a Partner in the firm’s Commercial practice with a focus on transport and mobility, relocated to Abu Dhabi in December, while Matthew Williams, Partner and Co-head of Power, Infrastructure Projects & Energy, joined from the UK in early January. The firm has also welcomed Richard Davies as Partner, Construction & Engineering, who will be based in Abu Dhabi.

Carter brings extensive experience advising both public and private sector clients on complex transport, logistics, and mobility projects, contributing to the development of integrated and future-ready transport networks. Recognised in Legal 500 and Best Lawyers International for his work in the transport sector, he said, “The UAE is advancing ambitious transport and mobility initiatives, including the upcoming launch of Etihad Rail passenger services and the large-scale roll-out of autonomous vehicles. Being based here allows us to work more closely with clients shaping the future of infrastructure and movement across the UAE and the wider region.”

Williams adds decades of experience spanning the full lifecycle of energy projects and sector-specific M&A, including conventional power, renewables, and energy transition mandates. He serves as the client relationship partner for several major energy market participants across Europe and the Middle East and has been recognised in the Legal 500 power sector ‘Hall of Fame’ for six consecutive years. Reflecting on his relocation, Williams said, “Energy transition and infrastructure investment are central to Abu Dhabi’s future. Relocating enables us to provide more immediate, strategic support on complex projects and transactions transforming the region’s energy landscape.”

Richard Davies, who joins from another international Abu Dhabi firm, has more than 15 years’ experience advising on construction and engineering projects across the UAE. His work spans rail, air mobility, airports, urban development, district cooling, and desalination, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters. “Abu Dhabi continues to see significant investment across complex infrastructure and development projects. Joining Addleshaw Goddard’s Abu Dhabi office allows me to work closely with clients on the ground, supporting the delivery of major projects across construction and engineering sectors that are critical to the emirate’s long-term growth,” he said.

These moves build on Addleshaw Goddard’s expansion in Abu Dhabi, including the opening of its office in Abu Dhabi Global Market in June 2025, and demonstrate the firm’s strategy to embed senior, sector-led expertise aligned with the emirate’s economic diversification and sustainability ambitions. Robin Hickman, Head of Middle East at the firm, said, “Andrew’s and Matthew’s relocations, along with Richard’s hire, underscore our long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi. By embedding senior sector specialists on the ground, we are well positioned to support clients delivering some of the capital’s most strategically important transport and energy projects and transactions.”

Caterpillar Inc. has launched Cat AI Assistant, an AI-powered solution that transforms how customers interact with Caterpillar equipment and digital applications

The tool makes it easier to buy, maintain, manage, and operate machinery anywhere.

This launch marks a major advance in Industrial AI, combining data, AI, and heavy equipment to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety.

Built on over a century of Caterpillar innovation, Cat AI Assistant brings together the company’s digital applications and vast high-quality data into one simple conversational experience. Acting as a proactive partner, it leverages the full Caterpillar knowledge base to provide personalised insights and enable faster, smarter decisions.

“Caterpillar’s strong digital foundation, including our Helios data platform that manages over 16 petabytes of data, is helping us move fast and deploy new AI capabilities to help our customers succeed,” said Ogi Redzic, Caterpillar chief digital officer.

“Cat AI Assistant is a major leap forward in how Caterpillar supports customer success through best-in-class digital solutions, whether they’re working from corporate headquarters or at a remote jobsite.”

For fleet managers and business owners

Cat AI Assistant acts as an extra set of eyes on equipment, evolving alongside operations. It continually refines insights and recommendations to help turn unplanned incidents into planned maintenance and keep pace with growing businesses.

For technicians

Technicians can rely on Cat AI Assistant to quickly access the right section from thousands of instruction manuals using simple voice commands without interrupting their work. It offers step-by-step guidance, highlights common issues, and suggests any additional parts needed, saving both time and resources.

For machine operators

Operators benefit from a seamless connection throughout their workday from machine startup to shift handoff. Acting as an in-cab coach, Cat AI Assistant provides actionable insights to help operators work smarter and safer without switching screens or returning to the yard. Powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform, it performs speech recognition and advanced AI tasks at the edge and can even assist with directing the machine.

With industries facing talent shortages and increasingly complex jobsites, Cat AI Assistant supports less experienced operators in improving productivity while enabling Cat dealers to provide more tailored insights. The goal is to keep Caterpillar customers one step ahead.

Caterpillar plans to launch the off-board Cat AI Assistant in the first quarter of this year while in-cab applications are in final validation. These in-cab tools will help operators work more safely and efficiently. The full capabilities of Cat AI Assistant will be showcased on the main stage at CES 2026.

As the Middle East accelerates the adoption of smart buildings and next-generation construction technologies, the need for clear regulatory frameworks and internationally aligned standards is becoming increasingly critical.

The International Code Council (ICC) will contribute to two technical symposiums at Intersec 2026, taking place from 12-14 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre. ICC’s participation underscores its commitment to supporting the safe, scalable and compliant evolution of the built environment across the region.

Through its involvement, ICC will engage in policy-driven dialogue and technical knowledge exchange, reflecting its integrated approach to enabling innovation while safeguarding safety, performance and resilience. Mohamed Amer, Managing Director, ICC MENA, will represent the organisation at both the Smart Building Summit 2026 and FCIA–NFCA PFPCON ’26, which are being held alongside Intersec 2026.

At the Smart Building Summit 2026, ICC will take part in the panel discussion titled “Navigating the Global Regulatory Landscape: Standards, Policies & Incentives for Smart Buildings.” The session will explore how regulatory frameworks, certification schemes and government incentives are influencing smart building adoption across the region. ICC’s contribution will focus on the role of globally recognised codes and standards in aligning international best practice with local regulatory requirements, while supporting performance assurance and long-term operational efficiency within smart building ecosystems.

ICC will also deliver a technical presentation at FCIA–NFCA PFPCON ’26, a specialist symposium held during Intersec 2026 in Dubai. Entitled “Building the Future: Enabling Safe Adoption of 3D Printing & Modern Methods of Construction,” the presentation will examine regulatory, safety and compliance considerations linked to emerging construction technologies. It will further highlight how performance-based codes and standards can support responsible innovation while maintaining structural integrity, fire safety and quality assurance.

By linking smart building regulation with advanced construction practices, ICC continues to advocate a coordinated, standards-led approach to delivering safer, more resilient and future-ready built environments across the Middle East.

Flowciti Group has announced its launch as a holding company focused on smart city solutions, bringing together technology, operational delivery and user experience within a fully integrated ecosystem. The group aims to support urban transformation and the development of smarter, more connected cities across the region.

Operating across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, Flowciti is targeting a qualitative shift in how people interact with urban environments. Through integrated, end-to-end solutions, the group seeks to create long-term value for the real estate sector, businesses and public institutions.

Flowciti Group brings together four specialised companies under a single ecosystem. ParkPoint provides an integrated platform for parking management and urban mobility. Rokket delivers advanced system integration and service automation solutions for smart cities, real estate and infrastructure. YooPlatform offers a modular suite of digital tools covering access management, payments, entitlements and user experience, while Viritti provides complementary services that support and extend the wider ecosystem.

Working collectively, the companies deliver holistic urban solutions that combine technology, operations and service delivery, enabling scalable and measurable impact at city level. Through this model, Flowciti offers advanced systems, digital platforms and managed services spanning parking, mobility, access management and urban experiences, contributing to service digitalisation and improved user engagement across urban environments.

Founder and chief executive officer Omar Al Khan said the launch of Flowciti Group is driven by a clear vision to create smarter, more connected cities through the seamless integration of technology, operational excellence and user experience.

“Through our companies, we deliver integrated solutions that redefine urban experiences, accelerate service digitalisation and generate tangible value for communities, businesses and institutions. Our objective is to support the development of future-ready cities across the region,” Al Khan said.

As the group’s holding and management entity, Flowciti provides strategic direction, governance and centralised functions such as operational planning and shared infrastructure. Each subsidiary retains operational independence, ensuring alignment, integration and synergy across the group’s activities.

The launch reflects a growing regional shift towards comprehensive urban solutions that move beyond fragmented technology offerings. By integrating operations, technology and user experience within a single ecosystem, Flowciti aims to enhance operational efficiency, sustainability and user experience across residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use developments.