Technology

Dubai-based AI start-up has successfully automated over 90% of customer orders and inquiries for these traditional sectors.

The integration of artificial intelligence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is rapidly moving beyond digital-first sectors and into the heavy, operational world of physical industries.

Historically, sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, construction, and industrial supply chains have relied on deeply traditional, manual processes to manage client relations. However, a seismic shift is underway. The broader narrative of digital transformation in the region has reached a pivotal juncture, highlighted by the recent announcement that a pioneering Dubai-based AI start-up has successfully automated over 90% of customer orders and inquiries for these traditional sectors.

This milestone represents a fundamental reimagining of how physical industries operate in a modern, hyper-connected economy. By prioritising intelligent automation, businesses in the MENA region are setting a new standard for operational resilience.

The Evolution of the MENA Tech Ecosystem

The MENA region, with Dubai at its epicentre, has spent the last decade cultivating an environment designed to foster deep tech innovation. Through government-backed initiatives, vast technology parks, and a regulatory landscape that encourages experimentation, the Emirate has positioned itself as a global laboratory for artificial intelligence.

Whilst early AI adoption predominantly focused on consumer-facing e-commerce and financial technology, the current wave of innovation is penetrating the foundational sectors of the economy. Physical industries—dealing with the production, movement, and storage of tangible goods—have often been the slowest to adopt customer-facing automation. This reluctance stems from the complexity of their supply chains and the bespoke nature of their client inquiries. By focusing on these historically underserved sectors, Dubai proves its technological ambitions extend far beyond superficial digital applications.

Overcoming Challenges in Physical Industries

For decades, organisations operating within physical industries have faced significant bottlenecks in their customer service and order processing departments.

• Complex Order Structures: Unlike retail purchases, industrial orders involve complex specifications, variable pricing, and intricate delivery logistics.
• Manual Processing: Customer inquiries require human intervention to cross-reference inventory, manufacturing timelines, and shipping availability, leading to heavy administrative burdens.
• Delayed Response Times: The reliance on manual coordination across disparate departments results in delayed responses, directly impacting client satisfaction and slowing the supply chain.

The introduction of domain-expert AI systems directly addresses these systemic inefficiencies. By deploying intelligent agents capable of understanding the nuances of industrial orders, companies can now bypass the traditional silos that have long hindered their growth.

The 90% Automation Threshold
The recent breakthrough by a Dubai-based start-up—achieving an automation rate of over 90% for customer orders and inquiries—serves as a watershed moment for the region. Reaching this threshold indicates that AI systems are no longer functioning merely as rudimentary chatbots. Instead, they are operating as comprehensive, autonomous agents capable of managing the vast majority of client interactions from inception to resolution.

Achieving a 90% automation rate requires an AI infrastructure that can intelligently parse complex data, autonomously verify inventory, process technical industrial inquiries, and seamlessly integrate with existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. For physical industries in the MENA region, this translates to unprecedented scalability. Human workforces are freed from the burden of repetitive, manual order entry and can instead be reallocated to higher-value tasks such as strategic relationship management and complex problem-solving.

Shaping the Future of Industrial Operations

As this technology matures, the implications for the broader MENA economy are profound. The ability to automate routine inquiries allows physical industries to operate with the agility typically associated with software companies. Furthermore, it significantly optimises labour allocation. Instead of relying on expansive administrative teams to manually input data, companies can streamline their operational expenditures. This transition is essential for the region's broader economic diversification goals, ensuring foundational industries remain globally competitive.

This automation initiative highlights a critical evolution in the technological landscape. It demonstrates that the future of artificial intelligence in the MENA region lies not just in the digital realm, but in its ability to revolutionise the physical world. By automating the crucial intersection between industrial operations and customer service, Dubai is setting a new global standard for operational excellence.

The AIJRF has officially launched the advanced and updated edition of its flagship educational initiative.

The AIJRF has officially launched the advanced and updated edition of its flagship educational initiative.

The newly unveiled curriculum, titled the Specialised Programme: Artificial Intelligence Journalism, Agentic AI & Content Creation (AIJD 2.0), represents a critical milestone in harmonising autonomous systems with modern media production.

This pioneering programme is the direct evolution of the Professional Diploma in Artificial Intelligence Journalism and Media of the Metaverse (AIJD). When originally introduced by the AIJRF in 2021, the AIJD made history as the first Arab and international professional diploma exclusively dedicated to Artificial Intelligence Journalism. The launch of AIJD 2.0 reflects the organisation's unwavering commitment to continuously updating its applied programmes. It serves as a direct response to the rapid transformation of the content creation industry and the growing integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies into modern newsrooms.

A central driver behind this comprehensive redesign is the urgent need to meet emerging professional requirements and labour-market demands projected through the year 2030. The media industry is no longer solely reliant on basic automation; it is rapidly adopting Agentic AI, AI agents, multimodal models, and intelligent automation. To ensure media professionals are adequately prepared for this shifting paradigm, AIJD 2.0 pivots heavily toward these advanced systems, ensuring that participants are not merely observers of this technological wave, but highly skilled practitioners.

To achieve this ambitious educational goal, the AIJRF has implemented a highly rigorous training methodology. The programme fundamentally departs from purely academic models by utilising a framework based on 20 per cent theoretical knowledge paired with 80 per cent practical application. This intensive focus on applied learning ensures that students spend the vast majority of their time working directly with the tools of Agentic AI, rather than simply studying their underlying concepts in the abstract.

Spanning a comprehensive 40 applied training hours, the Specialised Programme is meticulously structured across seven distinct modules. Within this extensive framework, participants will receive hands-on, practical training on an impressive roster of more than 40 different technological applications. These encompass traditional artificial intelligence frameworks, generative AI models, and cutting-edge Agentic AI tools. By interacting with such a diverse ecosystem, participants learn to design and produce sophisticated content, whilst mastering the intricacies of operating multifaceted digital platforms.

A cornerstone of the AIJD 2.0 curriculum is its commitment to project-based learning. The programme requires the completion of seven distinct applied projects, with one specialised assignment directly linked to each of the seven modules. Furthermore, participants must complete an integrated final project under specialist supervision, which is ultimately presented to the diploma's assessment committee. This rigorous structure empowers participants to move beyond theoretical knowledge, enabling them to develop practical systems for content production, digital platform management, media monitoring, and operational automation.

Crucially, while the programme is heavily anchored in future technologies, it maintains a strong human-centric philosophy. The AIJRF ensures that the curriculum emphasises the development of intelligent media organisations using traditional and Agentic AI without sacrificing the human element. The programme is distinctly designed to preserve the leading, irreplaceable role of human professionals in strategic decision-making, nuanced creativity, editorial supervision, and ethical governance.

The launch of AIJD 2.0 marks a transformative moment for media professionals globally. By bridging the gap between advanced Agentic AI systems and practical content creation, the AIJRF is cultivating a new generation of digital architects. These talented individuals will not only navigate the complexities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution but will actively define the future standards of intelligent, ethically governed journalism.

stc Bahrain has recently showcased its portfolio of advanced technology solutions to the Bahrain Space Agency.

stc Bahrain has recently showcased its portfolio of advanced technology solutions to the Bahrain Space Agency.

This presentation marks a crucial step in aligning the Kingdom’s leading digital enabler with the ambitious mandate of its national space sector.

For years, stc Bahrain has been at the forefront of the Kingdom’s digital transformation, rolling out robust network infrastructure, artificial intelligence integration, and comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks. By presenting these capabilities to the Bahrain Space Agency, the telecommunications provider has demonstrated how terrestrial technology can fundamentally support and enhance space-oriented missions. The showcase highlighted a suite of enterprise solutions designed to address the highly specific, data-intensive requirements of modern space administration.

Aligning with Space Objectives

The Bahrain Space Agency has rapidly evolved since its inception, focusing heavily on building national capacity in satellite tracking, control systems, and Earth observation data analysis. The agency relies on the seamless, secure transmission of high-resolution satellite imagery and complex datasets to support national stakeholders. Consequently, the technology solutions presented by stc Bahrain are acutely relevant. Advanced cloud computing and secure data hosting are essential for managing the sheer volume of information generated by satellite operations. By leveraging a high-speed, low-latency network ecosystem, the space agency can process critical data more efficiently, facilitating faster decision-making for environmental monitoring, urban planning, and national security.

A vital component of the technology showcase undoubtedly revolves around cybersecurity—a shared priority for both organisations. The Bahrain Space Agency has previously championed secure communications through national initiatives and technologically advanced satellite payloads. As space assets become more integrated with the Internet of Things and ground-based infrastructure, the risk of data breaches increases exponentially. Advanced cybersecurity solutions offer the rigorous encryption and network protection required to safeguard sensitive satellite uplinks and downlinks. Ensuring that space-to-ground communications remain tamper-proof is not merely an operational requirement; it is a matter of absolute national sovereignty.

Artificial Intelligence and 5G-Advanced

Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence was a focal point of the technological convergence between the two entities. The space agency has already pioneered the use of AI in space for real-time image analysis. When this capability is paired with advanced AI and machine learning tools on the ground, the potential for innovation multiplies. Automated systems can sift through vast amounts of Earth observation data to identify subtle environmental changes, track marine activity, or optimise agricultural resources without requiring exhaustive human oversight.

The transition towards 5G-Advanced networks also plays a pivotal role in this narrative. As stc Bahrain continues to upgrade its mobile network capabilities, the potential for seamless integration with non-terrestrial networks becomes a tangible reality. By aligning its technological roadmap with the Bahrain Space Agency, the telecommunications leader is positioning itself to support next-generation communication paradigms. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the Kingdom remains at the cutting edge of global connectivity trends.

Empowering Future Talent

Beyond hardware and software, the collaboration between a telecommunications giant and a national space agency signals a broader commitment to human capital development. Both organisations share a core mission to empower the next generation of Bahraini talent. Through knowledge exchange and exposure to world-class technological infrastructure, local engineers and data scientists are provided with the platform necessary to thrive in a highly specialised, future-proof industry.

This decision to showcase advanced solutions to the Bahrain Space Agency is a testament to the Kingdom’s cohesive strategy for future growth. By ensuring that the space sector is backed by resilient, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, Bahrain is not only securing its presence in the cosmos but also driving tangible, sustainable progress back on Earth.

The Sharjah Digital Department (SDD) has launched a comprehensive initiative to fortify the readiness of its governmental workforce.

The unyielding evolution of artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the structure of global public administration.

This transition demands a modern workforce that is not only technologically aware but highly proficient in deploying advanced digital tools. In a decisive move to remain at the vanguard of this technological shift, the Sharjah Digital Department (SDD) has launched a comprehensive initiative to fortify the readiness of its governmental workforce. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical execution, the department ensures its professionals can seamlessly harness artificial intelligence to elevate complex day-to-day operations.

To facilitate this ambitious upskilling endeavour, the Sharjah Digital Department has formed a strategic partnership with the Shams AI Club, situated at Sharjah Media City (Shams). Together, they hosted a highly specialised training workshop titled “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media”. This bespoke educational programme constitutes a critical component of the SDD’s ongoing efforts to cultivate its employees’ technological capabilities. The primary objective is to solidify the workforce's ability to seamlessly apply artificial intelligence frameworks across various operational verticals. By undertaking this focused upskilling, the department aims to drive greater operational efficiency, enhance daily workplace productivity, and significantly elevate the overall structural quality of institutional outputs.

Recognising that distinct sectors naturally require tailored technological solutions, the collaborative programme meticulously targeted professionals whose roles are most acutely impacted by generative technologies. The specialised workshop brought together dedicated employees operating within the media, marketing, and design departments. Throughout the intensive sessions, the central focus remained on developing both foundational knowledge and highly practical, actionable skills. Facilitators guided attendees through the nuances of utilising sophisticated artificial intelligence tools to actively support digital content creation, streamline intensive media production workflows, and optimise digital marketing campaigns. The extensive programme highlighted multiple avenues for applying emerging technologies in ways that directly contribute to heightened institutional performance and the refinement of administrative operations.

The structural success of technological adoption relies heavily on visionary leadership and rigorous strategic alignment. H.E. Eng. Lamia Al Hosan Al Shamsi, the Director of the Sharjah Digital Department, articulated that the successful integration of artificial intelligence is fundamentally dependent on cultivating skilled professionals who can apply these systems effectively within the contemporary workplace environment. She emphasised that continuous investment in the digital capabilities of employees remains a paramount priority. Such investments ensure that disruptive technologies yield stronger organisational performance, improved departmental outputs, and greater systemic efficiency across the government sector.

Underscoring this long-term vision, H.E. added: “SDD is committed to developing a work environment that keeps pace with technological advancements by investing in the digital capabilities of its employees. These capabilities are a key enabler of the Sharjah Digital Transformation Strategy 2026-2028, which focuses on building a more future-ready government, strengthening a culture of innovation, and empowering government professionals to apply emerging technologies in support of sustainable digital transformation.”

To guarantee that attendees walked away with a robust understanding of the technological shift, the workshop covered a meticulously curated syllabus. The curriculum explored the historical evolution and fundamental principles of artificial intelligence before transitioning into highly technical territory. Participants deeply explored the mechanics of advanced language models and the precise deployment of artificial intelligence applications tailored for digital media and marketing. Crucially, the training addressed complex competencies such as intricate prompt engineering and the automated generation of high-resolution images and video content. Furthermore, the sessions dedicated substantial time to exploring the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the future of work.

The initiative’s distinctly practical focus ensured that participating government employees were thoroughly equipped with the actionable knowledge required to integrate advanced digital tools into their daily responsibilities more efficiently. This focused empowerment directly reflects Sharjah’s unwavering commitment to cultivating a digitally proficient government workforce capable of leveraging state-of-the-art innovations to deliver significantly enhanced public services.