The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority joined forces with US company Dell to build advanced capabilities in emerging technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The move will drive the joint development of engineering and technology projects in the kingdom, SDAIA said on Friday, a day after the agreement was signed at Gitex Technology Week in Dubai.
They will develop AI, cloud computing, data analytics and enterprise storage solutions.
“We are excited about the growth and opportunities created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and we are constantly striving to deliver products and services that are developed around advanced emerging technologies,” said Dr Esam Al-Wagait, director of Saudi Arabia’s National Information Centre.
“We are delighted to partner with Dell Technologies on our ongoing digital journey.”
Mr Al-Wagait signed the pact on behalf of SDAIA.
The kingdom intends to attract foreign and local investment worth $20 billion in the fields of data and AI in the next 10 years.
It launched its National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in October.
AI is expected to contribute up to 12.4 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product – about $135bn – by 2030, according to a report by consultancy PwC.
Mohammed Amin, Dell's senior vice president for the Middle East, said the US company looked forward to strengthening capacity-building efforts in AI and big data in a way that contributes to the development of the country's knowledge economy.
“It is a pleasure to collaborate with SDAIA as they look to enhance their role as the leading technology enabler of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation vision,” he said.
The agreement will also enable the exchange of best practice and expertise to develop integrated projects that address the technology needs of public sector entities, SDAIA said.
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Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
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Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
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Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
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Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
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Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
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