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Abu Dhabi AI Company Aims To Create Global Tech Hub

Backed by the Advanced Technology Research Council, AI71 seeks to democratize access to AI using the UAE’s Falcon large language model.

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abu dhabi ai company aims to create global tech hub
Emirates News Agency

Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council has launched a new artificial intelligence company known as AI71 in a bid to become a global hub for the emerging technology.

The new entity will democratize access to AI and is built using the Falcon large language model developed by the research council’s Technology Innovation Institute.

abu dhabi ai71 launch event

AI71 will soon be taken to market by commercialization arm VentureOne and was formally launched by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

abu dhabi ai71 launch event promo

The company is designed to cater to medical, legal, education, and government fields, with “many others” to come, according to Faisal Al Bannai, secretary general of the council:

“By creating AI71, [the company] becomes a major part of driving AI use across multiple sectors. So, it increases our efficiency and ability to be much more productive and competitive globally. We will not be shy in our objectives. We will not be humble in our goals. We are determined to be a key player in shaping where AI is going globally. AI71 will play a pivotal role in this journey”.

Also Read: How (And Why) To Start A Tech Business In Dubai

AI71 has already signed an agreement with the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Omar Al Olama, and local start-up ecosystem Hub71. Meanwhile, the company will join forces with major global corporations, including Amazon Web Services, PwC, World Wide Technology, and CNTXT.

Generative AI holds enormous economic potential. As investments in the sector continue to grow, Gulf countries are expected to generate $23.5 billion by 2030. The UAE has already made great strides in AI after recently unveiling the world’s largest Arabic natural language model.

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Paymob Extends Series B Funding To $72M Amid Continued Growth

The financial services provider has secured an extra $22 million after strong performance in its core market of Egypt.

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paymob extends series b funding to $72 million amid continued growth

Leading financial services provider Paymob has secured an additional $22 million in a funding extension, bringing its Series B total to $72 million.

The funding was spearheaded by EBRD Venture Capital, with support from Endeavor Catalyst. Existing backers such as PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude, and Helios Digital Ventures also participated, reaffirming their confidence in Paymob’s business model and potential in the regional fintech industry.

This extension comes on the back of Paymob’s strong performance in its core market of Egypt, where it has experienced 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B in Q2 2022. With the Series B extension and continued profitability in Egypt, Paymob is well-positioned to further its expansion strategy across the MENA region.

Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, commented: “We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there. This funding will help Paymob fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC roll-out. We remain committed to creating cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact”.

Also Read: Zoho Expands Qatar Operations & Releases New Survey Data

The expansion into GCC markets has been driven by Paymob’s initial Series B funding of $50 million, raised in 2022 and led by Kora Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Clay Point. The investment fueled Paymob’s growth, allowing it to launch its mobile app in 2023 and grow its merchant base by 3.5 times, now serving nearly 350,000 merchants across MENA.

Paymob has also expanded its payment acceptance suite to offer 50 payment methods through its gateway, POS terminals, and the Paymob app, providing the region’s most comprehensive fintech solution. The company recently introduced embedded checkout services for Shopify and WooCommerce, further demonstrating its commitment to empowering small and medium businesses across the region.

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