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Abu Dhabi Hospital To Use Cutting-Edge Robot For Complex Surgeries
The device, named da Vinci Xi, will help surgeons perform difficult minimally invasive procedures with unparalleled precision.
An Abu Dhabi-based healthcare facility has introduced a state-of-the-art robot named da Vinci Xi. The high-tech device will enable Burjeel Medical City’s doctors to carry out complex, minimally invasive surgeries with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.
Named after Renaissance figure Leonardo da Vinci, the robotic surgical system offers numerous advantages over its human counterparts, including increased precision and enhanced visualization, leading to shorter patient recovery times.
Dr. Jafaru Abu, director of robotic surgery at the hospital, noted the advantages: “With this robotic technology, we can perform complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures with extreme dexterity [enabling] our highly skilled surgeons to provide even better patient clinical outcomes [while] reducing trauma and recovery times”.
Equipped with immersive 3D high-definition visualization technology, da Vinci Xi gives surgeons a highly detailed, magnified view of the surgical area. This enhanced clarity allows for high precision during procedures, potentially reducing complications and ensuring optimal outcomes.
At its core, da Vinci Xi uses robotic hands that mimic the motion of the surgeon controlling them from its console. The robot arms give enhanced agility and delicacy and allow for maneuvers that would be impossible using traditional “straight-stick” laparoscopic surgical instruments.
“Introducing the da Vinci Xi robotic system underscores our commitment to constantly evolving and adopting the latest medical technologies. With the integration of this new technology, we aim to reinforce our position as a leading healthcare institution at the forefront of medical innovation, providing patients with access to world-class, minimally invasive surgical procedures,” explained John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings.
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With the introduction of the new da Vinci robotic system, Burjeel Medical City can offer patients a wide range of minimally invasive surgeries, covering urology, gynecology, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, thoracic, bariatric, hepatobiliary, and more.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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