News

Altegio Expands To UAE, Driving Digital Transformation For Local Businesses

The company aims to enhance efficiency for local service businesses, aligning with the UAE’s ambitious digital economy plan for 2031.

Published

2 years ago

November 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

altegio expands to uae driving digital transformation for local businesses

Altegio, a digital business ecosystem featuring sophisticated online booking and management solutions, has announced its entry into the UAE market, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and accelerate digital adoption for local enterprises.

This expansion also complements the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to increase the digital economy’s share in the nation’s non-oil GDP to over 20% by 2031. Projections indicate the UAE’s digital sector could contribute an estimated $140 billion by 2032, highlighting the region’s commitment to fostering a modern, tech-driven economy.

altegio team

Altegio’s platform offers over 30 distinct management tools that automate as much as 80% of routine business operations. Its suite of services includes online booking options, a customizable mobile app, robust financial and inventory management, analytics, SMS and email marketing, and a customer loyalty program.

Altegio’s key differentiator lies in its customer-focused approach to business automation. Unlike many platforms that redirect customers to external sites, potentially exposing them to competitor services, Altegio’s booking system is embedded directly within each company’s own ecosystem. This prevents “cannibalization” of clients and enhances customer loyalty by maintaining a consistent, secure experience.

Also Read: Google Launches Largest AI Initiative In The MENA Region

“Our expansion into the UAE is a strategic move that aligns with the country’s ambitious digital transformation agenda,” explained Yri Petrou, Managing Partner at Altegio. “We are excited to support UAE businesses in embracing digital transformation across their operations. By providing a comprehensive suite of business automation tools, we aim to not only accelerate operational efficiency but also redefine how businesses engage with customers”.

Founded in 2022, Altegio operates as a network of independent firms with offices in the UAE, Brazil, Hungary, Cyprus, Armenia, and several other nations. Each regional hub integrates local partners and technologies to enhance Altegio’s core offerings. The company’s impact includes an annual gross merchandise volume (GMV) of $1 billion, a client base of over 10,000 across 89 countries, and more than 4 million bookings each month on its platform.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.