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Google Adds Arabic AI Music Creation For Ramadan

Lyria 3 brings 30-second Arabic tracks and AI greeting cards to Gemini as Google targets seasonal digital engagement.

Published

6 months ago

February 19, 2026

google adds arabic ai music creation for ramadan

Google has released Lyria 3, its latest generative music model from DeepMind, in Arabic beta worldwide through Gemini, with mobile access rolling out over the next few days.

The update lets users create 30-second tracks by typing a simple prompt. A request such as “an upbeat, modern Arabic fusion track for Ramadan” produces a short composition within seconds, with optional lyrics or as an instrumental.

The Ramadan timing is deliberate, as Google is positioning Gemini as a tool for personalized audio greetings and quick-share content in Arabic. Alongside music, users can generate customized Ramadan greeting cards using NanoBanana, Gemini’s image generation and editing model, via a dedicated microsite available in English and Arabic.

Lyria 3 works in three ways. Users can generate tracks from text prompts describing a mood or theme. They can upload photos or videos and have Gemini compose lyrics and music to match the visuals. Each track comes with auto-generated cover art from NanoBanana and can be downloaded or shared by link.

Google is clear about the intent. “The goal of these tracks isn’t to create a musical masterpiece, but rather to give you a unique way to express yourself,” the company said.

All audio generated in the Gemini app is embedded with SynthID, Google’s watermarking technology for identifying AI-created content. Users can also upload a file and ask Gemini whether it was generated using Google AI, with the system checking for SynthID and applying its own detection methods.

Also Read: RØDE Adds Direct iPhone Pairing To Wireless GO And Pro Mics

The model is designed for original output, not imitation. If a prompt names a specific artist, Gemini treats it as general stylistic inspiration and applies filters to avoid reproducing existing material.

For Google, the Arabic rollout signals a continued push to localize generative AI for regional audiences. As MENA markets accelerate digital adoption under programs such as Vision 2030, culturally tuned AI features are becoming a practical entry point for mass use.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence Gemini Google

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Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

4 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.