News

Mastercard & Women Choice Launch Social Innovation Incubator

The new partnership will create employment opportunities for 1 million female entrepreneurs and help to drive economic growth across the MENA region.

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2023

Nour Nasir

Mastercard

Women Choice, an international organization dedicated to female personal and professional development, has partnered with Mastercard to launch a new program called the “Social Innovation Incubator (SII) For Women’s Employment”. The scheme will help to create employment opportunities for women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) while also boosting economic growth and development in the region.

Over the next five years, the Women Choice and Mastercard partnership will provide comprehensive support and employment opportunities for MENA women through a program of mentorship that will encompass business planning, HR, and recruitment.

“We are excited to launch this program and to have the support of a global organization like Mastercard, which is genuinely committed to bringing change and improving the situation of women in the workplace,” says Nezha Alaoui, Founder & CEO of Women Choice.

Also Read: UAE Digital Technology Spending To Hit $20 Billion By 2026

Nezha Alaoui will also form part of the jury on the second edition of Mastercard’s Women SME Leaders Awards. The card provider has been at the forefront of several equitable and inclusivity-based projects in recent years. The new Woman Choice collaboration will provide substantial employment support for MENA women and directly place at least 1,000 female entrepreneurs in their respective enterprises.

The incubator program will first launch in the UAE and Morocco, with the whole MENA region eventually benefitting from the business initiatives and training. SII for Women Employment also aligns well with Mastercard’s commitment to add 25 million women entrepreneurs to the global digital economy by 2025 as part of a broader push towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

News

“AI Seal” Certification Now Required For Dubai Gov Partnerships

The new mandatory certification is designed to build trust in AI companies and create a reliable network of providers for government and public collaboration.

Published

21 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Nour Nasir

ai seal certification now required for dubai gov partnerships

Dubai Media Office

Dubai has introduced the Dubai AI Seal, a certification designed to establish trust in artificial intelligence (AI) companies and solutions. This initiative, directed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, aims to create a reliable network of AI providers which government entities and businesses can collaborate confidently.

Companies must now obtain the AI Seal to qualify for UAE or Dubai government contracts. The Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), which developed the certification, sees it as a competitive edge for companies looking to participate in key national projects. Once certified, businesses will be permitted to showcase the seal across their websites and marketing materials, signaling their credibility and dependability.

The evaluation process will consider six main criteria: the company’s services and operations, the number of employees specializing in AI, ongoing and future projects, as well as existing partnerships with public and private sector entities.

dubai ai seal certification

Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, which oversees the DCAI, commented on the initiative’s potential: “This initiative will help create powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors, locally, regionally, and globally. It will help drive new economic opportunities by leveraging AI to serve better the economy, society, and the future we aspire to”.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

The Dubai AI Seal’s goals include providing a clear framework for verifying AI providers, fostering business opportunities for AI companies, and acknowledging the industry’s strategic importance to Dubai’s economy. The initiative emphasizes AI’s role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening collaboration between government bodies and technology firms.

All technology companies operating in Dubai and offering AI-related services or products are eligible to apply for the certification at no cost through the official website.