News
MENADNA And Nebula Genomics Enter New Partnership
The venture will offer Whole Genome Sequencing in Jordan, Oman, and Iraq, with Saudi Arabia to follow.
MENADNA, a leading bioinformatics and genetic testing startup focused in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has announced a new commercial partnership with Nebula Genomics, a trailblazer in personalized genome sequencing. The high-level collaboration sees MENADNA added as an exclusive partner of Nebula Genomics in Jordan, Oman, and Iraq, with plans already in place for further expansion into Saudi Arabia in the near future.
The partnership will cover an extra 56 million people across the region, and by leveraging the advanced sequencing technologies of Nebula Genomics, MENADNA hopes to expand and upgrade its proprietary bioinformatics platform for what has historically been an underserved region.
The MENA represents a very diverse genetic landscape but is currently underrepresented in global genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which predominantly feature European ancestries. The collaboration aims to contribute valuable data from the region’s population, enriching global genetic databases and advancing local research.
Dr. Bassam El Fahmawi, CEO of MENADNA, shared his vision and enthusiasm for the partnership: “Our collaboration with Nebula Genomics is a game-changer for genomic testing in Jordan, Oman, and Iraq. By combining Nebula’s state-of-the-art sequencing technology with our specialized bioinformatics pipeline, we can provide more accurate, region-specific genomic insights. This is crucial, as less than 2% of genomic data available today comes from the region despite its rich genetic diversity. Our joint efforts will not only enhance patient care but also significantly contribute to the global understanding of genetic variations and their impact on health”.
Also Read: Dubai Police Reveal New 10-Minute Drug Testing Device
Jason Karkus, President of Nebula Genomics, also commented: “Nebula Genomics, a global pioneer in Whole Genome Sequencing, is pleased to partner with MENADNA, bringing our cutting edge, low-cost technology to Jordan, Oman, and Iraq. This is an exciting partnership, which we believe will lead to a substantial business relationship between our companies. Our combined expertise in Whole Genome Sequencing, proprietary reporting, bioinformatics, and large-scale distribution in the region, make us a perfect match for this strategic partnership”.
News
Google Releases Veo 2 AI Video Tool To MENA Users
The state-of-the-art video generation model is now available in Gemini, offering realistic AI-generated videos with better physics, motion, and detail.
Starting today, users of Gemini Advanced in the MENA region — and globally — can tap into Veo 2, Google’s next-generation video model.
Originally unveiled in 2024, Veo 2 has now been fully integrated into Gemini, supporting multiple languages including Arabic and English. The rollout now brings Google’s most advanced video AI directly into the hands of everyday users.
Veo 2 builds on the foundations of its predecessor with a more sophisticated understanding of the physical world. It’s designed to produce high-fidelity video content with cinematic detail, realistic motion, and greater visual consistency across a wide range of subjects and styles. Whether recreating natural landscapes, human interactions, or stylized environments, the model is capable of interpreting and translating written prompts into eight-second 720p videos that feel almost handcrafted.
Users can generate content directly through the Gemini platform — either via the web or mobile apps. The experience is pretty straightforward: users enter a text-based prompt, and Veo 2 returns a video in 16:9 landscape format, delivered as an MP4 file. These aren’t just generic clips — they can reflect creative, abstract, or highly specific scenarios, making the tool especially useful for content creators, marketers, or anyone experimenting with visual storytelling.
Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide
To ensure transparency, each video is embedded with SynthID — a digital watermark developed by Google’s DeepMind. The watermark is invisible to the human eye but persists across editing, compression, and sharing. It identifies the video as AI-generated, addressing concerns around misinformation and media authenticity.
While Veo 2 is still in its early phases of public rollout, the technology is part of a broader push by Google to democratize advanced AI tools. With text-to-image, code generation, and now video creation integrated into Gemini, Google is positioning the platform as a full-spectrum creative assistant.
Access to Veo 2 starts today and will continue expanding in the coming weeks. Interested users can try it out at gemini.google.com or through the Gemini app on Android and iOS.
Google Releases Veo 2 AI Video Tool To MENA Users
PayPal & TerraPay Join Forces For Cross-Border MENA Payments
Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
Dubai Integrates LiDAR & Digital Twins For Road Management
