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NVIDIA Teams With Ooredoo For Large-Scale Middle East Launch

The move will give local customers access to cutting-edge generative AI technology and comes amid US curbs on chip exports to the region.

Published

7 months ago

June 24, 2024

Nour Nasir

nvidia teams with ooredoo for large-scale middle east launch

NVIDIA has agreed to a deal with Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo that will see the computing corporation’s artificial intelligence technology deployed at data centers in five Middle Eastern locations.

The expansion plans are NVIDIA’s first large-scale foray into a region where Washington has curbed US chip exports to prevent Chinese firms using Middle Eastern countries to gain back door access to cutting-edge AI technology.

nvidia and ooredoo partnership for middle east launch

Once plans are complete, Ooredoo will be the first company in the region able to offer clients direct access to NVIDIA AI and graphics processing. The telecoms firm currently has data centers in Algeria, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives, though no details have been released on the exact technologies that will be available in individual locations.

In a recent statement, NVIDIA’s senior vice president of telecom, Ronnie Vasishta, explained that the company’s technology will soon allow Ooredoo customers to deploy the latest generative AI applications. Meanwhile, Ooredoo’s CEO, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, explained in a recent interview that “B2B clients, thanks to this agreement, will have access to services that probably their competitors (won’t) for another 18 to 24 months”.

Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East

Neither company has disclosed the value of the deal, which was signed at the TM Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, on June 19. However, we do know that Ooredoo will invest $1 billion to upgrade its regional data center capacity in the near future, while also partitioning its large undersea cable and fiber networks into a separate commercial entity.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence NVIDIA Ooredoo

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“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

16 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.