News
Omantel Partners With Shaffra To Boost AI And Metaverse Tech
The strategic move will accelerate the country’s digital transformation and transform the local ICT infrastructure.
In an agreement formalized at Riyadh’s LEAP 2025 Conference, Omantel has teamed up with Shaffra Technology Labs in a strategic move to bring advanced AI and metaverse solutions to Oman. The technology from Singapore-based Shaffra will be integrated into Omantel’s cloud services and made available to both government institutions and private businesses.
Eng. Aladdin Bait Fadhel, Omantel’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to driving digital transformation in Oman. “At Omantel, our vision is to solidify our leadership role as a key enabler of Oman’s digital transformation and to be the premier provider of innovative technology solutions in the region. Our collaboration with Shaffra will significantly contribute to developing cutting-edge technology solutions, particularly in artificial intelligence, for our customers”.
Shaffra’s CEO, Al Harith Al Atawi, echoed the enthusiasm, highlighting how the partnership will introduce advanced AI and metaverse solutions to the Omani market, and noting a key initiative, the AI employee project, that has already gained traction across various government and private entities in multiple countries. “We aim to deliver a unique experience for Omantel customers through this partnership and innovative projects that enhance productivity and reduce costs,” said Al Atawi.
Also Read: Qareeb Partners With Pantheon For GCC Bitcoin Mining Expansion
The Shaffra partnership aligns with Omantel’s ongoing efforts to attract cutting-edge global technologies and strengthen Oman’s ICT infrastructure in line with the country’s 2040 strategy. By working with leading international tech firms, Omantel is focused on accelerating Oman’s digital transformation, ensuring countrywide access to top-tier digital solutions.
Omantel has long been a key player in Oman’s telecommunications landscape, leveraging its expertise in digital technology and communications to deliver innovative, cross-sector solutions such as AI, cloud computing, smart technologies, and cybersecurity.
News
Nano Banana 2 Arrives In MENA For Google Gemini Users
Google brings its latest image model to Gemini and Search, adding 4K output and tighter text control for regional users.
Google has opened access to Nano Banana 2 across the Middle East and North Africa, pushing its newest image model into everyday tools rather than keeping it inside the exclusive (and expensive) Pro tier.
The rollout spans the Google Gemini desktop and mobile apps, and extends to Google Search through Lens and AI Mode. Developers can also test it in preview via AI Studio and the Gemini API.
Nano Banana 2 runs on Gemini Flash, Google’s fast inference layer. The focus is speed, but also control. Users can export visuals from 512px up to 4K, adjusting aspect ratios for everything from vertical social posts to widescreen displays.
The model maintains character likeness across up to five figures and preserves fidelity for as many as 14 objects within a single workflow. This enables visual continuity across scenes, iterations, or edits — supporting projects like short films, storyboards, and multi-scene narratives. Text rendering has also been improved, delivering legible typography in mockups and greeting cards, with built-in translation and localization directly within images.
Also Read: RØDE Adds Direct iPhone Pairing To Wireless GO And Pro Mics
Under the hood, the system taps Gemini’s broader knowledge base and pulls in real-time information and imagery from web search to render specific subjects more accurately. Lighting and fine detail have been upgraded, without slowing output.
By embedding the model inside Gemini and Search, Google is normalizing advanced image generation for a mass audience. In MENA, where startups and marketing teams are leaning heavily on AI to scale content across languages and borders, that shift lands at a practical moment.
The move also folds creative tooling deeper into search itself, so that image generation is no longer a separate workflow. It now sits right next to the query box.
Nano Banana 2 Arrives In MENA For Google Gemini Users
GluCare Rebrands To Metabolic, Dropping Diabetes-Only Identity
Apple’s March 4 Event Rumored To Put New Macs In Play
Google Adds Arabic AI Music Creation For Ramadan
