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Ooredoo And Qatar Airways Partner To Build National AI Hub

The two Qatari giants have signed an MoU to establish a national hub for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, driving digital transformation and talent development.

Published

11 months ago

September 8, 2025

Nour Nasir

ooredoo and qatar airways partner to build national ai hub

Ooredoo and Qatar Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a national hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The agreement aims to accelerate Qatar’s digital transformation, positioning the country as a regional leader in advanced technology and innovation.

The announcement builds on a 15-year collaboration between the two organizations and represents a major step in Qatar’s long-term strategy for technological leadership and economic diversification. The initiative will deliver advanced infrastructure, digital tools, and data security frameworks that align with national goals for sustainable development.

A core element of the partnership is investment in people. Ooredoo and Qatar Airways will introduce specialized training and upskilling programs in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, equipping the next generation of professionals with the skills needed to drive innovation across industries.

ooredoo qatar airways national ai hub partnership

To support the effort, Ooredoo activated its investment in the NVIDIA GPU platform in July 2025, bringing high-performance computing power to Qatar. This infrastructure will enable businesses, government agencies, and developers to harness large-scale AI processing for advanced solutions.

Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo, stated: “We are committed to unleashing AI’s transformative power to enhance human potential and redefine what’s achievable. This strategic alliance with Qatar Airways merges our respective expertise to position Qatar as a global leader in AI advancement and digital innovation”.

Also Read: TerraPay And OMT Launch Cross-Border Payments For Lebanon

Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer echoed this commitment: “Leveraging technology to drive innovation has always been central to Qatar Airways’ digital strategy. This partnership allows us to expand our role as a national AI champion and supports Qatar’s ambition to integrate AI across sectors. Together, we are setting new benchmarks for excellence across industries”.

By combining Ooredoo’s AI infrastructure with Qatar Airways’ operational experience in deploying advanced technologies, the partnership will lead to smarter, connected solutions in both telecommunications and aviation. More broadly, it reinforces Qatar’s ambition to create a knowledge-based economy and strengthen its influence as a regional hub for technology and digital innovation.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence Ooredoo Qatar Qatar Airways

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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

5 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.