News

Step Conference Announces Dates For 2023 Dubai Tech Festival

The popular technology expo will take place in Dubai’s Internet City and feature a retro future theme.

Published

3 years ago

December 22, 2022

step conference announces dates for 2023 dubai tech festival

Step Conference has announced dates for the 11th Edition of its popular technology festival for emerging markets, which will take place in Dubai’s Internet City. The expo will take place between 22-23 February 2023 in the largest technology hub in the MENA region, which is currently home to Fortune 500 companies, SMEs, and startups.

This year the conference will focus on exploring a “retro future”, where past styles and trends mix with cutting-edge technology. In a first for the popular event, consumer brands will showcase their products to more than 8,000 consumers at a special Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Hub. As well as catching a glimpse of upcoming tech innovation, participants will also be able to enjoy a packed program of events:

Start Track: Covering the tech startup scene and all things digital.
Fintech Track: A deep dive into banks, payment gateways, and fintech.
Future Track: Exploring futuristic transport and autonomous technology.
Digital Track: Bringing together brand managers and digital influencers.
Wellness Track: Covering topics and trends on wellbeing and fitness technology.
Earth Track: Exploring greentech, sustainability, and environmental impact.

“I’m delighted to announce the launch of the 11th Edition of our conference and to provide a platform for the tech industry to come together, discuss and debate the latest and future trends. We wanted to focus on six tracks where we see past trends developing and impacting the future. Exploring retro-futurism and the dynamic between past and future technologies will help to pave the way for what is yet to come,” says Ray Dargham, CEO of Step.

Also Read: How To Find The Best Remote Work Opportunities In The Middle East

The event host, Dubai Internet City, has been home to a tech community of global and local businesses and startups since 1999, and has helped to put the UAE at the center of global technology innovation. Events like Step create important funding and networking opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs and help to raise the profile (and value) of an already booming digital economy.

If you’re interested in visiting Step Conference 2023, head over to the official booking page to register for tickets.

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.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

Nour Nasir

Google

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.