Technology

Yasser Hassan

Exclusive

'Cloud First' policies give Saudi Arabia, UAE edge in AI race: Amazon exec

In March 2024, AWS announced plans to invest $5.3 billion in Saudi Arabia to launch a cloud infrastructure region in the kingdom by 2026.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

chip

How UAE AI firm's past China links stalled this US chipmaker's IPO

Cerebras Systems executives had been hoping that the Trump administration would fast-track the national security review that has left the chipmaker’s initial public offering in limbo for five months, Reuters reported Tuesday.

United Arab Emirates

Sheikh tahnoon

UAE seals cloud deal with Microsoft, Core42 as Sheikh Tahnoon visits US

The deal follows Microsoft's $1.5 billion investment last year in G42 to accelerate AI development.

United Arab Emirates

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon makes first US visit since Trump reelection: What to know

The UAE's influential national security advisor, who chairs some of the country's most important funds and firms, will reportedly meet with White House officials and business leaders including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

Analysis

US stock plunge poses dilemmas for Gulf investors while exposing PIF, Mubadala risks

NYSE

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Interview

As AI superpowers clash, Saudi tech diplomat pushes collaboration over competition

Saudi digital economy expert Deemah Al-Yahya speaks onstage during the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit at Sheraton New York Times Square, New York, Sept. 24, 2024.

Deemah AlYahya

Secretary General, Digital Cooperation Organization

Elon Musk's Boring Co. to build Dubai Loop network of tunnels

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accompanied by his son, X Musk, speaks to the press as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, DC, Feb. 11, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

Billions invested in AI, data centers at Saudi's LEAP summit: What to know

An unidentified man speaks at the preliminary meeting for the fourth edition of the LEAP technology conference, set for Feb. 9-12, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2025.

Emiratis attend the presentation of the UAE Space Agency's strategic frameworks on May 25, 2015, at the National Exhibition Center in Abu Dhabi.

New $4 billion AI space entity unveiled in UAE

Bayanat and Yahsat plan to merge into Space42 as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman all seek more opportunities in the space sector.

Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping after witnessed a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, July 22, 2019.

Analysis

Will US pressure on UAE-China tech cooperation pay off?

Companies in the Gulf are feeling pressure from the United States over technological ties with China, according to one expert.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

The Chinese and the Saudi flags adorning a street in Riyadh ahead of the Chinese president's visit to the Saudi capital, Dec. 7, 2022.

Saudi PIF ups investment in China’s Alibaba-backed tech fund

eWTP Arabia Capital invests in energy and technology start-ups across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

In this handout image provided by the GPO, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) takes Elon Musk (L) on a tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza after the Oct. 7 massacre took place there, on Nov. 27, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel.

What's behind Elon Musk's visit to Israel, meeting with Netanyahu?

On a visit to Israel, American billionaire Elon Musk called for a halt to the hate propaganda that he said enabled the Oct. 7 attack and also expressed willingness to help reconstruct Gaza.

COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Al Jaber speaks onstage as COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and UN Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg Announce COP28 Local Climate Action Summit at COP28 In Dubai In December Alongside Local Leaders at The Plaza Hotel on Sept. 19, 2023 in New York City.

Business & Tech Briefing: Dubai gears up for COP28

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

What does OpenAI firing Sam Altman mean for the Middle East?

Altman was reportedly seeking new investment from the region at the time of his firing and had built relations with Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Omar Olama

Interview

Fear shouldn’t overtake rationality in approach to artificial intelligence, says UAE AI minister

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, UAE AI Minister Omar Sultan Al Olama discusses how states should govern the technology and whether fears about machine intelligence are founded.

Omar Sultan Al Olama

Omar Sultan Al Olama

UAE Minister of State

Drones of Abu Dhabi mangroves

Drones can help fight climate change, says Abu Dhabi environment agency

The government department is looking to plant 10 mangroves in Abu Dhabi for every visitor to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November.

United Arab Emirates

X Linda Yaccarino

Twitter/X erases thousands of Israel-Hamas posts after EU disinfo warning

The 27-nation bloc has also issued similar ultimatums to Meta and TikTok, imploring the companies to take fake posts about the conflict off their social media platforms.

The launch of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from an orbiting spacecraft.

Israel, Azerbaijan announce landmark deal for sale of two satellites

Israel Aerospace Industries and Azeri space agency Azercosmos announced the signing of an agreement for the sale of two Israeli-developed satellites.

Israel, Germany sign $3.5B Arrow 3 deal

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed a letter of commitment in Berlin for the sale of the advanced Arrow 3 air defense system, signaling a strengthening of ties between Israel and Germany.

Huawei

China's Huawei to invest $430M in North African cloud center, developer training

The Chinese tech firm has been increasing its footprint in the Middle East and North Africa.