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Welcome to this weeks technology updates & insights Tech A newsletter.

⚡ Your 2-Minute Summary

📊 MENA Tech Updates

DEWA's AI Implementation: Launching Microsoft Copilot integration across operations for 2025, expanding on 8 years of AI implementation and enhancing services through virtual employee Rammas.

UAE Tech AI Revenue: Cisco study shows 43% of UAE tech partners expect majority revenue from AI within 5 years, with infrastructure (26%) and cybersecurity (26%) as key drivers.

Goodable-Meta Partnership: Hub71 startup Goodable partners with Meta, providing AI-driven mental health content to 67,000 Meta employees globally.

Egypt's Digital Finance: Flend becomes first licensed digital non-bank financial institution in Egypt, targeting $50B SME financing gap.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Misk Accelerator 2025: Supporting early-stage tech startups in Saudi Arabia. Applications open December 15, 2024 - February 10, 2025. Three-month program with investment opportunity.

Flat6Labs Riyadh: Offering SAR 500,000 seed funding plus up to SAR 2.4M follow-on funding. Application deadline: January 15, 2025.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Arab Health: January 27-30, 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre. Largest healthcare exhibition in MENA with 3,800+ exhibitors and 60,000+ professionals.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week: January 12-18, 2025, focusing on sustainable economy transition.

World Future Energy Summit: January 14-16, 2025, ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi, gathering industry leaders for clean energy solutions.

📚 Market Insights & Resources

GCC GenAI State: McKinsey reports potential $21-35B annual value from GenAI in GCC. While 74% of organizations adopted GenAI, less than 10% generate significant value, with energy sector leading ($5-8B potential gains). Major opportunities exist in data infrastructure, talent development, and implementation services.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
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📊 MENA Tech Updates

DEWA is entering its 8th year of AI implementation with Microsoft Copilot as its next step

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched a framework to integrate Microsoft Copilot across its operations and services as part of its AI push for 2025. This initiative aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and aims to enhance DEWA's competitiveness and sustainability. The organisation has integrated ChatGPT to enhance its services through its virtual employee, Rammas.

💡 Business Opportunities

DEWA is a forward looking government entity. They have been implementing AI technology (and other advanced technologies) evezzzzzn before the GPT moment. DEWA is implementing the GenAI technology in many areas, including SAP system, IT Support Office services, governance and compliance procedures, future insights platforms, Power BI. It’s an opportunity for technology partnerships with service companies, data platforms & others.

Source: link

Half of UAE tech executives expect the majority of revenue to come from AI in the next 5 years (Cisco Study)

A Cisco study reveals that 43% of UAE tech partners expect the majority of their revenue to come from AI-related technologies within the next five years. The study, part of a global survey across 29 markets, highlights the growing demand for AI investments, with 26% of UAE partners anticipating that 76% of their revenue will be AI-driven. In the short term: 37 % expect AI to contribute to 26-50% of their revenue. Even though these numbers seem optimistic, keep in mind that UAE is the “early adopter” country in term of advanced technologies.

Key Dates & Insights

• Top Drivers: Infrastructure (26%), cybersecurity (26%), and sustainability management (11%) are identified as key areas driving AI technology demand.

• Top Challenges: inexperience in deploying new technologies (69 %), lack of knowledge of systems and processes (51%), and a lack of available technologies (46%)

Business Opportunities

While writing the 3 part series on the state of AI. I noticed a pattern emerge, there is a huge opportunity in term of training & learning to implement AI. The second opportunity relates to cybersecurity and data in general (infrastructure, platforms.etc.)

Source: ArabianBusiness, Full report: Cisco

Startups partners with Meta to combat doomscrolling

Goodable, a Hub71 startup, has partnered with Meta to make the Goodable app available to over 67,000 Meta employees worldwide. This collaboration aims to promote healthier and happier workplaces by addressing the negative impact of doomscrolling on mental health.
What’s interesting, is that the deal happened after a senior Meta leader used the application by chance and got impressed with the value it adds.

Goodable's AI-driven platform delivers science-backed content to improve mental health and happiness. The platform uses AI to curate and deliver content that reduces stress, anxiety, and depression.

Key Insights

• Added value for employees: The app is clinically proven to increase happiness and health by up to 94%, reducing mental health-related costs and improving productivity.

• Added value for businesses: The partnership showcases how businesses can amplify wellness initiatives to benefit their entire workforce.

Source: here.

First licensed digital non-bank financial institution in Egypt!

Flend received the NBFI license to operate with Small & medium enterprises in Egypt. Their objective is to ensures access to affordable local bank funding, and facilitates competitive financing rates, while enabling legally binding digital contracts.

Concretely, the platform aims to reduce approval time for loans from weeks to days. It will drastically improve loan services for SMEs. According to the international finance corporation, Egypt’s SME financing gap is estimated to exceed $50 billion.

Source: TheStartupScene

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

Misk Accelerator Program 2025

The Misk Accelerator Program is designed to support early-stage tech startups that aim to operate and grow in Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the MENA region. Founded in 2019, the program has supported 173 startups across 9 cohorts. Their startup have a collective valuation of 2.28 Billions

Key Features: 1-to-1 Coaching Sessions, Focus Weeks, Investor Night, & Demo Day culminating in a an investment from partnered VC ventures. Just apply!

Requirements

• Tech Focus: Must be a tech startup.

• Early-Stage: Should have early traction.

• KSA Market: Must be operating or planning to scale in Saudi Arabia.

Important Deadlines

• Applications Open: December 15, 2024.

• Application Deadline: February 10, 2025.

• Program Start: February 23, 2025.

• Program End: 3 months until June 29, 2025.

Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program

The Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program supports Saudi Arabian startups with high growth potential, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and creating opportunities for scaling up in the MENA region. The program will provide seed funding to more than 20 Saudi startups annually over the next three years.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: January 15, 2025

• Program Start: February 15, 2025

• Program End: May 15, 2025

Requirements

• Full-Time Commitment: Applicants must be fully dedicated to the 4-month program.

• Residency: Applicants must reside in any city in Saudi Arabia. Applicants can be non Saudi Nationals.

Key Features

• Seed Funding: SAR 500,000 in cash seed funding.

• Follow-on Funding: Up to SAR 2,400,000 in follow-on funding.

• Mentorship: Strategic mentorship and one-to-one sessions with experts.

• Legal Support: Assistance with legal matters.

• Marketing & PR: Support for marketing and public relations.

• Demo Day: Opportunities to pitch to investors and network with business leaders.

• Fundraising: Access to investors and fundraising opportunities.

Source: Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program website.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Arab Health: The largest healthcare exhibition in MENA

It' has become a tradition for me to go there. I’ve met potential business partners, startups & saw the latest innovation in healthcare. The exhibition features 3,800+ exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge medical innovations, AI healthcare solutions, and sustainable technologies. Connect with 60,000+ healthcare professionals from 180+ countries.

Who is it for and why:

• Healthcare Professionals & Practitioners: Access CME-accredited conferences and latest industry insights

• Medical Technology Companies: Showcase products across 9 sectors including medical equipment, IT solutions, and imaging

• Startups: Pitch opportunities at Innov8 platform and connect with investors

• Investors: Dedicated Investor Lounge for funding discussions with startups and scale-ups

Key Features:

• New Al Mustaqbal Hall focusing on sustainable healthcare

• Transformation Zone featuring expert talks on AI, robotics, and nanomedicine

• Smart Hospital Zone demonstrating next-gen patient care technologies

• 12 specialized conferences covering digital health, AI, and public health

Dates & Registration: January 27–30, 2025 Dubai World Trade Centre Register at Arab Health Online

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

ADSW 2025 is the first major event in the global sustainability calendar, taking place from January 12-18 in Abu Dhabi. Under the theme "The Nexus of Next. Supercharging Sustainable Progress," the event aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy and foster interconnected solutions for socioeconomic growth.

Important information:

• Dates: January 12-18

• Target Audience: Global Leaders, Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and NGOs.

• Overall Themes: Renewable Energy, Climate Finance, Green Hydrogen, Youth and Women's Leadership in Sustainability, Smart Cities and Innovation

For more details, you can visit the ADSW website.

World Future Energy Summit

The World Future Energy Summit is a global think tank focused on creating blueprints for a sustainable future. It brings together industry influencers, problem solvers, and cutting-edge solutions to accelerate the global transition to clean energy.

• Date: January 14-16, 2025

• Location: ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi

• Focus Areas: Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Innovation, Clean Energy Solutions

You can register and learn more here.

🤝 Resources & Market Insights

The state of gen AI in the Middle East’s GCC countries: 2024

The numbers seem compelling: GenAI could generate $21-35B annually in the GCC region, representing 1.7-2.8% of non-oil GDP. Here's what caught my attention:

💡 Adoption vs Value Gap:

• 74% of GCC organizations are using GenAI

• Yet only a small fraction (<10%) are generating significant value (>5% of earnings)

• Energy sector leads with potential annual gains of $5-8B

🎯 Key Success Factors of Value Realizers:

• Focus on high-impact, high ROI functions (sales, marketing, software engineering)

• Strong data management capabilities

• Dedicated GenAI leadership

• Comprehensive risk management (especially cybersecurity)

🌟 Business Opportunity: The gap between adoption and value creation presents a massive opportunity for tech providers and consultancies in, Data infrastructure development, Technical talent development, Implementation services.

Read the report: Generative AI in the Middle East and GCC countries | McKinsey

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