Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) have launched the first phase of a dedicated electric vehicle charging hub for DTC’s electric taxi fleet.

Located at DTC’s headquarters in Muhaisnah 4, the hub features 24 next-generation ultrafast charging points, each with a capacity of 360kW. The facility can charge 24 vehicles simultaneously in approximately 35 minutes, reducing downtime and improving fleet efficiency.

The initiative is part of a long-term strategic agreement signed by DEWA and DTC at WETEX 2025 to deploy more than 200 ultrafast EV charging points for the taxi company’s fleet, supporting Dubai’s efforts to expand its green mobility infrastructure.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said the partnership will help accelerate Dubai’s transition to a more sustainable and efficient transport system.

“In line with the objectives of the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, we continue to develop an advanced electric vehicle charging infrastructure that provides a seamless and reliable charging experience, reduces carbon emissions, and improves air quality,” he said.

Al Tayer added that the partnership reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen integration between the energy and sustainable transport sectors while supporting the growing adoption of electric vehicles across the emirate.

The charging hub marks the first phase of a broader network dedicated to DTC’s fleet as the company continues to expand its electric vehicle operations.

“Strategic partnerships are fundamental to Dubai Taxi Company’s growth journey and play a vital role in advancing our long-term vision,” said Abdul Muhsen Ibrahim Kalbat, Chairman of DTC Group’s Board of Directors.

He added that the collaboration will help develop the infrastructure needed to support Dubai’s ambition to build a smarter, greener transport ecosystem.

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of DTC, said the partnership represents an important milestone in the company’s fleet electrification strategy.

“This new ultrafast charging hub is the first phase of a larger network of more than 200 EV charging stations dedicated exclusively to DTC’s fleet,” he said.

As the charging network expands, DTC expects it to improve fleet efficiency, increase vehicle availability, and help meet growing demand for zero-emission transport services.

The initiative supports the objectives of the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, reinforcing the emirate’s continued investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and sustainable mobility.

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Digital Dubai and Emirates Group have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen digital readiness, improve operational efficiency, and expand adoption of shared digital platforms and emerging technologies.

Under the agreement, Emirates Group will gain access to Digital Dubai’s ecosystem of digital services and platforms. The partnership will also focus on enhancing employee experience while promoting the exchange of expertise and best practices.

The agreement was signed by Matar Saeed Al Hemeiri, Chief Executive of Digital Dubai Government Establishment, and Amira Al Awadhi, Senior Vice President of Human Resources – Operations and Systems at Emirates.

The signing took place in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai.

The partnership covers access to digital services, enablement platforms, and data and statistics services. It also aims to strengthen systems integration and data sharing while creating a more connected and agile digital ecosystem.

“This agreement reflects Dubai’s vision of building an integrated digital ecosystem founded on strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said Al Hemeiri.

He added that the partnership will expand the adoption of Digital Dubai’s platforms, products, and capabilities, enabling Emirates Group to enhance its services and operational efficiency while accelerating the use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

The agreement also supports Dubai’s broader efforts to expand the adoption of shared digital platforms across sectors and strengthen the competitiveness of the emirate’s digital economy.

Oliver Grohmann, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Emirates Group, said the initiative aims to enhance employee experience by accelerating processes, enabling real-time data processing, and reducing operational friction for the company’s workforce.

“The aim of our partnership extends well beyond convenience and efficiency. Dubai is building integrated digital foundations designed to improve how people live and how businesses operate,” he said.

The agreement establishes a framework for Emirates Group to leverage Digital Dubai’s digital ecosystem, including advanced service and support capabilities and information security standards aligned with international best practices.

By strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors, the partnership aims to support the development of a more connected digital ecosystem and advance Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for digital transformation and the digital economy.

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YouTube has launched supervised kid accounts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including the United Arab Emirates, expanding its family safety features as governments across the region place greater emphasis on protecting children online.

The new accounts provide age-appropriate experiences within the main YouTube app, combining enhanced safety, privacy, and wellbeing features with parental controls. Parents can choose whether to enable supervised accounts and can disable them at any time if they prefer their child to have unrestricted access to YouTube.

The rollout comes as the UAE implements a new legal framework governing children’s use of social media. Under the regulations, children under the age of 15 are prohibited from creating or operating personal social media accounts, while 15-year-olds may only use platforms that offer enhanced safeguards, including stronger parental controls, safer content settings, and restrictions on certain interactive features. Platforms must also implement robust age-verification systems.

Supervised kid accounts offer three content settings that broadly align with international content ratings.

The Explore setting features educational videos, tutorials, arts and crafts, and dance content. Explore More expands access to include gaming content and live streams, while Most of YouTube allows access to nearly all content, except for videos rated 18+ or considered unsuitable for supervised accounts.

Parents also have access to tools such as YouTube’s Shorts feed timer, which lets them set daily viewing limits or disable short-form scrolling altogether.

All supervised kid accounts include safety features enabled by default, such as “Take a Break” and “Bedtime” reminders to encourage healthier viewing habits. Uploading videos, posting comments, and personalized advertising are disabled, while autoplay is turned off by default.

The new accounts complement YouTube’s existing supervised teen accounts, which allow teenagers to access most of the platform while giving parents the option to link accounts, receive upload notifications, and view insights into their child’s channel activity.

Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube Middle East and North Africa, said the company continues to invest in tools that prioritize family wellbeing. He cited Kantar research showing that 95% of viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE believe YouTube offers leading educational content, while 92% of Gen Z respondents said the platform has helped them develop new skills.

Garth Graham, Head of Health at YouTube, said the supervised accounts are designed to help young people learn and explore online while giving families greater control over safety and digital wellbeing.

The launch builds on YouTube’s broader family safety ecosystem, which includes the YouTube Kids app and Google Family Link parental controls. The company said it will continue investing in tools that support the safety, privacy, and well-being of younger users.

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Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain and Canadian AI firm Cohere have announced a strategic partnership to develop one of the region’s largest dedicated AI infrastructure deployments and collaborate on enterprise and sovereign AI models.

The agreement was announced on July 9 during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Saudi Arabia. Under the partnership, the companies will build dedicated AI computing infrastructure to support the next generation of frontier AI models. The deployment is expected to become operational by the fourth quarter of 2027.

The initiative combines Humain’s expanding AI infrastructure platform with Cohere’s expertise in developing large-scale foundation models.

Backed by the Public Investment Fund, Humain operates across the AI value chain as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to position the Kingdom as a global AI hub through investments in innovation, intellectual property, and talent development.

As part of the agreement, Humain will dedicate at least 50 megawatts of AI computing capacity to support Cohere’s next-generation foundation models, with additional capacity expected to be added over the next five years as demand grows.

“The future of artificial intelligence will be defined by access to compute. Frontier AI models require infrastructure at an unprecedented scale,” said Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain.

He said Cohere’s decision to choose Humain for its first major international AI computing deployment outside North America reflects the company’s growing infrastructure capabilities and its ability to support advanced AI research and development.

Cohere co-founder and CEO Aidan Gomez said reliable access to high-performance computing is essential for developing increasingly capable AI models.

“Our partnership with Humain provides the AI infrastructure, scale, and flexibility needed to develop future generations of enterprise AI models while supporting our long-term compute requirements,” he said.

Gomez added that the companies also plan to collaborate on sovereign AI initiatives, including models designed for Saudi Arabia and other international markets.

Beyond infrastructure, the partnership aims to accelerate enterprise AI adoption by combining Cohere’s expertise in secure AI with Humain’s full-stack AI capabilities.

The companies said the collaboration will help organizations deploy AI to improve productivity, knowledge management, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.

The partners also plan to develop sovereign AI models, including Arabic-language and domain-specific foundation models, as well as specialized AI systems tailored for enterprise use cases.

Humain said the collaboration underscores the growing importance of large-scale computing infrastructure for frontier AI development. By combining accelerated computing with Cohere’s research expertise, the companies aim to expand regional AI capacity and advance secure, enterprise-grade AI models.

The partnership also provides a scalable framework for future expansion, enabling additional computing capacity to support new AI model development as enterprise demand for AI continues to grow.

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Dubai Chambers has launched the ‘Business in Dubai’ platform, a new digital gateway designed to help companies establish, grow, and expand their operations in the emirate.

The platform brings together a range of corporate services through partnerships with accredited providers, as Dubai seeks to strengthen its business ecosystem and make it easier for companies to access the resources they need to scale.

Businesses can currently access 65 services offered by seven accredited partners across four categories: financial services, marketing and growth, technology, and testing, inspection, and certification.

“We are committed to strengthening the foundations that support the growth of Dubai’s business community and enable companies operating in the emirate to expand both locally and globally,” said Khalid AlJarwan, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Services at Dubai Chambers.

He added that the platform is designed to enhance Dubai’s investment ecosystem by giving businesses easier access to services that support growth and contribute to sustainable economic development.

The initiative is also expected to benefit companies and entrepreneurs operating in Dubai’s expanding digital economy.

“The launch of the ‘Business in Dubai’ platform is part of our ongoing efforts to support businesses across all sectors, particularly those operating in the digital economy,” said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

He said connecting businesses with trusted service providers will simplify operations and create an environment that enables companies to operate more efficiently and with greater flexibility.

Designed for businesses, the platform offers a streamlined way to connect with a vetted network of service providers. Its initial partners include ZENDATA Cybersecurity, FAST Ventures, Mamo, OCTA, SGS Gulf Limited, Vault, and Pemo.

By bringing key corporate services together in a single digital gateway, Dubai Chambers aims to reduce the time and resources companies spend managing operational requirements, allowing them to focus on business growth, innovation, and expansion.

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Dubai Internet City has partnered with Luxembourg’s national innovation agency, Luxinnovation, to strengthen cross-border collaboration, foster innovation, and create new growth opportunities for technology companies in Dubai and across Europe.

The partnership will support Dubai-based startups, scale-ups, and technology companies looking to expand into European markets through Luxembourg. Businesses will gain access to the country’s innovation ecosystem, international connectivity, and strategic position within the European Union.

Luxinnovation and its partners will also provide tailored support to help companies evaluate Luxembourg as a destination for expansion and explore opportunities across the broader European market.

“Dubai Internet City serves as a gateway for technology companies seeking access to new markets, opportunities, and strategic partnerships,” said Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City.

He added that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to collaboration and knowledge exchange while creating new opportunities for businesses in both markets, in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

David Foy, Head of International Business Relationships – Digital Economy at Luxinnovation, said the collaboration would strengthen ties between the innovation ecosystems of Dubai and Luxembourg, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, business development, and joint innovation initiatives.

By combining Luxembourg’s position as a gateway to Europe with Dubai Internet City’s technology ecosystem in the Middle East, the partnership aims to open new pathways for international expansion and cross-border collaboration.

The agreement also reinforces Dubai Internet City’s efforts to advance innovation and entrepreneurship. The technology district is home to multinational corporations, startups, Fortune 500 companies, more than 31,000 professionals, and over 20 research, development, and innovation centers.

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Egyptian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are accelerating their adoption of digital technologies, modern payment solutions, and workforce development initiatives to strengthen competitiveness and drive long-term growth, according to the fourth edition of the Mastercard SME Confidence Index.

The multi-market study, which examines SME sentiment, priorities, and growth expectations across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), highlights the growing role of digitalization in shaping the region’s small business landscape.

The report found that 83% of surveyed Egyptian SMEs consider digital and online payments essential to faster, more effective business growth, underscoring the rising demand for modernization and greater operational efficiency.

Simple, seamless payment experiences are also emerging as a strategic priority. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents said easy-to-use payment methods are an important driver of business growth, reflecting the increasing value of frictionless transactions in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

“SMEs continue to be a driving force behind innovation and economic growth. Across the region, these businesses are embracing digital tools, enhancing customer experiences, and investing in workforce development to strengthen their competitiveness,” said Onur Kursun, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, EEMEA, Mastercard.

Adam Jones, Division President, West Arabia at Mastercard, said Egyptian SMEs’ focus on secure and efficient payment experiences reflects a long-term approach to growth, supported by advanced technologies and tailored financial solutions.

Despite accelerating digital adoption, Egyptian SMEs continue to grapple with inflationary pressures and currency volatility. Even so, 40% of surveyed businesses remain optimistic about their prospects over the next 12 months, reflecting cautious confidence despite ongoing economic uncertainty.

To navigate these challenges, many SMEs are investing in digital transformation and customer-centric strategies to improve efficiency and resilience. Mastercard said it supports businesses through solutions such as Mastercard Easy Savings and expense management tools that help reduce costs, improve spending visibility, and free up resources for growth.

The findings also point to a gradual shift toward omnichannel business models that combine physical and digital sales channels. While cash still accounts for 74% of transactions, nearly two-thirds (64%) of Egyptian SMEs now operate across both online and offline channels, reflecting changing consumer behavior and growing demand for integrated shopping experiences.

Alongside technology adoption, workforce development is becoming an increasingly important priority. More than half of respondents identified access to training and development (58%) and employee upskilling (55%) as key drivers of future business growth.

The report suggests entrepreneurs increasingly view sustainable growth as dependent on both digital investment and workforce capability. Mastercard said its SME Personas Framework helps financial institutions tailor products and services to businesses at different stages of growth, from freelancers to FMCG distributors managing complex supply chains.

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Saudi Arabia emerged as the Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest projects market in the second quarter of 2026, recording the only increase in contract awards across the region as neighboring countries saw declines amid economic uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict.

According to the latest report from Kamco Invest, the kingdom awarded contracts worth $30 billion during the three months ending in June, up 160.4% from the previous quarter.

On an annual basis, project awards rose 53.6%, reflecting continued investment momentum driven by Vision 2030 initiatives.

Separate data from S&P Global also pointed to sustained strength in Saudi Arabia’s construction sector. The latest Al Rajhi Capital Saudi Construction Index showed construction activity expanded at its fastest pace of the year in June, supported by a rebound in new orders and growth across residential, non-residential, and infrastructure projects.

The Construction Index rose to 56.3 in June from 51.2 in May, marking the second consecutive month above the 50-point threshold that signals expansion.

“Saudi Arabia was the only country in the GCC to record an increase in total project awards on both a quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year basis,” Kamco Invest said.

The report attributed the growth primarily to the construction sector, where contract awards surged 184.4% year on year to $14.2 billion from $5 billion in the second quarter of 2025. The gas sector also posted significant gains, with awards increasing to $4.4 billion from $800 million over the same period.

Earlier this month, the Saudi Contractors Authority reported that 25 projects worth a combined $7.84 billion were awarded in June.

Across the GCC, the total value of project awards fell 25.4% quarter on quarter to $59.4 billion from $79.6 billion in the previous quarter.

Qatar recorded the steepest decline, with project awards dropping to $931 million from $9.3 billion in the first quarter.

In the United Arab Emirates, total project awards declined 5.4% year on year to $20.5 billion and 56.6% from the previous quarter.

Kuwait recorded year-on-year growth of 49.1%, with project awards reaching $2 billion, although awards declined 65.4% quarter on quarter.

Oman posted the second-strongest annual increase after Saudi Arabia, with project awards rising 341.7% year on year to $5.9 billion, while edging down 0.2% from the previous quarter.

Looking ahead, Kamco Invest said recent efforts to de-escalate regional tensions have improved the outlook for the GCC projects market over both the short and long term.

Citing data from MEED, the report estimated the GCC’s future project pipeline at $2.05 trillion. Saudi Arabia accounts for more than half of the planned developments, while the UAE represents 26.1% of the total.

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Dubai Holding Community Management has partnered with Al Etihad Energy Services (Etihad ESCO) to advance energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives across residential communities in Dubai.

The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and Dubai’s Demand Side Management Strategy 2050.

The agreement was signed by Francis Giani, CEO of Dubai Holding Community Management, and Dr. Waleed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO.

Under the partnership, the organizations will collaborate on projects to optimize energy consumption, enhance monitoring and metering systems, and deploy new technologies to improve energy efficiency.

The collaboration will focus on three key areas: implementing energy-efficiency projects, expanding the use of solar energy across communities, and promoting knowledge-sharing to pilot new sustainability initiatives.

“We are delighted to partner with Etihad ESCO to create a positive, long-term impact, driven by a shared, future-focused purpose and aligned with Dubai’s Demand Side Management Strategy 2050,” said Giani.

He added that the partnership combines Etihad ESCO’s technical expertise with Dubai Holding Community Management’s commitment to promoting sustainable utilities, operational practices, and community lifestyles.

Dr. Waleed Al Nuaimi said the collaboration reflects Etihad ESCO’s ongoing efforts to transform Dubai’s built environment through energy efficiency solutions.

“By integrating solar, retrofit, and smart metering technologies, we aim to deliver measurable impact aligned with the Dubai Demand Side Management Strategy and the UAE’s broader sustainability goals,” he said.

Residents, homeowners, and business partners across communities managed by Dubai Holding Community Management are expected to benefit from more energy-efficient systems, greater access to renewable energy, smarter monitoring tools, and increased awareness of their environmental impact.

Dubai Holding Community Management said the partnership supports the UAE’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate its transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.

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Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Africa reached approximately $70 billion in 2025, marking the continent’s third-highest annual investment level since 1990, according to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Although inflows declined from the record $94 billion recorded in 2024, when several large cross-border transactions boosted regional figures, investment remained around one-third above Africa’s long-term average.

Egypt retained its position as Africa’s largest recipient of foreign investment, attracting approximately $15 billion in FDI. The inflows helped North Africa remain the continent’s leading investment destination despite a sharp drop from the exceptional levels recorded a year earlier.

Investor interest across Africa is increasingly concentrated in sectors that are becoming more critical to the global economy, including energy, infrastructure, technology, critical minerals, and manufacturing.

Africa’s least developed countries attracted approximately $33 billion in foreign investment in 2025. However, inflows remained heavily concentrated in a handful of economies, with most investments directed toward natural resources, energy, infrastructure, and selected manufacturing industries.

The investment trends reflect rising global demand for energy infrastructure and critical minerals used in batteries and advanced manufacturing, alongside efforts to establish new industrial and logistics hubs as companies reconfigure global supply chains.

The continent has also continued to attract growing investor interest from Gulf and Asian economies, as governments and businesses seek access to strategic resources, expand into new markets, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Despite the decline in overall investment compared with 2024, continued investor interest in strategic industries underscores Africa’s expanding role in the global energy transition, industrial development, and supply chain diversification. The key challenge now will be ensuring these investments translate into broader, more inclusive, and sustainable economic growth across the continent.

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