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AI-
Dubai inaugurates the region’s biggest AI Cluster: Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has opened the first phase of the Dubai AI Campus cluster at the Innovation Hub in the Dubai International Financial Center, Wam writes. The campus is the region’s biggest AI-dedicated cluster, offering co-working spaces to tech startups, high computing capabilities through Nvidia’s DGX platform, and accelerator programs.
The progress so far: The initial phase of the cluster features over 75 registered businesses. The second phase is anticipated to expand to over 100k sqft, up from the current 10k sqft, accommodating an additional 500 companies and generating over 3k jobs by 2028.
Some of the perks: Companies will be able to form partnerships with the cluster’s leading tech partners including Amazon Web Services, HP, Microsoft, Oracle and Nvidia. Businesses in the cluster will also benefit from the DIFC’s new Digital Assets Law, which provides a clear legal framework for the use of digital assets.
HEALTHCARE-
#1- PureHealth launched a mental health platform dubbed Sakina, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. The Sakina network will feature 34 satellite clinics, two mental health hubs, two specialized neurodiversity centers, and nine integrated clinics, with over 500 clinical professionals, according to the statement. PureHealth’s AI-enabled app, Pura, will also offer tertiary care provision, and will allow users to monitor and track their health.
#2- Abu Dhabi to scale up emergency medicine: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health inked an agreement with the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) to advance emergency medicine in Abu Dhabi, focusing on swapping up-to-date experiences and technologies, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. IFEM inaugurated its first regional office in Abu Dhabi as part of the agreement.
#3- Abu Dhabi’s DoH also inked an agreement with Roche Middle East on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week to develop real-world data collection frameworks in Abu Dhabi, in a bid to ramp up innovation, health services, and treatment available to patients, and strengthen the emirate’s research network, Wam reports. The agreement will see the entities embark on potential evidence-generation activities to monitor rare, priority diseases, and deploy real-world data to study spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Abu Dhabi.
#4- Attentive Science sets up Abu Dhabi HQ: Non-clinical research organization Attentive Science has established its regional headquarters in Masdar City as part of its global expansion strategy, Wam reports. The research organization cited the Department of Health’s “inviting and very active support,” as well as the rapid growth of the life science ecosystem in Abu Dhabi as key factors in its decision to choose the emirate for its regional HQ.
SUSTAINABILITY-
UAE and China mull clean energy and water cooperation: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority CEO Saeed al Tayer met with a delegation from Chinese state-owned engineering company PowerChina on Friday to discuss cooperation in the energy and water sectors, focusing on renewable energy projects, smart grid solutions, water infrastructure development, and joint R&D initiatives, according to the Dubai Media Office.
ENERGY-
Renewables giant Acwa Power has received the commercial operation certificate to begin operating Phase C of the USD 570 mn 900 MW Shuaa Energy 3 solar project in Dubai — a part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) solar park in the UAE, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Phase C will have a capacity of 300 MW.
REMEMBER- The MBR solar park, which is the world’s largest single-site solar park using the independent power producer (IPP) model, will have a production capacity of 5 GW by 2030 and will help slash 6.5 mn tons of carbon emissions annually upon completion. The project — which will be constructed by India’s Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) construction arm — is expected to kick off operations in phases between 4Q 2024 and 2026.
A look at ownership: Shuaa Energy 3 is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up to develop the fifth phase of the MBR solar park. Dubai state utility Dewa owns a 60% stake and is the sole off-taker of power, while Acwa Power holds a 24% stake. The Gulf Investment Corporation holds the remaining 16%.
CUSTOMS-
Virtual Corridors Cargo Movement System launched in Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Customs has launched the first phase of the Virtual Corridors Cargo Movement System, which will facilitate the movement of duty-suspended goods between customs ports, freezones, and bonded warehouses in the emirate, according to a statement released on Thursday. The first phase covers shipments and goods being transported from Khalifa Port to companies and private customs warehouses established in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad), according to the statement.
How it works: The system requires input of details about the shipments, including information from the manifest or bill of lading, according to the statement. Once the application is approved, a cargo transfer certificate is issued instantly, and the shipment can be tracked through an electronic customs seal, according to the statement.
BUSINESS-
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce has inked a MoU with Lithuania to establish the UAE-Lithuanian Business Council, Wam reports. The council aims to boost and bolster bilateral trade between the countries.
PORTS-
#1- Noatum expands into Turkey: AD Ports subsidiary Noatum Logistics has opened a Noatum Maritime office in Turkey, a press release reads. The office will offer integrated services across the maritime operation chain locations in Istanbul and Izmir.
#2-Arabian Chemical Terminals in Abu Dhabi (ACTAD) has kicked off operations at its new chemical tank storage terminal in Khalifa Port, in a bid to assist local industries in importing and exporting liquid chemicals, according to a press release. The terminal features 40 tanks with a total storage capacity of 100k cubic meters, a 500 sqm warehouse for dangerous goods and provisions for drums and IBCs filling, and an independently third-party laboratory for sampling and testing.
TRANSPORT-
#1- The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has completed its project to upgrade the Sheikh Zayed tunnel’s lighting system, replacing over 5k interior lights with LEDs, aiming to cut consumption by around 17% and improve operational efficiency to 90%, according to a statement.
#2- Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority is set to build a 13.5 km multi-use track connecting Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills via Hessa Street, according to an RTA statement. The multifunction track is set to service cyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians. The project includes widening Hessa Street from two to four lanes in each direction, doubling its capacity to 16k vehicles per hour.
BANKING-
SIB joins Haifin: Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has joined e& tech solutions arm e& Enterprise’s Haifin platform, as part of the bank’s long-term strategy to invest in new banking technologies for improved risk management and security, Wam reports. Haifin uses blockchain and AI to verify trade finance transactions and prevent potential fraud.
REFRESHER- e& Enterprise rebranded its blockchain trading platform UAE Trade Connect to Haifin earlier in March. The platform now has a total of 14 members.
