AGP Executive Report

Cybersecurity & Resilience: Ras Al Khaimah leaders reviewed plans to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand backup data centres for the national cloud, and grow cyber programmes via the CyberE71 initiative. AI Execution Gap: A UAE-focused study says AI spending jumped 105% year-on-year, but organisations’ AI maturity sits at 48/100, with execution still held back by fragmented systems and talent/workflow readiness. Sustainable Finance: Emirates NBD launched the UAE’s first dedicated Transition Finance Framework, backed by DNV Assurance, to help corporates fund credible decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors. Government Skills Pipeline: Rabdan Academy rolled out a Bachelor of Disaster Management programme, aiming to build advanced national capabilities using international emergency-management principles. Scholarships Overhaul: The UAE updated rules for Emiratis applying for overseas scholarships, tightening destination and ranking requirements and prioritising fields like tech, engineering, energy, health, water and finance. Space Tech: UAE’s SEO satellite successfully launched from China, boosting local space capabilities. Payments & Fintech: Telr partnered with Jordan’s Jet Application to power quick-commerce payments across Jet’s channels. Data Centres & Digital Twins: A new market report forecasts strong growth for data center digital twin tech, driven by AI workloads and sustainability compliance needs.

UAE Space & Environment: UAE University launched its SEO satellite from China to support environmental protection, sustainability research, and national space projects. AI Infrastructure: OpenAI plans a 20-year U.S. data centre lease in Ohio, backed by Nvidia’s $105B financing commitment, with the site built on a former uranium enrichment plant and designed for up to 8GW capacity. Energy Markets Reform: NEOS Advisory outlines how electricity markets can shift from single-buyer models toward competitive, integrated structures—plus the risks policymakers should watch. UAE Road Safety: UAE schools and traffic experts welcomed a new Ministry of Interior campaign offering drivers a chance to remove four black points by staying accident- and violation-free on the first day of the academic year. Human Capital & Hiring: A UAE-focused jobs piece highlights how employers are raising the bar—especially for AI fluency and data literacy—while entry-level roles face tougher competition. UAE Aviation Connectivity: Etihad confirmed a seasonal Abu Dhabi–Gothenburg route starting 17 Dec 2026, adding direct Middle East and Asia links via Abu Dhabi. Cybersecurity Careers: A roundup lists current cybersecurity job openings, signaling continued demand for security leadership and SOC talent.

UAE Health Tech: The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) approved RINVOQ (upadacitinib) for non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12+, making it the first licensed oral option for this group in the UAE and the first in the world for the expanded use. UAE AI in Government: e& UAE says it’s embedding Agentic AI into core fixed and mobile connectivity plans, while the UAE targets 50% of government services for agentic AI. UAE Open Finance: Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) became the first UAE bank to let customers initiate payments from other banks’ accounts via the CBD mobile app under Open Finance. UAE Space & Research: UAE University’s SEO satellite was successfully launched from China, supporting sustainability-focused research and Emirati hands-on space experience. Energy & Engineering: Masdar and ScottishPower completed major foundation work at the East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm, installing all 95 foundations for 1.4GW clean power. Digital Identity/AI Ops: FIFA picked Globant’s Glob.AI to scale AI-powered, personalized fan experiences across its platforms.

UAE AI & language research: MBZUAI unveiled a new benchmark to test how well AI understands Arab culture across 13 national dialects, highlighting a gap between understanding what people say and speaking like them. Digital payments in the UAE: Botim and Mastercard launched Mastercard One Credential, linking one card to multiple funding sources and enabling flexible installments for eligible users. UAE space for disaster response: The UAE highlighted its use of space tech and satellite imagery to support humanitarian missions, leading the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters during April–October 2026. Abu Dhabi event tech & heritage: ADIHEX returns Aug 28–Sep 6 at ADNEC, leaning on modern, interactive experiences to draw younger visitors to falconry and equestrian traditions. Maritime security watch: JMIC reported increased hostile actions in the Strait of Hormuz, including attacks on ADNOC-affiliated vessels, with the threat level staying severe. Smartphone market signal: Middle East smartphone shipments (ex-Turkey) fell 19% YoY in Q2 2026 as higher prices and supply constraints reshaped demand. Dubai/finance milestone: A 16-year-old Indian, Meyyappan Lakshmanan, was named the world’s youngest Chartered Accountant and is now a Dubai-based senior research analyst.

AI for Youth & Entrepreneurship (Sharjah): Sharjah Chamber’s Youth Council held International Youth Day talks with the Federal Tax Authority on using AI for business, plus digital security and AI governance, with TDRA and police among attendees. UAE Telecom Strength: Kearney’s Global Telecom Health Index 2026 put the UAE top (87/100), leading on technology deployment and ranking second for customer sentiment. UAE AI Dialect Research: MBZUAI researchers unveiled ArabCulture-Dialogue, a benchmark to test AI cultural reasoning across 13 Arab dialects, aiming to close the gap between understanding and speaking naturally. Space for Disaster Response: The UAE highlighted its role in the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters, leading the system from April–October 2026 to use satellite and geospatial tools for faster humanitarian action. UAE Digital Tax Push: ICAP UAE ran an e-invoicing boot camp as scholarship rules tighten and regulators align on compliance. SpaceTech Share Buyback: ADX approved Space42’s buyback up to 2.5% as the AI space company reports strong H1 revenue growth.

UAE Digital Tax Push: ICAP UAE Chapter held an e-Invoicing Boot Camp 2026 in Abu Dhabi, with the Federal Tax Authority’s CEO outlining how e-invoicing will reshape compliance and business-to-tax data flows. Connectivity Resilience: A UAE-focused report warns that the region’s heavy reliance on a small number of undersea cables makes enterprises and governments vulnerable to outages, urging satellite and other backup planning. Cybersecurity Recognition: LMNTRIX was named a Major Player in IDC’s 2026 MarketScape for MDR/MXDR services, highlighting managed detection and response momentum across the Middle East. Smart Safety Tech: SI Global Solutions and Safe City consultants signed an MoU with Jovision Technology to deploy AI-driven CCTV and cloud video analytics for urban and maritime security. Satellite Shift: Pak Datacom reportedly moved bank backup connectivity to Yahsat (UAE-based), raising security concerns over hub location and ownership. Education Scholarships: UAE Ministry of Education set 13 conditions for students to qualify for full scholarships, including interviews and on-campus study abroad. DEWA Innovation & Heritage: DEWA hosted the Rutab (Dates) Season exhibition at its HQ, blending Emirati heritage with innovation. Luxury Tech Buzz: Dubai-based GoldPrive says Apple’s expected iPhone Fold could change how bespoke luxury customization is done.

Customs & Security: Dubai Customs intercepted nine air-cargo shipments declared as “clothing” but packed with 360,500 cartons of illicit cigarettes—over 70 million sticks—linked to one importer, showing how intelligence-led targeting is tightening cross-border trade controls. AI in the Enterprise: Quintas Energy is rolling out Box to build a secure “content layer” for AI-driven capture, classification and governance of critical documentation to speed renewable asset onboarding. Cybersecurity Market Signal: LMNTRIX was named a Major Player in IDC’s 2026 MarketScape for MDR/MXDR services, expanding its managed security footprint across 40+ countries including the META region. UAE Digital Services: Sukoon Insurance launched a redesigned mySukoon app with UAE PASS/biometric login, real-time claims tracking, pharmacy approvals, and 24/7 emergency roadside assistance. Health & Society: UAE doctors urged women in their 30s to plan for menopause, citing research that links the transition with widespread sleep issues. Weather: Light rain is possible Sunday in northern and eastern UAE, with inland highs near 49°C.

AI & Data Investment: MGX co-led Databricks’ $5B funding round, backing the enterprise AI platform as Databricks pushes beyond a $7B revenue run-rate and 80%+ YoY growth. Gender Policy & Future Skills: The UAE Gender Balance Council launched a national survey for the 2027–2031 strategy, explicitly tying gender goals to labor-market shifts, AI, future skills, caregiving patterns and quality of life. UAE Digital Tax Push: The UAE e-Invoicing Boot Camp 2026 in Abu Dhabi brought finance, tax and tech leaders together with the Federal Tax Authority to discuss readiness, controls and integration for the digital tax ecosystem. Healthcare Innovation: UAE-linked longevity and biotech momentum continues with ARDD 2026 in Boston featuring speakers tied to aging-drug discovery, while BioSapien’s cancer platform was nominated for Prix Galien USA “Best Startup.” Space/Comms & Industry: Emirates SkyCargo transported the UAE-made Altair-1 AI satellite to the US, underlining growing UAE space logistics capability. Energy & Security: AD Ports Group reported strong Q2 results while rerouting supply-chain routes around Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Crypto/Finance: Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds disclosed sizable holdings in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, totaling about $764M.

UAE AI Governance: The UAE ICP has reviewed AI assistant pathways and strategic targets, aiming to shift 50% of government operations to AI-supported models within two years. UAE Tax Tech: The UAE e-Invoicing Boot Camp 2026 spotlighted how e-invoicing will reshape compliance, internal controls, and data flows across the tax ecosystem, with the FTA’s CEO addressing the transition. UAE Space Logistics: Emirates SkyCargo transported the UAE-built Altair-1 satellite from Dubai World Central to Los Angeles ahead of its October launch, highlighting end-to-end handling for high-value payloads. Cross-border FinCrime Tech: TransFi launched JARVIS, an AI-powered compliance intelligence platform that unifies KYC, sanctions screening, and risk signals for cross-border payments. UAE Energy & Shipping Risk: UAE condemns attacks on ADNOC vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as the US threatens an indefinite naval blockade, keeping regional trade and shipping uncertainty high. UAE Industry & Infrastructure: DEWA is testing PV cleaning robot performance and safety, while ADNOC Gas awarded a major EPC contract to Wison Engineering for its expansion. UAE Society & Skills: The UAE Gender Balance Council launched a national survey for the 2027–2031 strategy, and UAE education coverage highlighted strong A-level outcomes and AI/digital pushes in healthcare.

UAE Healthcare Tech: Dubai is rolling out AI and digital tools across hospitals, from AI mammogram analysis and smart wards with contactless sensors to early sepsis detection, remote diagnostics, and wireless fetal monitoring—aiming to cut waiting times and improve outcomes. UAE Mobility & Jobs: Etihad Rail’s passenger expansion is expected to reshape UAE hiring by widening the talent pool across emirates, reducing the need for immediate relocation. UAE AI in Finance & Telecom: ADX is set to share “live” market data directly with major AI platforms, while e& UAE tests eRedCap on the live network—both pushing faster, more connected digital services. UAE Defense Tech: The US says it will upgrade UAE THAAD with new launchers to strengthen ballistic missile defense coverage. UAE Space & Logistics: Emirates SkyCargo transported the UAE-made Altair-1 satellite to the US ahead of launch, underlining growing regional space capability. Regional Tech/Industry: Apple trained a China-specific AI model with Alibaba support, and Qatar announced its first EV plant with Gulf-focused engineering for extreme heat.

UAE Tech & Digital Finance: ADX becomes the first MENA exchange to share official “live” market data directly with major AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, using a governed setup that lets investors query in plain language. IoT & 5G: e& UAE is the first telecom operator globally to test eRedCap on a live network, paving a lower-cost, energy-efficient 5G-native path for large-scale IoT use cases. AI in Healthcare: Burjeel founder joins the WEF digital health board as Abu Dhabi backs broader digital healthcare transformation beyond pilots. Space & Earth Observation: Emirates SkyCargo completes shipment of Orbitworks’ UAE-made AI-enabled satellite Altair-1 from Dubai to Los Angeles ahead of its October launch. Islamic Finance: The UAE strengthens its position as a global hub for Islamic finance and the Halal industry via an integrated legal, Shari’ah and regulatory ecosystem. Cyber/Market Rules: UAE starts implementing new federal commercial fraud regulations requiring rapid recall of non-compliant goods within 24 hours. AI/Interoperability Payments: Keeta and LayerZero partner to make tokenized bank deposits natively transferable across major public blockchains.

AI Infrastructure & Trust: Rootz Corp. and Microlink Networks partner to “make AI infrastructure provable,” adding origin, ownership and quality/security links to AI outputs for UAE data centers and eGovernment. Telecom Innovation: du and Khalifa University complete 6G field trials in Abu Dhabi, reporting upper-mid-band performance at scale with outdoor coverage up to 500m and peak downlink near 1.5Gbps. AI Hardware Deal Watch: Reports say the Trump administration is weighing a deal letting the UAE import over 1m advanced Nvidia chips annually, with part earmarked for G42 and the rest for Gulf data-centre builders. Payments Upgrade: Botim and Mastercard launch Mastercard One Credential in the UAE, letting eligible users switch funding sources and convert purchases into installments via one card experience. Energy Demand: DEWA posts record H1 revenue of Dh14.86bn and net profit Dh3.33bn, driven by electricity, water and cooling demand. Smart City Ops: Dubai moves to automate building-permit approvals with an AI system, aiming to speed up approvals. Youth & Research: UAE youth take part in marine conservation and research at Yas SeaWorld’s centre on International Youth Day. Space & Defence: Space42 and Leonardo DRS tie UAE battlefield computers to sovereign satellites via a new deal.

UAE Energy & Utilities: DEWA posted record H1 2026 results with AED14.86bn revenue and net profit up 15% to AED3.33bn, while clean energy hit 19.9% of power generation in Q2. National Security Tech: Space42 and Leonardo DRS signed an MoU to integrate mission systems with secure UAE satellite connectivity, boosting C5ISR communications and resilience. Telecom Regulation: TDRA renewed e& and du telecom licenses for 20 years, setting up a long-term framework for the UAE’s digital economy push toward smarter, AI-driven networks. AI in Payments: Yuno raised $45m Series B to scale its AI-native operating system for payments and financial services, with Gulf-backed participation including Further Ventures. Space & Aerospace: Space42 also appears in a separate UAE security systems push, while the wider week saw China’s C919 take its first scheduled international passenger flight. Health & Genomics: Genetic Alliance and enGenome expanded access to AI-guided genomic interpretation, building on Dubai Health’s use in clinical workflows. Creative Education: SAE University College launched Dubai’s first accredited Bachelor of Music degree, starting September 2026 with scholarships up to AED50,000. Business Setup: Quickplus reported processing 250 business licenses in June 2026, pointing to sustained UAE startup and SME momentum. Cyber & Trust: Anthropic’s new Claude watermarking feature sparked debate over whether AI-origin marks will truly meet transparency and compliance needs.

AI & Enterprise Ops: Core42 says the next AI edge is “efficiency at inference,” urging UAE firms to match workloads to the right model and deployment instead of defaulting to the biggest setup. Health Tech: Burjeel launched BEACON, a unified emergency and acute care network across Abu Dhabi to route patients to the right specialists with standardized protocols and decision support. Fintech Payments: Botim teamed with Mastercard to roll out Mastercard One Credential in the UAE, letting users link one card to multiple funding sources and switch between prepaid and credit. Drones & Defense Supply Chain: ZenaTech says its ZenaDrone flight tests now use in-house PCB boards made at its UAE facility, pushing toward NDAA-compliant Blue UAS certification. Smart City/Infrastructure: Dubai is ranked second globally for AI adoption, while DEWA reported 7.4 million digital transactions in H1 2026. Cybersecurity: A report claims 416 cyberattacks hit the UAE every second, underscoring the push for stronger critical-infra defenses. Climate/Water Tech: UAE meteorology experts are helping Kazakhstan with cloud-seeding to boost rainfall amid drought.

Tokenisation & Finance: Coinbase picks Abu Dhabi Global Market as its international base for tokenised securities, aiming to bring regulated, share-backed assets onto blockchain rails with custody and wallet-level controls. Maritime Tech: Shipfinex and ADI Chain partner to tokenize a $500M vessel pipeline, using stablecoins for settlement as the regulated issuance path is finalized. Autonomous Mobility: Space42 signs a $7M deal with South Korea’s A2Z to deploy Level-4 robo-shuttles in the UAE, starting with pilots before scaling to demand-responsive services. AI Infrastructure: Nvidia lines up Wall Street capital commitments around $500B to fund AI compute build-outs. UAE Nuclear Oversight: FANR highlights 2025 nuclear safety and security wins, including Barakah inspections and a unified digital platform for import/export of nuclear and radiological materials. Smart Cities & Telecom: Kearney’s Telecom Health Index ranks the UAE and Qatar as the healthiest telco markets, citing tech and customer sentiment strengths. Aviation & Business Travel: MEBAA Show 2026 returns to Dubai with a bigger lineup, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a business aviation hub. Energy & Renewables: Arctech secures more solar tracker projects across Central Asia, including a UAE SkyLine II supply deal.

UAE Smart Mobility: Space42 and Autonomous A2Z signed a AED 25.7m ($7m) deal to bring Level-4 driverless mobility to the UAE, starting with Robo-Shuttle pilot testing and demand assessment. UAE Cybersecurity: Acronis Middle East highlights a shift from prevention-only security to full cyber resilience—detection, response, recovery and business continuity—tailored to fast-moving Gulf operations. AI Infrastructure Finance: Nvidia teamed with major Wall Street investors (Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs, KKR) to create compute financing platforms targeting $500bn+ for AI infrastructure. UAE Aviation Jobs: Emirates opened 100+ roles with pilot packages worth Dhs1.18m, alongside broader IT/engineering and operations hiring. UAE Education Tech: UAE school leaders push for “future-ready” learning beyond AI skills, while a new AI platform targets higher-education data. UAE Health Tech: Dubai researchers are developing a two-minute AI test for earlier autism screening. UAE Water Security: Coverage compares Saudi and UAE water strategies, including the UAE’s desalination and emergency storage plans. Global Aviation Tech: Boeing sells Wisk, Insitu and SkyGrid to Archer, aiming to build an end-to-end “physical AI” aerospace platform.