Tech A Newsletter

From Assessment to Action: Why & How we Built Our Sales Outreach solution with AI

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 10:15:08 +0000

Hi,

A surprising 70-80% of AI projects fail! That might surprise you, but not me.

I believe most businesses approach AI implementation backwards.

They start with the technology and try to find problems to solve. But after building AI solutions for myself and my clients, I've learned something important: the best AI implementations start with business context, not algorithms.

In this article, I'll explain how we approached AI implementation for ourselves at Turalabs, taking into account our own business and technical context. This helped us build a highly customized AI cold outreach system.

⚡ What you’ll get in this article:

Common causes of failure in implementing AI solutions
Case Study: how we solved our own core problem using AI
Key Insights
Bottom Line

Interested? Let’s delve into it! ⬇️ (5 minutes read). Part of this article might not show in the email.

Part of this article might not show in the email.

Read online

If you like this content, consider subscribing to get more AI insights, not just countless AI updates!

Common Causes of Failure

Most AI projects fail because companies skip the assessment phase. They see a shiny new tool and think "we need this" without asking "do we actually need this?" Governments are mandated to implement AI, but they don't even know where to begin.

Here are the common causes I see:

➡️ Companies implement AI solutions they don't actually need instead of those they really need
➡️ They implement AI without clear ROI
➡️ They don't take their own context into account (no strategy)
➡️ Businesses are either overhyped about AI or don't trust it. In short, they don't know what it can really achieve. The statistics back this up: 85% of AI projects never make it to production.

Case Study: How we solved our own problem using AI

Our Challenge:

At Turalabs, we're mainly composed of tech people: AI and data science engineers. Most of the business development and marketing falls on me. To get B2B clients, you don't have many choices: either you get clients organically through content and word of mouth, or you go knock on doors (cold outreach).

Assessing Our Business for AI

As explained in a previous article, we’ve developed a simple assessment framework:

🎯 Actionable Business Challenges - What problems need solving?
📈 Impact Potential - What's the potential business value?
🔄 Repetitive Task Automation - Which manual processes can be automated?
📊 Operational Data Readiness - Is your data AI-ready?
⚡ Implementation Complexity - How quickly can you implement?

This framework helps us avoid the "AI for AI's sake" trap for us and our clients.

So what does it look like for us:

Our A.I.R.O.I. Assessment:

✅ Actionable: Need to get clients for our B2B agency, so outreach at scale is one solution

✅ Impact: High - personalized subject lines get 50% higher open rates. We calculated a monthly cost of $160-200 for 5,000 highly personalized emails. One client gets us $1,000+ minimum. ROI is crystal clear.

Research shows that 77% of B2B buyers prefer email communication, and personalized content delivers 6x higher conversion rates. For our ticket size, this made perfect business sense.

✅ Repetitive: Manual prospect research takes 20+ minutes per lead
✅ Operational: LinkedIn data + company info readily available through scrapers
✅ Implementation: Medium complexity - we have the technical skills

What We Built

Instead of buying expensive AI outreach tools, we built exactly what we needed.

My context: I had a lead database with 5,000 emails monthly, so no need to buy a database. I wanted to manage outreach through a single tool, so I used Instantly.ai.

What was missing?
➡️ LinkedIn profile scraping for both lead and company
➡️ Lead and company intelligence insights using AI with sales angles
➡️ Recent posts sentiment analysis
➡️ Personalized email generation using best cold outreach practices (we can make each email different!)

Cost: Fraction of hiring a salesperson or buying enterprise tools.

How we built it: Using n8n (an automation tool) Why n8n: It offers the right technical complexity for our use case Does everyone need the same solution? No. If you do B2C, this isn't for you. If you do very high-ticket B2B or enterprise contracts, this isn't for you either (you need more direct interactions).

The Key Insight

The best AI solution isn't the most sophisticated one. It's the one that fits your exact business context.

Before building any AI solution, ask yourself:

What specific problem am I solving?
What's the potential business impact?
Can I automate repetitive tasks?
Is my data ready? Or can I get it?
How complex does this need to be?

Most businesses need simple, focused solutions - not enterprise-grade complexity.

Bottom Line

AI works best when you match the technology to your actual business constraints, not the other way around.

Want to see this AI workflow or get a free assessment for your business? DM me on LinkedIn or send me a message at contact@turalabs.com.

Until next time!

Amine

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

Five Strategic AI Insights That Will Define the Next Decade

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 12:34:43 +0000

Hi there,

The AI landscape is evolving faster than most people realize. Over the past six months, I've been deeply researching, learning from what thoughts leaders think about AI, as well as building AI applications/solutions.

Today, I wanted to share a thought-provoking summary with strategic insights.

These five insights represent more than trends—they're strategic inflection points that will reshape entire industries. I believe businesses & startups that recognize and act on these patterns early will build sustainable competitive advantages.

They help me think about critical questions like '“which AI solutions will last the next few years or get washed away in the next ChatGPT update?”.

This piece is for AI builders, industry experts, business leaders, VCs, and engineers.

⚡ What you’ll get in this article:

How expert knowledge will scale globally through AI agents (and what this means for your business)
Why most AI apps are still "horseless carriages" and how to build truly AI-native experiences
The hidden gap between AI capabilities and how people actually use them
Five defensive strategies for AI startups in an increasingly competitive landscape
Why emerging markets have an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog established players

Interested? Let’s delve into it! ⬇️ (5 minutes read).

If you like this content, consider subscribing to get more AI insights, not just countless AI updates!
Click here to subscribe!

The Expert Scaling Revolution: How AI Will Democratize World-Class Expertise

When I started Turalabs, my initial strategy was partnering with subject matter experts/influencers (accountants, marketers, coaches, etc.) who had distribution, trust, and deep industry knowledge. The reasoning was simple: they know what to build and have audiences ready to buy.

While this is a win strategy, we're already seeing the next leap. It might not be "AI applications built WITH experts" but rather "experts productizing themselves AS AI agents."

This manifests in two powerful ways:

Highly Personalized Teaching: Instead of generic online courses or expensive 1-to-many in-person training, imagine getting personalized coaching from an "AI Neil Patel" (famous digital marketing expert) trained on your specific business context: B2B vs B2C, junior vs senior, your industry challenges, your current skills, etc.
Expert AI Assistants: Now, we take things a step further and the "AI Neil Patel" is not "just" a coach/trainer anymore. It has access to your tools and does the actual work. Your "AI Neil Patel" doesn't just advise on digital marketing strategy; it executes campaigns, analyzes results, and optimizes performance.

The first wave is already starting to hit the market. The second will transform entire service industries within 2-5 years. I used the word assistant because as it stands now, you still need to "manage" and have strategic oversight over these agents.

Breaking Free from the "Horseless Carriage" Trap: We Need a New UX for AI

It's the classic "horseless carriage" problem. In the late 1800s, early car manufacturers took existing horse carriage designs and simply removed the horse, added a motor, and kept everything else the same. The result? Unstable, impractical vehicles that couldn't handle their own power.

Now, the same is happening with AI. Most AI-empowered apps today follow the same flawed pattern:

Take existing interface
Add AI generation layer with hidden system prompt
Hide all customization from users
Wonder why adoption is low

Here's an example:

Gmail's AI writer produces generic emails that sound like no real person wrote them. The prompt you need to write is as long as the email itself. You're doing more work, not less.

What an AI-first design would be:

You teach the AI how you communicate: your tone with your wife vs. your boss vs. school teachers. You provide context about your current situation.

The result: you get emails like: "Hi Gary, my daughter's sick with the flu so I can't come in today. Thanks."

The challenge I'm still pondering: How do users effectively "teach" AI beyond initial onboarding, with intuitive feedback mechanisms that improve over time?

From Q&A to Action: The Interface Evolution AI Needs

While most people are still using AI for Q&A, the technology has already evolved to the AI assistant phase. If you're reading this and you use AI agents, you're not the norm, you're the early adopter.

Current Problem: Every product just embeds a chat interface

ChatGPT brought LLMs to mainstream through chat
Now everyone defaults to chatbot interfaces
This severely limits what AI can actually do

Better Approach: Design for automation and delegation, not conversation

Think "AI assistant that does work" not "AI that answers questions"
Focus on accomplishing tasks, not generating responses

I don't think AI can do all the work, nor does it have the intelligence to do it in the near future. However, I believe it can significantly speed up your personal and professional tasks.

The real opportunity: Teaching the 95% of people how to move from using AI to answer questions to taking initiative actions and automating actual work. We're still in the awareness stage!

AI Startup Survival: Five Defensive Strategies

For AI products to be truly useful, you need three components working together:

Model Intelligence: Choose and customize the right LLM
Context and Memory: Where intelligence gains unique insights and connects to tools (MCPs make this easier)
Applications and UI: How users interact with the system for specific industries and use cases

AI wrappers like Cal AI do a very good job with all 3 components, while good digital marketing AI tools do a very good job with components 2 & 3.

The question now becomes: what can you build so that ChatGPT (or another corporate structure like SAP or Salesforce) doesn't ruin your startup idea with one new AI feature?

I've thought about it a lot and learned from multiple sources, like the CPO of Anthropic. Here are the key differentiators:

Deep industry knowledge: Understanding specific market workflows (like Harvey's legal expertise)
Differentiated Go-to-Market: Knowing exactly who you're selling to and what they really need
Distribution advantage: Now it's about building an audience or working with someone who has one. If 1,000 companies build the same to-do list, why would they choose you? If you partner with a productivity guru like Ali Abdaal (+6 million subscribers), you get the first thousands of customers guaranteed!
Novel interaction paradigms: Completely different ways to interface with AI
Startup Mentality: Working existentially, "you against the world" urgency

Product fundamentals haven't changed. However, you can now ship MVPs faster to validate customer demand, then iterate rapidly.

Tech Leapfrog Opportunity for GCC/MENA: Why Now Is Different

If you live in an emerging market and have funding plus distribution, what are you waiting for? Why not build the next Salesforce? Or any other enterprise software making tens of billions in the West?

It's a lifetime opportunity. Put aside social media platforms and top 10 S&P 500 companies. Each country can now quickly catch up on the technology gap using AI.

This applies across industries. It starts with software but scales to robotics, electronics, and beyond. Before, China built technological know-how through reverse engineering over 20 years. With AI, this timeline compresses to 5 years.

The combination of AI acceleration, global talent access, and local market understanding creates unprecedented advantages for emerging market builders.

So it's time to learn, research, and build. But we need to act FAST!

Conclusion: What This Means for You

The quotes & some insights are distilled from some of the most influential voices in AI and venture capital. Check the sources below.

Until next time!

Amine Rabehi

Founder, Turalabs | AI Implementation Expert

Amine

P.S. Need AI solutions for your business? I help businesses implement practical AI solutions that deliver measurable results. Let's explore how these insights apply to your specific situation.

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

Essential Resources: Learn from the Thought Leaders

Here are the key discussions that I recently listened to & made me write this analysis:

🎯 Matt Mazzeo on the Future of AI & Startups

Matt Mazzeo, Partner at Kleiner Perkins and former CAA agent, discusses AI's distribution revolution and startup strategies. Mazzeo led early investments in Uber, Twitter, and other category-defining companies. His insights on the "AI rapper" sales model and expert scaling are reshaping how entrepreneurs think about go-to-market strategy.

🔧 Y Combinator: How To Design Better AI Apps

Pete Koomen (Optimizely founder and YC General Partner) explains why most AI apps are "horseless carriages" and outlines principles for building truly AI-native experiences. Koomen's framework for system prompts and user control has influenced how leading AI companies approach product design.

🧠 Anthropic's CPO on What Comes Next | Mike Krieger

Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram and Chief Product Officer at Anthropic, shares insider insights from building Claude and managing teams where 90% of code is AI-written. His perspective on AI capability timelines and product development bottlenecks offers a rare glimpse into the cutting edge of AI implementation.

Some books & articles related to the topic:

📘 "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI" by Ethan Mollick

Wharton professor's practical guide to human-AI collaboration in work and creativity

Mollick provides concrete examples of how to "teach" AI systems effectively.

📖 "Machines of Loving Grace" by Dario Amodei

CEO of Anthropic's comprehensive essay on AI's potential positive impacts

Amodei discusses how AI could democratize access to expertise in healthcare, education, and economic development, particularly relevant for emerging markets.

The AI era is “just” another work shift: How AI is pushing us up the value chain (again)

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 31 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Hi there,

We're living through the biggest shift in knowledge work since the internet age. Right now, millions of professionals are spending hours on tasks that AI has proven to complete in minutes. While it is a revolution, we've already lived through similar situations as humans before.

So, instead of debating whether AI will replace jobs, the real question is simpler: will you adapt to work at a higher level, or will someone else do your job three times faster?

We've encountered similar shifts through two previous transformations: manufacturing automation and information access evolution. AI is now pushing us toward moving up the value chain ladder.

What does this change for us? How do we adapt to it? Let's dive in.

⚡ What you’ll get in this article:

Why the AI shift follows the exact same pattern as manufacturing automation
How knowledge work is migrating to higher-value activities right now
Real examples of businesses already operating 3x faster with strategic AI use
What "human premium" work looks like and how to identify yours
Practical steps to take for yourself & your business

Interested? Let’s delve into it! ⬇️ (5 minutes read).

Part of this article might not show in the email.

Read online

If you like this content, consider subscribing to get more AI insights, not just countless AI updates!
Click here to subscribe!

We’ve been here before

I see the AI shift as a convergence of two previous evolutions: information access evolution and manufacturing automation.

Information Evolution: We went from asking mentors → reading books in libraries → searching Google → now having AI distill and synthesize everything for us. Each step eliminated more grunt work of finding information, forcing us to get better at asking the right questions, innovate, and improve our work.

Generative AI is the next step. It doesn't just output potential solutions and knowledge sources—it distills and synthesizes them and gives you one answer. Think of it as having a research assistant who's read everything but only gives you relevant insights when you know how to ask properly.

Manufacturing Revolution: When machines automated textile production, humans didn't disappear. We moved up the value chain—from operating looms to designing patterns, managing operations, and building brands. The repetitive work migrated to machines. The creative, strategic work became more valuable.

Generative AI is doing exactly the same thing to knowledge work. The pattern is identical: automate the routine, elevate the human.

For me, Gen AI (and AI agents later) simply merges these two aspects for knowledge work. That's why you see the terms "AI & Automation," "AI agents," AI "workflows," etc.

How AI is pushing us toward higher grounds

Everything that's rule-based, repetitive, or can be turned into a standard operating procedure is migrating to AI. And that's fantastic!

Why should you spend 30 minutes writing social media content about something you already explained in a video? Why pre-qualify hundreds of leads manually when AI can do it in seconds? Why copy-paste data from your ERP to Excel for the same analysis you did last week?

Millions of people do these tasks daily. It's still knowledge work, but it's boring, repetitive work that prevents them from doing what only humans can do.

Here are real examples:

Real example: I helped a business executive transform his content workflow. He now repurposes long-form content into 20 authentic social media posts in 1 hour instead of 6. The AI handles formatting and adaptation; he provides strategic direction and authentic insights.

Another example: Instead of generic cold outreach, we use AI to generate personalized emails based on specific business and lead insights. We define the strategy, tone, and desired outcomes. The AI handles the repetitive research and writing. Response rates jumped 3x.

The human input changes: instead of doing the work, you now give strategic directions to the AI.

You think about and write a strategic prompt: "Act as a conversion copywriter. Write a marketing email for [specific audience]. Use this framework: [problem-agitation-solution]. Include these pain points: [specific list]. Make the tone [specific style]. Here are 3 examples of emails that worked: [examples]."

For businesses, I expect AI will drive costs down for services and products. Those who do not adapt won't be able to compete in the coming months and years.

The HUMAN premium: your competitive advantage

Here's something counterintuitive: I believe as AI commoditizes basic tasks, human expertise becomes more valuable, not less. But only specific types of human expertise.

Generic advice? AI can provide that. But understanding why your specific e-commerce business struggles with cart abandonment in the UAE market during Ramadan? That requires cultural insight, business experience, and creative problem-solving that no AI can replicate.

The value is shifting toward:

Personalized strategy over generic solutions
Cultural and contextual understanding over broad knowledge
Creative problem-solving over process execution
Relationship building over transactional interactions

What to do next?

The question isn't "Will AI take my job?" It's "What uniquely human value can I provide that becomes more important as AI handles the routine work?"

Those who recognize this shift early and consciously migrate their efforts up the value chain will build sustainable competitive advantages. Those who don't will find themselves competing on price against AI-powered alternatives.

Your next steps:

Audit your work: List tasks you do repeatedly that follow predictable patterns. I’ve shared two articles on think about it & audit (Assessment framework, Mental model to identify AI implementation opportunity). I can also assist you there.
Start small: Pick one low-effort, high-value task where AI can help immediately
Define success: Set clear KPIs before you begin (time saved, quality improved, output increased)
Test and iterate: Apply AI, measure results, refine your approach until satisfied
Scale up: Once you prove ROI, move to higher-value, higher-effort AI implementations

Don't try to transform everything at once. Build momentum with quick wins, then expand.

Until next time!

Amine

P.S. If you're ready to explore how AI can transform specific processes in your business, let's talk. I help SMBs & professional implement practical AI solutions that deliver measurable results.

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

The A.I.R.O.I. framework: Finding where AI will actually drive business value

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 24 May 2025 09:03:31 +0000

Hi there,

Last week I went to the Make It In the Emirates event, a place where all local manufacturers gather to show their products & connect. I took this chance to ask multiple manufacturers about what they think of AI.

The common answer was, "we just use ChatGPT of course" but nothing more. Everyone is drowning in AI news, tools, and endless "revolutionary" announcements. I understood that I'm in a bubble, the opportunities I see are not visible to them.

My last AI assessment started with a similar message "Can AI really help our business, or is this just hype?"

It reinforced my belief in the need for an assessment. AI is like any other technology or new process. You implement the change you need to improve & grow, not just because others do it.

I've looked for an AI assessment I can replicate but there was nothing public & that does the job. So I made my own based on industry reports & the specifics of AI (and Gen AI)

Introducing the A.I.R.O.I. Framework.

⚡ What you’ll get in this article:

What’s the reasoning behind this framework
The five dimensions of the A.I.R.O.I. Framework explained
How I used this framework on my own business (Turalabs)
A simple way to start applying this to your business

Let's dive in.

Interested? Let’s delve into it! ⬇️ (5 minutes read). Part of this article might not show in the email.

Read online

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Why I built the A.I.R.O.I. framework

I've built the A.I.R.O.I. framework with these key aspects in mind:

Focus on business problems instead of technology
Customized solutions VS one-size-fits-all recommendations
Prioritize where to start & focus
Take into account implementation complexity & current business context

I wanted a comprehensive yet repeatable method that could help each industry separately while keeping the assessment short and actionable.

After working with e-commerce businesses struggling with customer service, executive coaches, and distributors trying to optimize order processing, I noticed patterns. Each industry has specific challenges, but the evaluation approach can be systematic.

The result is A.I.R.O.I. - a framework that evaluates five key dimensions to identify your highest-ROI AI opportunities.

Simple is the culmination of expertise. My end goal is to give you a framework so simple, you won't have to pay over €10k for generic consulting.
Note: Claude (equivalent to ChatGPT) chose the name based on my framework input, I love it!

The A.I.R.O.I. Framework Explained

A: Actionable Business Challenges

What specific problems is your business facing that AI could potentially solve?

This isn't about what's technically possible - it's about what's actually hurting your business. I start here because technology should solve real problems, not create solutions looking for problems. You shouldn't worry here if AI can solve your problem, just list them.

Example: You may find that your team spends 20+ hours weekly answering the same customer questions about shipping and product details. Clear, actionable challenge.

I: Impact Potential

If you solved these challenges, what would the business impact be?

I evaluate potential cost savings, revenue increases, time savings for high-value team members, and customer experience improvements. Not every problem is worth solving with AI.

Example: If your business could reallocate 20 hours of customer service time to retention activities, this might be worth €15,000+ annually in improved customer lifetime value.

R: Repetitive Task Automation

Which processes involve repetitive, time-consuming tasks that follow predictable patterns?

AI excels at automating repetitive work, but only if the tasks follow consistent patterns. I look for frequency, time consumption, and whether the tasks require judgment or just follow procedures.

Example: You might discover your team spends 15 hours weekly extracting the same type of data from client documents. Same process every time, just different documents - perfect for automation.

O: Operational Data Readiness

Do you have the data infrastructure to support AI implementation?

This is where many businesses stumble. You might have a great use case, but if your data is scattered across spreadsheets and in people's heads, implementation becomes much more complex.

Example: If you have two years of quality control data already in your system, predictive maintenance becomes a realistic quick win.

I: Implementation Complexity

How easily can AI solutions be implemented given your current resources and systems?

I evaluate technical requirements, integration needs, expertise required, and change management considerations. The goal is to start with high-impact, low-complexity opportunities.

How I used A.I.R.O.I. on my own business

I ran Turalabs through this framework.

A: Actionable Challenges: As a growing consultancy, our biggest challenge was lead generation. We needed consistent, qualified prospects to build our client base. There is no sales person, I focused on hiring high achieving AI & software engineers, that’s it.

I: Impact Potential: High. Each qualified lead potentially worth 1K€ to €50,000+ in project value. Converting just 2-3 additional clients monthly would transform our growth trajectory.

R: Repetitive Tasks: Prospecting, initial outreach, and lead qualification follow predictable patterns. Perfect for automation.

O: Data Readiness: Minimal data needed. We could start with publicly available business information and basic contact data that we get from online databases.

I: Implementation Complexity: Low. Could implement lead generation automation in 1-2 weeks without complex integrations. We used no code AI & automation tool here (n8n).

Result: We focused on AI-powered lead generation and outreach rather than more complex solutions. It emerged as our clear "quick win" opportunity.

How to Start Using This Framework

You can begin applying A.I.R.O.I. to your business right now:

List your top 3 business challenges that consume significant time or resources
Estimate the potential impact of solving each (time saved, costs reduced, revenue gained)
Identify which challenges involve repetitive tasks that follow consistent patterns
Assess your data readiness for each area (digital vs. paper, structured vs. scattered)
Consider implementation complexity based on your current systems and capabilities

Plot these on the simple business impact matrix. Chose low effort high impact Implementation.

Most think they need sophisticated AI implementations, when often the biggest impact comes from automating the repetitive tasks that are draining their team's time and energy right now.

The framework helps cut through the complexity to identify these Quick Win opportunities that deliver immediate value while building momentum for more ambitious projects later.

What’s next

I'm currently building this framework into a comprehensive online assessment that will help businesses identify their highest-value AI opportunities in just 15 minutes. The A.I.R.O.I. Assessment will evaluate all five dimensions systematically and provide a personalized Business Impact Matrix with specific recommendations for your industry and situation. I'll be sharing more details about the assessment launch.

What challenges came to mind as you read through the framework? Reply to this email and let me know.

Until next time!

Amine

P.S. If you'd like early access to the assessment when it launches, just reply with "Early Access" and I'll add you to the priority list.

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

Demystifying AI Implementation: What SMBs really need to know

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 17 May 2025 12:51:58 +0000

Hi there,

Last week I did an initial assessment with a company generating +100 Million USD in annual revenue. Like many other companies, it’s hard to get clarity between technical jargon, inflated promises, and complex solutions, it's hard to determine what's actually relevant for your business.

Today, I want to cut through the noise and focus on what SMBs really need to know about implementing AI in their business.

⚡ What you’ll get in this article:

Facts & figures about what works.
The Truth About AI Implementation for SMBs: Common myths about AI implementation debunked.
What Really Matters for SMB AI Implementation: the 4 key factors to consider and the practical business impact matrix I use
2 thought exercises you can use without technical knowledge to assess & identify AI opportunities for your specific business context.

Interested? Let’s delve into it! ⬇️ (5 minutes read). Part of this article might not show in the email. Read online.

Read online

If you like this content, consider subscribing to get more AI insights, not just countless AI updates!
Click here to subscribe!

The Truth About AI Implementation for SMBs

According to McKinsey's 2023 State of AI report, 55% of organizations report seeing revenue increases from AI adoption in at least one business function, yet many SMBs still hesitate to take the first step. [Mckinsey]

Let me address the key myths holding businesses back:

Myth #1: "We need extensive technical expertise in-house."

Reality: Many AI solutions today require minimal technical knowledge to implement and use. The key is selecting the right solutions that match your current capabilities.

A Gartner survey found that By 2024, 65% of all companies are developing with low-code platforms, meaning technical expertise is becoming less of a barrier to entry. [Gartner]

It’s true that some solutions like inventory optimization & product recommendation systems might be complex to implement but you don’t need to start there. Quick wins help you & your stakeholders build confidence & get initial ROI.

Myth #2: "AI implementation is expensive and time-consuming."

Reality: Many pre-built solutions are affordable and quick to implement, with IBM's Global AI Adoption Index 2022 reporting 54% of companies reduced operational costs after implementing AI. With time to implementation decreasing year over year. [IBM]

Using low-code tools or working with an implementation partner, you can deploy initial solutions within weeks and start seeing ROI almost immediately.

Myth #3: "We need perfect data before starting."

Reality: You likely already have sufficient data for many high-value applications. Deloitte found 83% of successful AI implementations start with existing data assets rather than waiting for perfect conditions. [Deloitte]

Start with solutions that match your current data readiness (like general customer service automation) while gradually improving your data infrastructure for more advanced applications (like product recommendations in Ecommerce).

Myth #4: "We need to transform our entire business at once."

Reality: The most successful implementations start small, focusing on specific high-ROI opportunities before expanding. This incremental approach reduces risk and builds momentum.

People within an organization don’t like abrupt changes to their routines. Gradual change builds trust within your organization & helps you in terms of change management.

What Really Matters for SMB AI Implementation

After examining numerous implementations & industry reports, these are the key factors:

1. Business Challenge Identification Like with any technology, start with specific business problems, not AI capabilities. Where are your teams overwhelmed? Which processes cause bottlenecks? Which tasks consume disproportionate time?

2. Implementation Complexity Assessment Evaluate how easily solutions can be implemented given your current resources, expertise, and systems. Start with the quick wins (see below). You’ll need an AI implementation expert. You can also use the 3 mental exercises below, it usually gives a pretty good result.

3. Data Readiness Evaluation Assess whether you have the necessary data to support each potential AI application. Some solutions need minimal data to start delivering value.

4. ROI Calculation Estimate the potential business impact of each opportunity, including time savings, cost reduction, revenue potential, and customer experience improvement.

Whether you implement using internal or external resources, you need these KPIs to evaluate the impact. Sometimes the KPIs are not tied directly to a monetary value (like customer satisfaction scores, or employee happiness).

The Business Impact Matrix: A Practical Framework

One practical approach I use with clients is what I call the "Business Impact Matrix" - a simple 2x2 grid that helps prioritize AI opportunities:

Y-axis: Business Impact (Low to High)
X-axis: Implementation Ease (Hard to Easy)

This creates four quadrants:

Quick Wins (High Impact + Easy Implementation)
Strategic Projects (High Impact + Hard Implementation)
Low-Hanging Fruit (Low Impact + Easy Implementation)
Reconsider (Low Impact + Hard Implementation)

Connecting Your Business Challenges to AI Opportunities

To identify where AI could help your business, try these mental exercises:

1. The Assistant Test: Ask yourself: "What tasks would I delegate first if I suddenly had 3 more assistants?" These are often excellent automation candidates. Look for tasks that:

Follow a clear pattern or set of rules
Are done frequently
Take substantial time but don't require complex judgment

2. The Time Audit Method: For one week, track where your team spends the most time on administrative or repetitive tasks. The biggest time consumers that follow consistent patterns are often the best AI implementation opportunities.

Next Steps

If you're considering AI implementation for your business, I recommend:

Run a simple "Assistant Test" with your team to identify repetitive tasks
Track time spent on administrative tasks for one week
Categorize opportunities by cost reduction vs. growth potential
Plot your potential opportunities on the Business Impact Matrix

I'm currently developing an online framework to help businesses identify their highest-value AI opportunities in just 15 minutes. If you'd like to be notified when it launches, reply with "assessment" and I'll add you to the announcement list.

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Until next time!

Amine

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Have questions about AI implementation for your specific business? Reply to this email - I'm happy to help!

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

How I helped an executive get 10x more value from AI in just 45 Minutes (you can too, for free)

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 10 May 2025 08:08:05 +0000

Welcome to Tech A newsletter , Reading time: 2 & 10 minutes
Most executives are using AI like a fancy Google search. They ask simple questions, get basic answers, and waste its true potential.

Last week, I spent 45 minutes with a client and transformed how he uses AI. Now he saves 8+ hours weekly, his LinkedIn is set to drives actual sales, and he has a true AI executive assistant that understands his business better than most consultants.

The funny thing? It wasn’t even part of the asked work: I had two projects with him, one to help him create content from his long form videos using his own words & brand. The other was to create sales outreach system to get clients. For both I needed to understand him & what where his objectives.

The result? He now has a strategic knowledge base that turns any AI into your personal business advisor. It’s very simple to get but it helps you become an AI power user with a one time effort. It also has the added benefit of helping you get clarity in your personal & business objectives.

We leveraged it afterwards to create:

A personal website for his coaching business. We saved multiple hours of work because the AI had everything from the get go.
An optimized LinkedIn profile
An everyday executive assistant
A targeted content strategy for his target audience.

Simple & effective. I use it for all my projects (client preparation work, product development, my own content, sales, marketing strategy.etc.)

Want to implement, let's dive into the details... 4 minute reading.

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The 45-Minute Transformation Process

Step 1: Gather Your Business DNA (10 minutes)

First, collect these essentials:

LinkedIn profile (Your profile page=> click resources => save PDF)
Latest resume (PDF format)
Business description or website copy (I just print it)
2-3 major wins you're proudest of
Current objectives (if you don’t know, let the AI help you in step 2)
Brand colors/visual guidelines (if available, not necessary to start)

Quick tip: If you don’t have any of these elements. Start with LinkedIn and your resume—the AI will help you identify what's missing.

Step 2: AI Strategy Session (30 minutes)

Upload everything to ChatGPT or Claude or Gemini (all free versions). Use this precision-engineered prompt (or similar):

You are an expert business strategist and executive brand consultant. Your mission is to create a comprehensive Executive Knowledge Base that transforms generic AI interactions into strategic business advisory sessions.

Based on the documents provided, work through these sections sequentially. After each section, pause for my feedback:

1. Executive Profile: Who am I professionally? What's my background and expertise?

2. Ideal Client DNA: Who do I serve? (Include industry, role, budget range, specific pain points)

3. Signature Services: What are my 3 core offerings and what makes each uniquely valuable?

4. Competitive Edge: What separates my approach from others in my field?

5. Operating Values: What 5 principles guide my business decisions and client interactions?

6. Thought Leadership Topics: What 3-4 subjects should I discuss to attract my ideal clients?

7. Personal Brand Hook: What aspect of my background adds authenticity and connection?

8. Success Indicators: How do I measure wins with clients and for my business?

9. Strategic Vision: What's my 2-5 year growth trajectory?

Be specific. Reference my documents directly. Ask clarifying questions when needed.

Let's begin with section 1: Executive Profile.

Work through each section. The AI waits for your input, ensuring accuracy and authenticity. Take time to think about it. It helps you get clarity.

When complete, use this compilation prompt:

Perfect! Now compile this into a Strategic Executive Knowledge Base using this structure:

1. Executive Overview (3-4 sentences)
2. Professional Identity & Expertise
3. Target Client Profile
4. Core Service Portfolio
5. Unique Value Propositions
6. Guiding Business Principles
7. Strategic Content Themes
8. Personal Brand Elements
9. Success Metrics & KPIs
10. Strategic Business Vision

Ensure each section has enough detail that any AI assistant can provide contextual, strategic advice aligned with my specific goals and market position.

Step 3: Deploy Your AI Executive Assistant (5 minutes)

Your knowledge base is now ready. Download it and save it to your phone & computer in text format.
Here's how to maximize impact:

Immediate implementation (free): Paste your KB at the start of any AI conversation:

[Insert your knowledge base]

Now, based on my profile above, please...

Power user options (paid):

Claude Projects: Upload as a project document for automatic inclusion
Custom GPT: Build a personalized assistant using your KB as the foundation

The Results Speak for Themselves

My client's transformation after 45 minutes:

Time Savings: 4+ hours weekly reclaimed from content creation and strategic planning
Revenue Impact: LinkedIn profile is now optimized to generates qualified leads and closes deals
Strategic Clarity: AI provides advice that aligns with his specific business objectives
Brand Consistency: All AI-generated content maintains his professional voice. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid start (we did something else for that).
Decision Speed: Complex business questions get contextual answers instantly

To go further: Advanced usage

Voice Authentication: Upload 2-3 previous articles to ensure AI matches your exact writing style.

Living Document: Update your KB with new wins:

"I just closed a $50K deal with XYZ Corp. Please update my knowledge base to reflect this success and incorporate lessons learned."

Visual Branding: Include detailed brand guidelines for AI-generated visuals. Your color palette & fonts are the minimum. You can specify those using your KB and discuss with AI..
Industry Intelligence: Regularly add market research and competitor analysis

That’s it!

P.S. Want more practical AI strategies that deliver results? Join other business leaders reading my "Tech A" newsletter. Real tactics, zero fluff.

From Executive Efficiency to Business Acceleration

This executive knowledge base is just one technique I use to help small and medium businesses:

Increase revenue through strategic AI implementation
Improve productivity by automating routine tasks
Create consistent, high-converting marketing materials
Create customized outreach cold emails.
Develop AI-powered business processes that scale

Ready to go further and get real ROI?

Whether you're an executive looking to optimize your personal productivity or a business leader wanting to accelerate growth, I'd love to show you what's possible.

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how AI and automation can fast-track your business goals. We'll identify your biggest opportunities and create a roadmap for implementation.

Click here to schedule your complimentary strategy session

No tech background required. Just come ready to think bigger about what's possible for you and your business.

Amine Rabehi

AI Implementation Expert | Business Automation Strategist

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

Evolution of Tech A newsletter

Amine Rabehi — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:14:15 +0000

Reading time: 4 minutes

Dear subscribers,

Recently, I launched an AI & automation agency to help businesses implement intelligent solutions that boost revenue, reduce costs, and improve productivity. This venture is my next step toward making an impact. It's where I can create the most value in today's tech landscape while gathering valuable business insights for my next ventures.

Since I started, I've worked almost 7 days a week, from 9 am to 10 pm. I've wanted to give it all my energy, however, I didn't want to abandon this newsletter. I like writing & I like gaining strategic insights about technology and business development.

With the demands of this new business, I'm unable to write high-value deep dives as I used to. I'm providing half the value now by sharing weekly info about the region's latest strategic insights, events & tech news—most of which you could automate receiving using AI agents.

Focus makes all the difference:

I'm highly curious and interested in many topics, from tech to business, IT to biotech. However, if there is something I learned & promised myself to follow, is this saying:

"You can do anything, but not everything."

This wisdom has become my guiding light in all my projects. While my passion for technology spans many domains, I've realized that true impact comes from continuous focus rather than scattered attention.

I will be giving my 100% to this venture. I'll get into other DeepTech topics later.

What this means for you:

Going forward, this newsletter will pivot into a focused resource for AI & automation implementation across business departments:

Practical AI Implementation Guides for real business challenges
Cross-departmental applications (marketing, sales, operations, accounting, etc.)
Case Studies & Success Stories
Tool Reviews & Comparisons worth your investment
Special focus topics like Arabic-tailored AI Solutions

This intel is what we'll use for my own business and what we get from interacting with ongoing client projects.

Is this aligned with your interests?

If you're curious about leveraging AI in your business operations, I'd love to have you continue this journey with me. I completely understand if your interests lie elsewhere – we must focus on what matters most. The unsubscribe button is in the email footer.

Not sure if this is for you? Continue reading the next few newsletter posts & decide for yourself 🙂

Want a full picture of the state of AI? see my summary where I cover: the current reality, What differentiates the AI leaders from the otehrs, & the Winning Playbook based on 16 industry surveys & reports. Access the reports & the article for free here

Warm regards,

Amine

Founder of Turalabs & Tech A newsletter

If you like this content, consider subscribing!

Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are few things I can help you with:

Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business. We then build the solutions starting with the most immediate ROI. We are so sure about the potential of AI, that we offer the initial audit for free (worth 500 USD).
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view.

Getting a place in the AI race, web summit summary

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 09:48:36 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 7 minutes

Welcome to this weeks technology updates & insights. I share market insights, potential business opportunities & upcoming events.

This week I discuss my quick thoughts on the AI race as well as some funding & regional tech news.

Your 2-Minute Summary

📚 On leveraging the rapid AI development for tech founders

The rapid pace of AI innovation has created a virtuous cycle where increased investment leads to better capabilities. For entrepreneurs, the strategic focus should be either on developing better AI or leveraging existing AI for vertical applications. Niche focus offers dual advantages: competitive edge beyond what LLMs provide and automatic product improvement as AI capabilities grow.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Yango Ventures Launch: Yango Group has established a $20M venture fund targeting early-stage startups in fintech, B2B SaaS, and online-to-offline services across emerging markets, including MENAP.

LIFE Pitch Night for Lebanese Founders: Opportunity for startups with at least one Lebanese founder to connect with investors and secure $150K-$1M in funding. Application deadline is April 7, 2025, with the pitch night scheduled for May 15, 2025.

📊 MENA Tech Updates

AliExpress African Expansion: AliExpress has expanded local payment options in Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Tanzania, removing foreign currency barriers for entrepreneurs. The company has also improved logistics for faster delivery within 10 days and launched its first showroom in Ethiopia to support wholesale buyers.

Web Summit Qatar Highlights: AI dominated the summit, representing 17% of all startups present. Qatar signed a 5-year agreement with Scale AI to integrate AI tools into government services, following similar initiatives in UAE & KSA. Beyond AI: Fintech, Cybersecurity, and RegTech were identified as key growth areas.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Dubai AI Festival 2025: Global event on April 23-24, 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah, bringing together AI leaders, innovators, and investors. Features include AI governance discussions, participation from 20+ global unicorns and venture capitalists, the FutureTech World Cup startup competition, and a product launch platform.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (7 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

Want to stay ahead and participate in MENA's tech evolution? Subscribe to receive similar insights each week. 👇️

Quick thoughts on the AI race & exponential improvements

Since I created TuraLabs (an AI solution agency for SMBs), we've been working to stay ahead of the latest advancements in AI. There are dozens of updates & new improvements each week. There simply isn't enough time for someone, even a team, to test & distinguish hype from real opportunities.

I've tasked my AI engineering team with creating reviews & articles that help us stay updated (Arabic capabilities, new agent architectures, MCP, etc.). However, it's impossible to follow everything, and it's overwhelming for 99% of both technology executives & clients. It's like daily news—you might benefit from 1% of the information, but most of it is here to distract you and serves as entertainment.

My take: I think LLMs opened the eyes of investors, governments, and public opinion to the potential of AI. Now, we're in a virtuous cycle. The more people invest time & resources into making AI better, the better it becomes, until we reach a certain plateau in technological capabilities (we'll need to wait for quantum computing to take it further).

For technology entrepreneurs, I believe we should either be focusing on making better AI or leveraging it to focus on vertical applications.

For me, focusing on a specific niche application provides two key advantages:

You gain competitive advantage beyond what LLMs can do. They won't have the data, the specific industry experience & insights for that niche & they won't bother developing it.
You grow with the growth of AI capabilities. If the AI improves, your product improves.

Forget the constant updates. Focus on your niche application & just update from time to time using the validated upcoming tech (new voice models, new LLMs, OCR..etc.)

What are your thoughts on it? Answer by replying to this email.

📊 MENA Tech Updates

Highlights of Web Summit Qatar Pt1

I've found an interesting article "realistically" summarizing Web Summit Qatar with its key trends, real opportunities, and current investment climate. All written by a startup founder who spent 3 days there.

You can read the full first part here, but here are my highlights:

- AI and fintech remain the key areas of growth and investment opportunities. AI was a dominant topic, representing 17% of all startups at the summit.
- Discussions centered around AI-driven automation, decision-making, and customer service improvements. Some of these have already been implemented by many businesses. However, it shows that the demand is still there.
- Qatar signed a 5-year agreement with Scale AI to integrate AI tools into government services. This is similar to actions taken by UAE & KSA.
- In Fintech: Integrated and accessible financial technologies have significant market potential due to increasing demand from SMEs and unbanked populations.
- Beyond Fintech & AI, Cybersecurity & RegTech are another focus trend.

AliExpress expands local payment in Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco and Tanzania

This is very good news for many upcoming entrepreneurs in Africa. Before, entrepreneurs needed to rely on lengthy procedures & were faced with foreign currency accessibility roadblocks.

All of the above-mentioned countries will be able to source goods from China for their operations, product development, production lines & much more. I don't yet understand how AliExpress managed to make this happen, and I'll follow to see the on-the-ground realities.

AliExpress has also improved logistics, enabling faster delivery within 10 days to select countries, and launched its first showroom in Ethiopia to support wholesale buyers.

Source: Link

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

LIFE pitch night in Dubai for Lebanese founders

If your founding team is composed of at least one Lebanese member, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits:

Connect with investors & mentors
Get potential $150K–$1M in funding

Requirements & dates:

Application Deadline: 07 April 2025
Pitch night: 15 May 2025
At least one Lebanese founder or partner
Based in the MENA region
MVP ready with 6+ months of traction
Tech or tech-enabled startup

To learn more & apply: Here

New $20M venture fund for early stage startups

Yango Group has launched Yango Ventures, a $20M venture fund focused on supporting early-stage startups in sectors like fintech, B2B SaaS, and online-to-offline services across emerging markets, including MENAP.

The fund aims to empower entrepreneurs with financial backing, expertise, and networking opportunities.

There was no mention of application details.

Article source: link

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Dubai AI Festival 2025

The Dubai AI Festival 2025 is a global event bringing together top leaders, innovators, and thinkers in artificial intelligence to showcase advancements and discuss the future of AI. The event is organized by Dubai AI campus, a campus specifically created last year to promote & incubate AI startups.

Dates: 23 – 24 April 2025
Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Target Audience: Industry experts, government agencies, investors, global enterprises, venture capitalists, and AI startups

What's Interesting About It:

Features important themes such as global AI governance and FutureTech to discuss/unveil latest advancement & their real world applications.
Hosts 20+ global unicorns and 20+ top venture capitalists, +500 investors
The FutureTech World Cup for startups to pitch their ideas and connect with investors.
FutureTech Launchpad: A platform to unveil cutting-edge AI solutions and products.
Provides unparalleled networking opportunities with key decision-makers and industry leaders.

You can register and learn more here.

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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business. We then build the solutions starting with the most immediate ROI.
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework

Dubai's bold vision & investment in the future

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 09:31:17 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 7 minutes

Welcome to this weeks technology updates & insights. I share market insights, potential business opportunities & upcoming events.

Your 2-Minute Summary

📚 Market Insights & Resources

Global 50 Report: Forward-thinking report by Dubai Future Foundation exploring 50 opportunities across "MegaTrends" in health, sustainability, technology, and societal transformation. Combines aspirational ideas with actionable insights and promotes cross-disciplinary innovation to address global challenges.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Nawah Pre-Accelerator for Palestinian Startups: A four-month program by Flat6Labs and Google for Startups offering equity-free funding, workshops, and networking for early-stage Palestinian tech startups. Applications close March 31, 2025, with the program running April 20 to August 20, 2025.

📊 MENA Tech Updates

Dubai's AI Research Investment: Dubai Future Foundation is funding 24 innovative research projects from 13 universities through its Research, Development, and Innovation Grant Initiative. Projects focus on cognitive cities, health sciences, AI, and robotics, including AI-driven Alzheimer's detection and digital twin technology for manufacturing.

Google's MENA AI Initiatives: Google is promoting AI adoption in the region through a new Arabic-language AI curriculum, funding university research via Google.org's AI Research Fund, and supporting healthcare applications. Gemini AI assistant was launched in Arabic in 2023, with Google Cloud expanding its AI hub in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (7 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

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📊 MENA Tech Updates

Dubai to invest in 24 AI research projects

The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) is funding 24 innovative research projects from 13 universities through its Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation Grant Initiative (RDI), launched in September 2024. These projects focus on cognitive cities, health sciences, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics to position Dubai as a leader in technological advancements.

Notable funded projects:

AI-driven early Alzheimer's detection (University of Dubai).
AI and digital twin technology for manufacturing SMEs (Middlesex University Dubai).
AI-powered transformation of electric vehicle ecosystems (University of Wollongong in Dubai).

My takeaway: Dubai, and the UAE in general, want to become a global leader in AI. They are investing in both startups & academic institutes to develop local products & capabilities in AI. It's an opportunity for researchers around the MENA region to contribute and leverage their expertise. DFF also announced its goal to invest in startups in UAE & around the world.

To read more: Link

Google’s effort to promote AI adoption in the MENA region

Imagen3 image generation based on arabic text input

StartAD (a healthcare accelerator in Abu Dhabi) with Google published an article highlights Google's efforts to make AI technology more accessible and inclusive through education, research, products, and infrastructure.

Here are my key takeaways (more on the article):

A new Arabic-language AI curriculum under the “Maharat min Google” program, in partnership with Coursera, will teach AI skills like prompt engineering.
Google.org’s AI Research Fund will finance local university research on healthcare, climate change, education, etc.
Google.org will offer a grant to startAD, to identify and develop AI-powered applications that help provide healthcare access for vulnerable populations in the UAE & the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AI Products and Infrastructure:
- Gemini AI assistant was launched in Arabic in 2023, with features like career guidance, coding support, and image generation.
- Partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to expand Google Cloud’s AI hub in Dammam, advancing research and creating jobs.

Source: Link

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

Nawah Early Stage accelerator for Palestinian Startups

The Nawah Pre-Accelerator Program, powered by Flat6Labs and Google for Startups, is a four-month pre-accelerator designed for early-stage tech startups based in Palestine. It aims to support startups with innovative tech solutions to local challenges.

Benefits

Startup will receive equity-free funding powered by Google for Startups, along with business-focused workshops, one-on-one support, and exclusive networking opportunities.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: 31 March 2025
Program Start Date: 20 April 2025
Program End Date: 20 August 2025

Source article: Flat6Labs - Nawah Pre-Accelerator Program

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Dubai AI Festival 2025

Dates: 23 – 24 April 2025
Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Target Audience: Industry experts, government agencies, investors, global enterprises, venture capitalists, and AI startups

What's Interesting About It:

Features important themes such as global AI governance and FutureTech to discuss/unveil latest advancement & their real world applications.
Hosts 20+ global unicorns and 20+ top venture capitalists, +500 investors
The FutureTech World Cup for startups to pitch their ideas and connect with investors.
FutureTech Launchpad: A platform to unveil cutting-edge AI solutions and products.
Provides unparalleled networking opportunities with key decision-makers and industry leaders.

You can register and learn more here.

🤝 Resources & Market Insights

Global 50 report: shaping tomorrow's world with innovation and opportunity

A very forward-thinking report by the Dubai Future Foundation. It offers a perspective on future growth, prosperity, and well-being through 50 opportunities. The report covers a range of "MegaTrends," including advancements in health, sustainability, technology, and societal transformations.

For me, it's an impossible exercise in imagining a better far away future with technologies we didn't build yet. Some of it might be akin to science fiction. Then again, science fiction brought many ideas to life 20 years later.

My key takeaways:

A mix between dream ideas & actionable insights: Some ideas presented are aspirational and futuristic to challenge conventional thinking and encourage innovation. Others are actionable today, providing a roadmap for short-term and long-term strategies.
MegaTrends: Categories like "Materials Revolution," "Digital Realities," "Life with Robots," and "Advanced Health" explore how disruptive technologies can address challenges in sectors like health, energy, and environment.
Cross-disciplinary Innovations: The report promotes collaborations across sectors to address global issues, such as using biomaterials for environmental health or leveraging genomics to combat diseases.

Download the report here: The Global 50 Report | Dubai Future Foundation

📧 Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe below

Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business. We then build the solutions starting with the most immediate ROI.
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework

Insights on Saudi Market Entry, $100M AI Investments

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 5 minutes

Welcome to this weeks technology updates & insights

Your 2-Minute Summary

📚 Market Insights & Resources

2025 Saudi Market Entry Report: Tech leads market entry at 24.8%, with success depending on localization, pre-secured opportunities, proper licensing, local partnerships, and operational readiness. Saudi serves as a regional expansion hub with 35% of companies extending to other GCC markets within 6 months.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Disrupt.com's $100M AI Startup Initiative: UAE venture builder commits $100 million to AI startups globally while offering engineering, marketing and operations support as fractional co-founders. Focus areas include AI, cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive and retail innovation.

📊 MENA Tech Updates

META AI Arabic Capabilities Launch: Meta's AI service rolls out across 10 MENA countries with text and image generation features, though questions remain about its effectiveness with diverse Arabic dialects. This creates potential opportunities for dialect-specialized AI solutions in the region's growing social commerce space.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
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📊 MENA Tech Updates

META AI launched in the MENA region

Millions of users will now be able to access the service in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Only some features are accessible for now, like text and image generation and image animation.

Business opportunity:

What I’m most interested to know, is how capable is the model in understanding local Arabic dialects. With Social commerce booming in the region, AI businesses adopting customer service & recommendation systems right in Instagram & Facebook could lead to major increase in conversion rates & average purchase price. The few models that I have tested did not manage to consistently understand my Algerian Arabic dialect.

Source: https://thestartupscene.me/MenaEcosystems/Meta-Launches-AI-Chatbot-With-Arabic-Capabilities-in-MENA-Region

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

Disrupt.com to commit $100 million to support AI startups globally

UAE-based venture builder Disrupt.com has committed $100 million to support AI-driven startups globally, focusing on early-stage companies from pre-seed to Series A.

Key Sectors: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation.

How They Operate:

Disrupt.com follows a unique venture-building approach that includes building startups from scratch, co-building ventures alongside external founders, and making strategic early-stage investments. They act as fractional co-founders, offering dedicated engineering, go-to-market, and operations teams to help startups achieve sustainable growth.

Important Insights:

Founders' Vision: The founders, who previously built and exited Cloudways, are reinvesting their capital into the next wave of technology ventures, providing not just funding but also operational expertise.
Proven Success: Their investment model has shown success in ventures like ZigChain, PureSquare, and Squatwolf, demonstrating their ability to scale businesses.

Source article: https://middleeast.startupresearcher.com/p/disruptcom-announces-100-million

🤝 Resources & Market Insights

2025 Saudi Market Entry Report: Key Insights for Tech Businesses

Based on the 2025 Saudi Market Entry Report, here are the key highlights for your newsletter focused on tech entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses interested in the MENA market:

Saudi Arabia Market Entry: Key Insights for Tech Businesses

Market Opportunity & Growth

Technology & IT leads as the top industry entering Saudi Arabia (24.8%), followed by consulting (16.9%) and construction (16.2%)
82.1% of companies cited "untapped opportunity" as the primary unique factor in Saudi's business environment
The inflow of tech companies from the Americas increased by 5X in 2024 compared to 2023
46.4% of established companies are pursuing additional pipeline acquisition as their next growth step

Business Development & Expansion Timeline

64% of companies aim to enter Saudi Arabia within 1-3 months (up from 48% in 2023)
30% are looking to expand immediately (within one month)
Companies report that Saudi Arabia rewards long-term commitment—those who fully invest in the market see greater returns

Success Factors for Foreign Tech Companies

Localization: 74% of businesses tailored their products/services to Saudi preferences, with 31.25% reporting that hiring Saudi professionals significantly enhanced stakeholder engagement
Business Development Readiness: 46.4% secured opportunities before physically establishing operations
Licensing & Compliance: 81% reported that completing their full expansion process was crucial for credibility and market access
Community Access: 71.4% leveraged expansion partners, VCs, or government entities to gain critical market insights
Operational Readiness: 53.6% emphasized well-coordinated logistics strategies

Digital Transformation Opportunities

59% of General Managers in Saudi wish for improved online experiences for corporate banking
Saudi's Vision 2030 targets 70% growth in digital payments, creating opportunities for fintech solutions
The Saudi market increasingly favors technology companies that integrate into the local ecosystem rather than those seeking quick gains

Practical Takeaways for Expansion

Building local partnerships accelerates market entry
Family relocation has become significantly smoother (65% reported positive experiences, up from 35% in 2023)
Companies that fully engage with the market reported accessing direct collaboration opportunities with both private sector and giga-projects within their first 6 months
Saudi Arabia is becoming a launchpad for expansion throughout the GCC, with 35% of companies exploring wider regional opportunities within 6 months of their Saudi entry

Read the article: link

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Amine Rabehi

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Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business (for free, not for long). We then build it for you.
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework

AI Robots Patrol the streets of China

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

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

Your 2-Minute Summary

📚 Market Insights & Resources

KSA AI Investment Guide: New comprehensive report (in Arabic) maps government initiatives, funding programs, and practical steps for entrepreneurs. Includes guidance on licensing, registration, and building investor-ready businesses through entities like SDAIA and NTDP.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Palm Ventures' $30M Fund for early stage startups: Saudi-based VC announces initial close of Fund I, targeting early-stage MENA startups with strategic allocation for US-based AI opportunities. Backed by 40+ investors, including corporate CEOs and entrepreneurs, planning for 40 investments.

📊 MENA Tech Updates

AI in Government Administration: Shenzhen, China deploys humanoid robots and 70 AI-powered "digital employees" using DeepSeek's language models, achieving 95% accuracy in administrative tasks. This highlights growing opportunities for AI implementation in business operations across regions.

UAE's New Robotics & AI Hub: Expo City Dubai partners with Heriot-Watt University to launch UAE Robotarium, offering startup incubation and PhD sponsorships.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Web Summit Qatar 2025: February 23-26, 2025 at DECC, Doha. Major tech conference connecting global entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

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📊 MENA Tech Updates

New AI & robotics research hub in Dubai

Expo City Dubai and Heriot-Watt University Dubai have partnered to create the UAE Robotarium, a cutting-edge AI and robotics research hub. The facility aims to foster innovation, incubate startups, and attract global AI talent.

Key Highlights

UAE Robotarium: A state-of-the-art AI and robotics R&D center established at Expo City Dubai.
Startup Incubation: The facility will support the growth and commercialization of new robotics technologies.
PhD Sponsorship: Expo City Dubai will sponsor PhD candidates through Heriot-Watt’s Centre for Doctoral Training to ensure a steady pipeline of AI talent.

Source: Expo City, Heriot-Watt to create AI & robotics research hub

AI robots & Digital Employees Deployed in China To Increase Government Efficiency

So..yes, humanoid robots have started to walk the street in Shenzhen, China. The robots have been deployed to assist in governance tasks such as patrols, public services, and administrative duties. These robots are part of a broader effort to integrate smart technologies into daily administration and improve efficiency.

On a less flashy subject, In the Futian district, 70 AI-powered "digital employees," using DeepSeek's large language models, have been deployed to handle administrative tasks with over 95% accuracy in document corrections. We’re working with an accounting firm in Europe, and I can tell you, the opportunity to implement AI in these business activities is massive.

Source: Humanoid robots and DeepSeek AI employees deployed in Shenzhen for intelligent grassroots governance - Global Times

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

New $30 million fund for early-stage MENA startups

Palm Ventures, based in Saudi Arabia, announced the initial close of its $30 million Fund I. This fund aims to invest in early-stage startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a strategic allocation for US-based AI opportunities.

This venture fund aims to provide access to capital, mentorship, and a network of industry leaders and investors.

Key information:

Region: Startups in the MENA region + strategic allocation for investments in US-based AI startups.
Startup stage: Early Stage
The fund is backed by over 40 investors and advisors, including CEOs of leading corporations, serial entrepreneurs, and investment experts.
Palm Ventures plans to invest in 40 deals through this fund.
Portfolio companies include Nearpay (fintech), FIFOplus (B2B procurement), Erad (revenue-based financing), and Mala Inc. (B2B BNPL platform).

Source article: Saudi's Palm Ventures hits first close of $30 million debut fund to invest in early-stage MENA startups

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Web Summit Qatar 2025

Web Summit Qatar is the Middle Eastern edition of the renowned global technology conference, bringing together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of technology. The event features a diverse range of talks, masterclasses, and networking opportunities.

Dates: February 23-26, 2025
Location: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Doha, Qatar
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, startups, investors, technology professionals, and industry leaders seeking to engage with the global tech community.

You can register and learn more here.

🤝 Resources & Market Insights

AI investment in KSA report for entrepreneurs & investors

Saudi Arabia's AI market is set to contribute $135.2B to the economy by 2030. It’s always the biggest (might be the most difficult as well) market in the GCC region. Still, if you want to scale, expanding in KSA is a must for entrepreneurs. Here's some key information in the report (it’s in Arabic, you can use AI to translate) :

Market Overview & Opportunities

Details Saudi Arabia's AI market potential, with expected AI contribution of over $135.2 billion (12.4% of GDP) by 2030
Highlights untapped opportunities across sectors like healthcare, cybersecurity, military applications, and energy

Support Ecosystem

Maps out key government initiatives including:
- SDAIA (Saudi Data & AI Authority)
- The National Strategy for Data and AI
- Various funding and support programs through entities like NTDP
Details private sector resources and accelerators

Practical Guidelines The report provides specific steps for entrepreneurs including:

How to obtain necessary licenses and registrations
Where to access government support programs
Guidelines for building investor-ready businesses

I’m definitely going to use this report to raise funds for one of Turalabs solutions (we develop AI & Automation solution for us & for businesses, so products area already under way 🙂 )

Read the article: Falak, Bayan Platform jointly launch AI investment in KSA report - Wamda

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Amine Rabehi

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Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business (for free, not for long). We then build it for you.
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework

UAE Claims Global AI Spotlight

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

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

Your 2-Minute Summary

📊 MENA Tech Updates

MENA Venture Investment 2024: a must read for tech startups in the region. $1.9B raised region-wide with 7% deal increase. UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt lead funding destinations, with FinTech dominating sectors.

UAE's AI Leadership: Ranks top 10 globally with 49.5 AI companies per million population. In this section, we’ll go over the why (world's first AI Minister and AED 335B GDP target by 2031 through National AI Strategy).

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Founder Institute 2025: World's largest pre-seed accelerator launching new cohort. Program runs June 10 - September 3, 2025, offering $3M+ in partner perks and global mentor network access. Early deadline: April 20, 2025.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Web Summit Qatar 2025: February 23-26, 2025 at DECC, Doha. Major tech conference connecting global entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

📚 Market Insights & Resources

Syria's Startup Revolution: A very interesting take by Wamda on how entrepreneurship can empower a nation to build quickly. The Syrian population seeing entrepreneurship as "extremely important" has jumped from 26% (2015) to 80.5% (2024). Success stories include Cashi (FinTech), Quizat (EdTech), and Tajir.Stores (E-commerce), demonstrating startup resilience in challenging conditions.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

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📊 MENA Tech Updates

2024 MENA Venture Investment Report (Wamda)

Very concise and succinct report. You’ll get the information you need for a 5 minutes reading.

Key Highlights:

Total Funding: $1.9 billion was raised across the MENA region in 2024.
Investor Confidence: Despite a dip in funding, the number of active investors increased by 20%, signaling optimism for 2025.
Leading Countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt remained a top destination for venture capital investment
Deal Flow: The number of deals increased by 7%, indicating a vibrant startup ecosystem.
Top Industries: FinTech led the way, capturing a significant portion of the total funding. Followed by Web 3, E-commerce, Proptech and SaaS.
Top investors: Flat6Labs, Sanabil 500, Oraseya Capital. For Angels: seek UAE or KSA to increase your chances for funding

Full Report: link

UAE is becoming a global hub for AI

The UAE ranks among the top 10 countries globally for AI companies per million population. According to the Global AI Competitiveness Index, the UAE has 49.5 AI companies per million people, placing it alongside innovation hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong. Why?

High AI Company Density: UAE ranks in the global top 10 with 49.5 AI companies per million population.
Strategic Vision & Support: World's first AI Minister (2017, even before the hype), National AI Strategy 2031 aims to add AED 335 billion to GDP by 2031.
Significant Investments: AED 10 billion Dubai Future Accelerator Fund supports AI projects (I might apply there).
Talent Development: Golden Visa program for AI professionals and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence help attract and grow AI talent.
Robust Infrastructure for AI to run: Over 90% 5G network coverage and 97.1% internet penetration.

Source: here.

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

Founder Institute startup program 2025

The Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, providing a structured methodology and a global support network to help entrepreneurs build their startups from the ground up. The program is designed to guide participants through the process of creating a fundable startup, leveraging a proven business-building process and a vast network of startup founders and mentors.

Requirements:

Applicants should have a startup idea or early-stage startup.
Must be committed to attending all sessions and completing assignments.

Perks:

Access to a global network of startup mentors and founders.
Lifetime access to support programs and partners.
Opportunity to join the Equity Collective, where mentors and founders are invested in your success.
Fast-track to the Funding Lab program and Virtual Demo Days.
Special deals and support worth over $3 million from top support organizations and partners.

Important Deadlines

Early Deadline: April 20, 2025
Program Dates: June 10, 2025 - September 3, 2025
Onboarding: June 3, 2025
Accelerator Kickoff: June 10, 2025

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Web Summit Qatar 2025

Dates: February 23-26, 2025
Location: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Doha, Qatar
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, startups, investors, technology professionals, and industry leaders seeking to engage with the global tech community.

You can register and learn more here.

🤝 Resources & Market Insights

Using startups to power up Syria

Resilience is what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, it also is a necessary ingredient to startup a nation. This article by Wamda discusses the crucial role of entrepreneurship in rebuilding Syria after years of conflict. Despite the challenging economic conditions, Syrian entrepreneurs have shown resilience and innovation, creating startups that address local problems and generate income opportunities. The article highlights the importance of nurturing these startups to drive economic and social recovery in Syria.

Here are some specific examples:

Cashi: A FinTech startup that has been operating amidst the ruins and sanctions in Syria, providing financial solutions to local problems.
Quizat: An EdTech startup focusing on education solutions tailored to the Syrian context.
Tajir.Stores: An E-commerce platform that has created jobs and generated income opportunities.
Sanad ScaleUp and Takween: Support organizations that have been instrumental in fostering resilience and collaboration through boot camps, mentorship programs, and hackathons.
Shift in Perception: Comparing two studies completed with Syrian startups, the percentage of Syrians who viewed entrepreneurship as “extremely important” surged from 26% in 2015 to 80.5% in 2024.

Read the article: Starting up a nation: Why Syria’s future depends on its entrepreneurs - Wamda

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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business (for free, not for long). We then build it for you.
Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework

AI in Algeria: insights & practical implementation strategy

Amine Rabehi — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Deep-Dive Series

Reading time: 5 minutes

Welcome to the Tech A newsletter DeepDive
I've recently spent a week in Algeria finalizing TuraLabs' expansion alongside our UAE office. During this time, I met with over 20 business leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss AI's potential in the country.

In this short article, we'll explore the local context and key challenges & infer (pun intended) the opportunities I see in the short to long term.

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Economic & Social Context: A Young, Growing Market

Algeria has immense potential for economic growth, demonstrated by its 4.1% annual GDP growth, 71% of the population already using the internet, and rapid digital adoption (ref).

The country's greatest asset lies in its young talent pool. About 40% of the total population is below 24, and the country produces approximately 30,000 engineering graduates annually. These graduates are already making their mark in the global tech industry thanks to remote work democratization. While recruiting for our AI team, I've encountered a few who already earn +2000 USD/month as freelancers for US companies, significantly higher than the local "high-end" average engineering wage of 400 USD/month.

Digital sectors like E-commerce are already booming, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1% (vs. 7.6% global average) (ref). However, the true potential is still untapped, as most transactions happen with cash on delivery.

Government & support initiatives:

In the past 2 years, the government has taken significant steps to support AI development, such as:

The AI Council, established in June 2023, unites experts from government, industry, and academia (ref)
"The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Conference" in December 2024 defined a detailed road-map
The AI Action Plan focuses on six pillars: scientific research, talent attraction, hardware investment, investment promotion, data protection, and sector-specific AI strategies (agriculture, healthcare, and cyber-security)
By 2026, Algeria Digital Strategy 2030 aims to implement 500+ digitalization projects, focusing on infrastructure, training, digital governance, economy, and society.

While the effectiveness of these strategies depends heavily on the execution, the trend is promising.

Challenges:

According to the "Government AI Readiness Index 2023" by Oxford Insights, Algeria ranks 120th globally in readiness for large-scale AI adoption in the public sector, scoring 35.99 out of 100. Which means it's still ramping up its digitization phase.

For the AI strategy to succeed, Algeria will need widespread access to strong digital infrastructure, such as data centers with cloud computing systems. Investments in local talent, modernizing digital infrastructure, and fostering innovation will also be critical to achieving the strategy's goals.

Legal and administrative constraints heavily limit the use of foreign digital infrastructure. The foreign currency reserve is declining yearly (from 193.6 to 63.6 billion USD in the last decade).

This makes it very hard for businesses and individuals to purchase foreign software assets such as software, API keys, cloud computing usage, etc.

Source: CEICDATA (ref)

Ground Realities From Business Leaders:

Once in Algeria, I wanted to confirm some assumptions by directly discussing them with business leaders and entrepreneurs in pharmaceuticals, marketing, e-commerce, and finance.

Here are my takeaways:

Some Corporate government organizations are already considering investing in or developing their own AI solutions. I've seen them implemented (or being implemented) in insurance, banking, pharmaceuticals, and cybersecurity.
Small to medium businesses show limited AI adoption potential
Digital-focused companies and startups are embracing AI.
With salaries as low as $150/month, Businesses mainly use AI to drive quality of service/product improvement and revenue growth.
Young graduates understand AI's utility, and many are turning to AI freelancing for overseas clients.
There is no significant GPU as a service infrastructure. However, there are some promising developments, like the Ooredoo Group announcement in 2024. They partnered with NVIDIA to deploy thousands of NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs in their AI data centers across the MENA region, including Algeria (ref). Algeria's rollout date is still undefined.

My Strategy

TuraLabs is a global AI development agency, and we're already developing AI solutions for initial North American clients. We also want to leverage the presence of our Algeria office and consultants there to explore how AI can benefit businesses there TODAY.

Here is how I plan to adapt my approach to the Algerian market:

Utilizing Algeria's tech talent pool to build solutions from ideation to PoC, partnering with early adopters for pre-international rollout refinement
Focusing AI solutions on quality and revenue growth for the Algerian market
Prioritizing automation for broader small business appeal
Leveraging AI internally in self-owned businesses rather than direct AI sales. Whether you create a marketing agency, regulatory consultancy, or an E-commerce store, AI can give you a high competitive edge. Your client mainly cares about the value you provide (not the how).
To address foreign currency challenges, we'll implement models locally using open source LLMs.
When the government strategy materializes, we'll train, implement, and contribute to AI adoption. It's my bet for the future. Some bets are worth taking, whatever the results.

If you've read this far, you share my interest in Algeria's AI potential. Share this article and connect with me to continue the discussion.

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Amine Rabehi

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🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tailored Smart Solutions (AI, Automation, Blockchain, IoT): with my team at TuraLabs, we help you assess where AI & other solutions can best provide value for your business (for free, not for long). We then build it for you.

Dubai AI Seal to work with government, $100M Web3 Fund & Deep Tech Growth Report in Saudi Arabia

Amine Rabehi — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

Welcome to this week's technology updates & insights in the Tech A newsletter.

⚡ Your 2-Minute Summary

📊 MENA Tech Updates

Dubai launches "Dubai AI Seal" to certify trusted AI companies - free certification with unique serial number. Companies with the seal will have preference in working with government.
DMCC and REIT Development building 17-storey Crypto Tower in JLT - 150,000 sq ft, completion Q1 2027
Sigma Capital launches $100M fund for Web3 startups targeting 100 investments
Petromin partners with Gupshup for Saudi's first automotive AI agent (PETROMINit!) offering bilingual support

💶 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Sheraa Startup DOJO: AED 25K grants + AED 3M resources, deadline Feb 13
Hub71 Programs (AI, ClimateTech, Digital Assets, Access): All due Feb 1
Misk Accelerator: 3-month program for early-stage tech, deadline Feb 10
Flat6Labs Riyadh: SAR 500K seed + SAR 2.4M follow-on, deadline Jan 28

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival: Feb 1-2, featuring 150+ startups, 100+ investors, AED 700K funding
Arab Health: Jan 27-30, Dubai World Trade Centre - 3,800+ exhibitors, 60,000+ professionals from 180+ countries

🔍 Resources & Market Insights:

Saudi Arabia Deep Tech Report findings:

43+ deep tech startups (50% in AI/IoT)
$100M+ raised by deep tech startups since 2020
72% increase in startup funding (2021-2022)
104 active startup investors (+41% since 2018)

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
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📊 MENA Tech Updates

We’ve got a mix of AI & Web3 news that I found interesting this week.

Dubai Introduces AI Seal to Certify Trusted AI Companies

The Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) has launched the "Dubai AI Seal" to certify trusted AI companies. The initiative aims to build trust in AI solutions and foster public-private partnerships.

Highlights

Companies can apply for the AI Seal for free. The certification includes a unique serial number and classification
Certified companies gain a competitive edge in government projects and can showcase their credibility across digital platforms

Source: MSN

DMCC and REIT Development to Build Crypto Tower in JLT

Source: DMCC

DMCC continues to push toward web3 with it’s partnership with REIT Development. They are constructing a 17-storey Crypto Tower in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai. The tower will support blockchain, DeFi, and Web3 companies. The tower will offer 150,000 sq ft of leasable space, including nine office floors, three floors for blockchain incubators, and one floor for AI innovation. Construction is expected to be completed by Q1 2027

Source: GulfBusiness

Sigma Capital Launches $100 Million Fund to Accelerate Web3 Innovation

Sigma Capital has launched a $100 million fund, Sigma Capital Fund I, to support early-stage Web3 startups. The fund will focus on DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, real-world asset tokenization, gaming, and the metaverse.

Highlights

The fund aims to invest in 100 startups, 25 liquid tokens, and 10 fund-of-funds allocations over the next three years

Source: Wamda

Petromin and Gupshup Partner to Launch Saudi Arabia’s First Generative AI-Powered Automotive AI Agent

Petromin Corp has partnered with Gupshup to introduce PETROMINit!, an advanced customer service AI agent. The AI agent leverages generative AI capabilities to offer seamless vehicle support in both Arabic and English. The AI agent provides support for a range of services, including vehicle quick servicing, EV solutions, and loyalty points assistance, transforming customer engagement in the automotive industry.

Source: ArabianBusiness

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

We’ve got a lot of funding programs with deadlines at the end of January. Here is a quick recap.

Sheraa Startup DOJO Program

This 12-week accelerator is designed for students and recent graduates based in the UAE who are eager to validate their ideas, develop prototypes, and refine go-to-market strategies with expert guidance.

Key Information

Win AED 25,000 in grants
Participate in expert-led workshops
Receive one-on-one mentorship
Access free coworking space
Unlock over AED 3M in resources & tools

Application Deadline:13th February 2025
Apply Here & Learn More About the Program

Source: Sheraa newsletter.

Last week’s funding programs are still open, here is the recap.

Hub71 Programs (Abu Dhabi) - All deadlines: Feb 1, 2025

AI Program: For AI technology startups
ClimateTech Program: Focused on climate solutions
Digital Assets Program: Supporting blockchain/digital asset ventures
Access Program: For scaling established startups
Source: link

Misk Accelerator (Saudi Arabia)

Application deadline: Feb 10, 2025
3-month program (Feb 23 - June 29, 2025)
For early-stage tech startups targeting Saudi market
Includes coaching, investor events, and VC investment opportunities
Past success: 173 startups across 9 cohorts, collective valuation $2.28B
Source: link

Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program

Extended deadline: Jan 28, 2025
Program runs Feb 15 - May 15, 2025
Funding: SAR 500K seed + up to SAR 2.4M follow-on
Open to Saudi residents (including non-nationals)
Provides mentorship, legal support, marketing assistance, and investor connections
Source: Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program website.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival

Maybe the most dynamic entrepreneurship gathering! The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2025 brings together investors, and innovators for two days of collaboration and opportunity. With over 150 startups, 100+ investors, and AED700,000 in potential funding up for grabs.

Dates: February 1-2, 2025 Location: Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park

Key Features:

Startup Town Zone: 150+ startup pods
Investors Lounge: 100+ investors, 320+ meetings scheduled
Founders Stage: Industry leaders discussing disruption, sustainability, EdTech
SEF x 1Tank Competition: Grants up to AED200,000 + potential AED500,000 investor funding
30+ workshops and masterclasses via SEF Academy

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

🔍 Resources & Market Insights

Saudi Arabia's Deep Tech Ecosystem: A 2024 Mapping Report

The report maps out Saudi Arabia's ambitious transformation into a deep tech hub, analyzing major investments across healthcare, clean energy, sustainable food systems, and smart cities. Backed by Vision 2030 initiatives and substantial government funding ($1.5B for tech development), the ecosystem offers significant opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs.

Key Stats:

43+ deep tech startups identified, with 50% focused on AI/IoT
Over $100M raised by Saudi deep tech startups since 2020
72% increase in total startup funding from 2021 to 2022
104 active startup investors, up 41% since 2018

Want to explore Saudi's tech transformation and investment landscape? Access the full report by KAUST, MCIT, and Hello Tomorrow for detailed analysis and market opportunities.

Read the report: Link to the source.

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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Discovery Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Advisory: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support
AI & Automation Implementation: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). with my Team at TuraLabs, we help you implement AI solutions that make sense for your business.

Reflection on the GCC technology development progress

Amine Rabehi — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Deep-Dive Series

Reading time: 5 minutes

Today, I wanted to reflect on the progress of technology development in the GCC region. Having spent the past two and a half years in UAE's tech ecosystem, I've noticed a set of strong positive transformation indicators. Here, I reflect on key elements I noticed (not exhaustive).

Growth of Government-Led Innovation Infrastructure

The past 5-7 years, the region has experienced a strategic shift in governmental priorities toward technological self-sufficiency. In UAE alone, I can cite the Technology Innovation Institute (part of ATRC), Sharjah Research & Technology Park (SRTIP), and Dubai Future Foundation. Most of these hubs were created recently. Each hub is funded by the respective emirate and strives to build the technologies of tomorrow. There is a missing piece: a technological property push from universities and an emergence of university spin-offs. It will happen, but it takes time.

International Technology Migration

"Many companies don't want to go to MEDICA (the famous healthcare exhibition in Germany) and prefer to focus on Arab Health," Said a German Deeptech CEO during a call a few days ago.

A particular signal is the increasing interest from established international technology companies in establishing regional operations. This year, I've engaged with Swiss and German firms to explore secondary manufacturing facilities in the UAE and KSA.

Parallel to this, I'm seeing the emergence of innovative local startups developing proprietary technology. Companies like Enercap exemplify this trend by maintaining end-to-end operations within the UAE.

Evolving Investment Landscape

The regional venture capital ecosystem shows notable evolution, particularly in its approach to deep tech investments.
Firms like Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), VentureSouq, Alturki Ventures, Shorooq, and Phaze Ventures actively invest in early-stage deep tech startups, with KSA leading this trend.
We're still far from European and US levels. I still don't see myself creating a hardware tech startup in MENA, but seeing the progress is encouraging.

Strategic Market Entry Guidelines

For technology companies considering GCC market entry, I recommend tailoring your approach based on your development stage:

Early-Stage Startups:

Leverage incubation/acceleration programs for their network value
Focus on programs with strong investor connections (Hub71, Flat7Lab, In5Tech in UAE; The Garage in KSA)
Use these platforms primarily for market visibility and investor access
If you're in Europe (France, UK, Germany), the US, or China, you have a better chance of getting initial funding there. Especially for hardware deep tech.

Established Companies:

Consider market size and regulatory environment carefully: UAE is more accessible than KSA.
KSA offers the largest market and stronger early-stage funding
UAE provides easier company setup and a more mature investment landscape
For manufacturing operations, consider UAE for initial quick setup and KSA for scale.
For financing, there are specialized banks like EDB that specifically support manufacturing companies with at least a 2M+ AED revenue threshold.

What's my strategy?

In my specific case, I choose another approach.

By establishing a smart solution agency specializing in AI, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Intelligent IoT solutions, I'm building a foundation that serves multiple purposes:

Immediate revenue generation
Deep market understanding through client interactions
Resource accumulation for future proprietary technology development
Network building within the regional ecosystem

I plan to use the revenue and insights to build proprietary technologies and capacity in the region, little by little. That's the plan, but I prefer to view it as a trajectory. The future might lead to a different outcome with different unexpected hurdles and opportunities.

💡 Looking Ahead

While the GCC's technology ecosystem may not yet rival established hubs in Europe, China, or the US, it shows remarkable momentum. Combining government support, increasing international interest, and an evolving investment landscape creates a unique opportunity for technology companies willing to understand and adapt to regional dynamics.

Each country has specific enablers & constraints; you have to play with the game rules in mind (while still having a bold vision).

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Amine Rabehi

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Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.

Web3 Takes Center Stage in MENA as Dubai Leads Digital Asset Innovation

Amine Rabehi — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

Welcome to this week's technology updates & insights in the Tech A newsletter. This week's round-up has good news about blockchain adoption in the Middle East as well as a flurry of upcoming funding programs for startups.

⚡ Your 2-Minute Summary

📊 MENA Tech Updates

Tokinvest received first VARA license in DMCC Dubai for tokenizing real estate
DAMAC partners with MANTRA to tokenize $1B in real estate assets by early 2025
Mastercard launches Crypto Credential in UAE for simplified cryptocurrency transactions
AIQ (UAE) partners with Colombia's Ecopetrol for AI-powered energy solutions

💶 Tech Funding & Support Programs

SEF x 1Tank Competition: AED 200K grants, deadline Jan 26
Hub71 Programs (AI, ClimateTech, Digital Assets, Access): All due Feb 1
Misk Accelerator 2025: Early-stage tech startups, deadline Feb 10
Flat6Labs Riyadh: SAR 500K seed funding, deadline extended to Jan 28

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Dubai International Project Management Forum: Jan 13-16
GITEX Africa: April 14-16, Marrakech
Arab Health: Jan 27-30, Dubai World Trade Centre
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week: Jan 12-18

🔍 Resources & Market Insights ASTRA Tech report findings:

UAE leads Middle East AI adoption (53.25%)
44.74% of UAE companies deeply integrating AI
Localization crucial for cultural sensitivity
46% of UAE users use AI for information retrieval

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

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📊 MENA Tech Updates

We’ve got a lot of positive Web3 news this week. Mastercard is bringing decentralized payment to UAE while Tokinvest got an authorization to digitalize real world assets.

First Licence in DMCC (Dubai) given to Tokinvest to tokenize real estate investment

Tokinvest, a marketplace for real-world asset (RWA) investing, has received a full market license from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). This makes Tokinvest the first company within Dubai’s DMCC Free Zone to obtain an operational VARA license. The license allows Tokinvest to operate as a virtual asset broker-dealer, serving retail, qualified, and institutional investors in and from Dubai.

Why it’s important:

Regulatory Milestone: This achievement underscores Dubai's progressive regulatory framework, which supports innovation and secure operations in the crypto space.
Market Accessibility: Tokinvest's platform democratizes access to prestigious assets through fractional investments, enhancing liquidity and investment opportunities.
Blockchain Integration: Leveraging blockchain technology, Tokinvest provides a seamless, secure, and efficient platform for fractionalizing real-world assets.

The authorization paves the way to the generalization of blockchain use to make expensive real world assets accessible to everyone while ensuring transparency.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

DAMAC wants to tokenize $1bn in real-world assets

Speaking of real world assets. DAMAC Group has partnered with blockchain firm MANTRA to tokenize $1 billion in real-world assets (RWAs) in the Middle East. This collaboration aims to drive the adoption of blockchain technology, enabling fractional ownership and tokenized real estate investment opportunities.

Highlights

Token-Based Financing: Focus on real estate, hospitality, data centers, and other critical sectors.
Minimum Value: Targeting assets with a minimum value of $1 billion.
Blockchain Integration: Assets will be available on MANTRA Chain in early 2025, enhancing transparency, security, and accessibility.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

Mastercard simplifies cryptocurenncy usage in UAE for everyone

Mastercard has introduced its Crypto Credential solution to the UAE and Kazakhstan, marking its debut in the EEMEA region. This solution allows users to send and receive cryptocurrencies using simple aliases instead of complex blockchain addresses, ensuring transactions proceed only when the recipient’s wallet supports the transferred asset.

Highlights

Enhanced Security & User experience: The system reduces the risk of failed or lost transactions by verifying users and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Global Expansion: The initiative is part of Mastercard's broader strategy to increase trust in blockchain technology and transform digital asset interactions.
Future Applications: Mastercard plans to expand Crypto Credential’s applications to NFTs, ticketing, and other payment solutions.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

AIQ (UAE) and Ecopetrol Partner to Drive AI-Powered Energy Transition in Colombia

AIQ, an Abu Dhabi-based leader in AI-driven energy solutions, has signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Colombia’s national oil giant, Ecopetrol. This partnership aims to integrate AI-powered technologies into Ecopetrol’s operations over an initial 24-month period.

Highlights

Operational Efficiency: AIQ's AI solutions are expected to optimize oil and gas production, improve safety standards, and reduce environmental impact.
Sustainability: AI-powered technologies will help Ecopetrol reduce its carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency.
Innovation: The partnership will leverage AIQ's advanced AI products, such as RoboWell and EmissionX, to drive innovation in the energy sector.

Source: GulfBusiness

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

We’ve got a lot of funding programs with deadlines at the end of January. Here is a quick recap.

SEF x 1Tank Startup Pitch Competition

Organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) in partnership with '1Tank', this competition offers grants totaling AED 200,000 and potential investor funding up to AED 500,000. Winners also receive free flight tickets from Air Arabia.

Application Deadline: January 26, 2025
Focus Sectors: EdTech, Sustainability, Creative Industries, Tech & Industry 4.0
Source: link

Hub71 Programs

Source: link

AI Program:

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Focus Sectors: Artificial Intelligence

Hub71 in Abu Dhabi offers this program for startups harnessing AI technologies, providing access to a global network, mentorship, and potential funding opportunities.

Hub71+ ClimateTech Program

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Focus Sectors: Climate Technology
This program supports startups developing solutions in climate technology, offering resources to scale and access to a global network.

Hub71+ Digital Assets Program

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Focus Sectors: Digital Assets, Blockchain
Details: Focused on startups in the digital assets space, this program provides support, mentorship, and potential funding to accelerate growth.

Access Program Hub71

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Focus Sectors: Various
Details: Aimed at established startups looking to scale, this program offers access to a global network, mentorship, and potential funding opportunities.

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

Application Deadline: February 10, 2025.
Program Start: February 23, 2025.
Program End: 3 months until June 29, 2025.

Source: link

Flat6Labs Riyadh Seed Program (Deadline Extended)

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 (Extended): January 28, 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

Dubai International Project Management Forum

This 10th edition is a premier event that brings together global leaders and experts in project management to share insights, best practices, and innovative solutions.

Important Information

Date: January 13-16, 2025
Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Target Audience: Project management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators.
Masterclasses: In-depth sessions on AI, customer-centric PMO, risk management, and more.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals and leaders.

For more details, you can visit the DIPMF website.

Gitex Africa: Registration Open for Startups

GITEX Africa 2025 is Africa's largest tech and startup show, bringing together the world's cutting-edge technology and brightest minds to catalyze Africa's innovation-driven future.

Important Information

Date & Localtion: April 14-16, 2025, Marrakech, Morocco
Exhibitors: Over 1,400 exhibiting companies and startups.
Investors: 350+ investors looking for the next big thing in the digital economy.
Government Entities: Participation from 650+ government entities.
Target Audience: Tech enthusiasts, startups, investors, government representatives, and industry leaders.
Overall Themes: AI, Connectivity, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Health, Agritech, and Sustainable solutions.

For more details, you can visit the GITEX Africa website. For Startups you can register here.

Arab Health: The largest healthcare exhibition in MENA

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.

🔍 Resources & Market Insights

ASTRA Tech Insights on Actionable GenAI in the Middle East

MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East, in collaboration with Astra Tech, has released a white paper titled "Leveraging Actionable Gen AI in the Middle East." The report explores the transformative opportunities posed by large language models (LLMs), small language models (SLMs), and large action models (LAMs) in the region.

Highlights

UAE Leadership: The UAE is leading AI adoption in the Middle East, with 53.25% of survey respondents based in the country.
AI Integration: Nearly half (44.74%) of companies in the UAE are deeply integrating AI into customer service and product development.
Localisation is important: Emphasis on localising AI solutions to address cultural sensitivities and compliance. This is a common pattern I’ve seen in the other report by Mckinsey (shared last week)
AI-Driven Customer Experience: 46% of UAE users engage with AI for information retrieval, and 33% for customer service and support.

Read the report: Astra-Tech-Report.pdf

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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Advisory: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.

State of AI 2024: The Complete Picture + 16 FREE Industry Reports To Download

Amine Rabehi — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Deep-Dive Series

Reading time: 2 & 10 minutes

Hi and Welcome to the Tech A newsletter DeepDive
Over the past three weeks, I've shared detailed insights about the current state of AI implementation in businesses, drawing from my experience as a former R&D Program Manager and CTO, combined with data from 16 major industry reports covering over 3000 companies.

Here's your 3-minute executive summary of all three parts 👇️

⚡ Your 2-Minute Summary

The Current Reality : AI can indeed bring tremendous value, but for the few that adopt the right strategy (Read Part 1 Here)

Despite massive investments, only 26% of businesses are generating tangible value from AI, of which 4% have been able to achieve significant value.
Most successful implementations see nearly 3x ROI and 30% premium on key financial metrics
62% of value comes from core business functions (operations 23%, sales 20%, R&D 13%)
Financial services, Tech/Telecom, and Industrial sectors are leading adoption
Enterprise average spend: >$1M yearly on GenAI

What differentiates the AI leaders from the Learners? (Read Part 2 Here):

70-80% of AI initiatives never move beyond the pilot phase
Success requires addressing three critical areas:
- People/Process (70% of effort needed)
- Technology (20%)
- Algorithms (10%)
- This 70-20-10 split challenges a common misconception: while many organizations focus on technical capabilities, successful AI implementation is predominantly a people and process challenge.
Main barriers: ROI measurement, talent acquisition, data quality, and system integration
Success markers: Companies that scale successfully, invest more, plan, and execute a comprehensive enterprise-level/multi-year strategy.

The Winning Playbook (Read Part 3 Here):

Start with Strategy: Follow the 10-20-70 rule (algorithms-tech-people)
Focus on High-Impact Pilots: Begin small but target core business processes. You need the initial ROI to reinvest and get executive buy in.
Build the Foundation: Invest in infrastructure and quality data. Address data challenges early, ensuring AI tools integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Prepare teams through training and process adaptations.
Scale Strategically: Form cross-disciplinary teams, establish AI Centers of Excellence, and create governance frameworks. Address gaps in technology, data, and strategy to support organization-wide scaling efforts.
Drive Adoption: AI success requires cultural change. Embed AI into workflows, reimagine processes, and foster digital literacy across teams.

Part of this article might not show in the email. Read online.

Read online

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🎁Exclusive Resource Pack

As a subscriber, you can access all 16 industry reports that formed the backbone of this analysis. These include the latest insights from BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, IBM, Dataiku, and more.

Download Reports Here-> Link

Reports included:

BCG: Built for the Future 2024 Global Study
Accenture: Built to Scale
Deloitte State of GenAI Q3 2024
IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2024
Dataiku: AI Today
... and 11 more

📌 If you found this valuable, consider forwarding it to a colleague who might benefit from these insights.

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If you liked this first part, consider subscribing to and sharing the newsletter.

Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.

MENA's Tech Updates: GCC AI report, Egypt's first licensed digital financial institution, 2 new funding programs..

Amine Rabehi — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

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)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

Want to stay ahead and participate in MENA's tech evolution? Subscribe to receive similar insights each week. 👇️

📊 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

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

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

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

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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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Advisory: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.

The Right Way to Implement AI: A Practical Guide for Business Leaders

Amine Rabehi — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Deep-Dive Series

Reading time: 2 & 10 minutes

Welcome to the Tech A newsletter Deep-Dive. This is the final part of my state of AI series.
In Part 1 (read here), we uncovered how businesses use AI and where they see value, finding that only 26% of companies generate tangible returns despite massive investments. Part 2 (read here) focused on answering why the majority struggle and what differentiates successful implementations from failures.
This week’s deep dive presents the most effective strategies to implement AI. This playbook combines real use cases with enterprise survey results from more than 3000 companies (conducted by BCG, Deloitte, McKinsey, Dataiku, and more).

⚡ Executive Summary

Companies Scaling AI have achieved an estimated 2x success rate and 3x the return compared to others. However, a significant 76% of C-suite executives admit to struggling with scaling AI, and three out of four believe failing to scale AI within five years could threaten their business.

The winning playbook: The path to achieving this involves five critical steps:

Start with Strategy:
Align AI with business objectives, balancing quick wins and transformative projects. Follow the 10-20-70 rule—10% focus on algorithms, 20% on tech, and 70% on people and processes. Secure leadership buy-in and set realistic 1-2 year timelines for scaling.
High-Impact Pilots:
Begin with small, high-value projects to build momentum and demonstrate ROI. Focus on core business processes that drive revenue and track results meticulously to fuel further AI investments.
Build the Foundation:
Invest in essential infrastructure and quality data. Address data challenges early, ensuring AI tools integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Prepare teams through training and process adaptations.
Scale AI:
Form cross-disciplinary teams, establish AI Centers of Excellence, and create governance frameworks. Address gaps in technology, data, and strategy to support organization-wide scaling efforts.
Drive Adoption:
AI success requires cultural change. Embed AI into workflows, reimagine processes, and foster digital literacy across teams. Use platforms and reusable assets to accelerate deployment and track progress with robust metrics.

Bottom Line: Successful AI initiatives prioritize organizational transformation, focusing on people and processes first. Companies that adopt this structured approach see stronger returns and lasting competitive advantages.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read). Part of this article might not show in the email.

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Adapted from Accenture: Built to Scale

Summarizing it boldly, we know with facts & testimonials that a considerable return on investment is achieved when AI is scaled across organizations. However, most organizations do not attain that stage.

Consider this survey results by Accenture:

Most C-suite executives believe achieving a positive return on AI investments requires scaling across the organization. Yet 76% acknowledge they struggle when it comes to scaling it across the business. Moreover, three out of four C-suite executives believe that they risk going out of business entirely if they don't scale AI in the next five years. (Accenture: Built to Scale)

The majority of C-suite executives who struggle have already started losing enthusiasm. Deloitte's Q3 2024 survey reveals that executive interest has dropped 11 percentage points since Q1. Time is of the essence.

This playbook, built on extensive research from leading consulting firms and real-world implementations, offers a proven path to success. Let's dive into the specific steps that set successful organizations apart.

The promise: if you scale AI across your organization, you get 2x the success rate and 3x the return.

1) Focused strategy & High level commitment

The journey begins with strong foundations. BCG's research reveals that leaders follow the 10-20-70 rule: 10% focus on algorithms, 20% on technology, and 70% on people and processes. This isn't arbitrary - companies following this model are 55% more likely to generate value from their AI initiatives. This pattern also applies to digital transformation efforts in general.

Key focus areas:

Secure C-suite commitment with clear accountability and dedicated leadership
Create a focused strategy linking AI to business objectives: You need a balanced approach. Target both quick wins and transformational opportunities [Citation: "67% of organizations are increasing investments in GenAI because they have seen strong value to date" - Deloitte]
Spread your organization's effort according to the 10-20-70 rule. It's always about people and processes first, then technology.
Set realistic 1-2 year implementation timelines: while you might see some success in the short run, true AI scaling across your organization takes time.

Why This Works: Deloitte's research shows that organizations with clear strategic alignment achieve 3x better outcomes.

2) Start with High-Impact Pilots

As one global head of AI at a pharmaceutical company notes, "There's a lot of willingness to test and experiment, but people might get disappointed if it's not paying off fast enough." [Deloitte]

Humans run organizations; we need to see signs that it's working in the short term. Then we can commit and trust that the much more significant compound effects, in the long run, will arrive (+2 years)

Successful companies focus on what BCG calls "lighthouse initiatives"—high-impact, achievable projects that demonstrate value quickly. You need those to generate revenue, increase buy-in from C-level executives, and reinvest in scaling AI.

"Leading companies are well on their way to creating significant value...a consumer products company applied GenAI to reduce costs by $300 million through productivity gains" (BCG Report)

Key focus areas:

Select 2-3 high-impact, low-complexity use cases: I covered those in parts 1 and 2.
Focus on core business processes, not just support functions.
Document learnings and ROI meticulously
Create a standardized implementation playbook

We've covered many AI use cases that deliver real-world value in part 1 and part 2 that deliver business results. Here are a few additional examples by industry:

AI use cases delivering real world value by industry (Deloitte)

3) Build Your Foundation

To leverage AI capabilities quickly, you need a minimum setup that you would gradually improve with your growing return on investment.

From a technical point of view, you need to integrate AI with your existing IT system and get access to quality data (otherwise, it's garbage in, garbage out). Start with minimum viable infrastructure and scale while keeping the end in mind.

In the age of AI, data is the new oil. Data challenges can derail even the best AI initiatives. According to Deloitte, key focus areas are:

Enhanced data security (54% of leaders)
Improved data quality practices (48%)
Integration of internal and external data

Many organizations are learning that they can't start with Generative AI until they address their data deficiencies. Activities such as LLM tuning and training require high-quality data that is free of issues related to privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property (Deloitte).

From a people and processes perspective, adapting your way of work (processes) and training people on AI takes time but needs to start from the early days.

4) Scale AI

At this point, you've used AI and GenAI where appropriate to drive efficiency, productivity, and cost reduction through large-scale deployment—but don't stop there. The organization should consider reinvesting the freed-up time and budget to scale AI across the organization (innovation, product development pipeline, etc.).

Scaling requires a delicate balance of speed and structure. The data shows organizations highly prepared for scaling excel in Technology infrastructure (45%), Data management (41%), Strategy (37%), Risk and governance (23%)

Key focus areas:

Identify your capabilities gaps when compared to top AI scalers.
Form multi-disciplinary teams: 92% of strategic scalers leverage them (Accenture)
Create an AI Center of Excellence to centralize oversight and follow through with the implementation progress.
Establish a clear governance framework
Make your Data & Technology infrastructure ready to scale while continuing to work on people & processes long term.
Set up guardrails to deploy AI responsibly in all initiatives through transparency, control, and accountability to ensure ethical and legal compliance and to manage business risks.

Drive Organization-Wide Adoption

Success requires more than technology—it demands organizational transformation. According to Deloitte, "deeply embedding GenAI into functions and processes" is the top value driver (22% of respondents).

Key focus areas:

Focus on end-to-end transformation and people and processes: redesigning ways of working, cultivating talent, reimagining processes, strengthening effective decision-making, and addressing reluctance to adopt new solutions
Adopt a digital platform mindset: through reusable assets on platforms, successive AI programs achieve 3-5X faster to market at lower spend (Accenture)
Measure: Define both financial and non-financial metrics and set tracking mechanisms

💡 Looking Ahead

The companies that succeed with AI aren't necessarily those with the most significant budgets or advanced technology. They're the ones that follow a systematic approach, focus on business value, and remember that true transformation is about people and processes first, technology second.

One successful AI implementation leader said, "These projects need to demonstrate how they would improve the company either through cost savings, increased operational efficiency, or revenue generation." BCG

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Sources:

IBM: AI in Action 2024 Report
Deloitte: State of GenAI Q3 2024 Report
Accenture: AI: Built to Scale Report
BCG: Where’s the Value in AI? Oct 2024

Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Solution/Product consultancy: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.

MENA's Tech Updates: From Quantum Security to Flying Deliveries

Amine Rabehi — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:01:00 +0000

Reading time: 2 & 8 minutes

Welcome to Tech A newsletter.
This week's roundup features game-changing developments in the MENA tech ecosystem 🚀

⚡ Your 2-Minute Summary

📊 MENA Tech Updates

UAE Battery Swapping Network: ENOC and Drive Terra are launching UAE's largest battery swapping network for e-bikes in 2025, supporting the country's Net Zero 2050 initiative and enhancing last-mile delivery solutions.

South Korea's Quantum Tech in Saudi: Norma secured a $2M deal with Saudi's ITB Belt to export Post Quantum Cryptography security solution to NEOM city, marking their first Middle East expansion.

Dubai's Drone Delivery: Dubai launched the Middle East's first drone delivery system at Dubai Silicon Oasis, with plans to cover 33% of Dubai by 2030.

NEOM-Samsung Partnership: NEOM and Samsung formed a SR1.3B joint venture to advance construction automation, focusing on robotic rebar cage assembly that could reduce manual labor by 80%.

💰 Tech Funding & Support Programs

Saudi RDIA Grants: The Saudi Minds grant program launched its 2025 initiative supporting research in health, environment, energy, and future economies.

Al Madinah Ventures: A new $10M investment fund launched to attract tech startups to Al Madinah, targeting 30 investors annually by 2025.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week: ADSW 2025 runs January 12-18, focusing on sustainable economy transition and socioeconomic growth.

World Future Energy Summit: Taking place January 14-16 at ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi, bringing together industry leaders for clean energy solutions.

📚 Market Insights & Resources

Dubai AI Guidelines: Dubai Future Foundation released guidelines for AI in creative industries, addressing automation, cultural risks, and environmental concerns.

Interested to know more? Scroll below ⬇️ (10 minutes read)
Sometimes, this newsletter’s content gets truncated due to its length
Read Online

Want to stay ahead and participate in MENA's tech evolution? Subscribe to receive similar insights each week. 👇️

📊 MENA Tech Updates

UAE’s largest battery swapping network to launch (ENOC & Drive Terra)

To support the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, ENOC partnered with Drive Terra to launch the largest battery swapping network for e-bikes. This initiative aims to support the country's green energy goals (Net zero by 2050) and enhance last-mile delivery solutions.

UAE follows the successful launch of the battery swapping technology in China, India, and other Asian countries.

There are many benefits to this technology, among which:

Sustainability: Promotes eco-friendly transportation and reduces emissions.
Efficiency: Addresses challenges like high battery costs, long recharging times, and limited operational range.
Innovation: Introduces the 'Batteries-as-a-Service' model, allowing easy battery swaps for e-bike operators.

Timeline

Launch: The network is set to be deployed soon in 2025 without specific date mentioned.

💡 Business Opportunities

This initiative opens up many business opportunities. However, keep in mind that UAE has it’s own economic, social, and environmental context. E-bikes won’t see mass consumer adoption like China or India. Do you market study beforehand (Disclaimer: this is part of the services I offer).

Logistics Optimization: Companies can optimize their last-mile delivery operations by adopting e-bikes and battery-swapping solutions. I believe this would be the sector with most initial traction.
Ecosystem expansion: Companies can invest in or partner with battery-swapping infrastructure to support sustainable transportation.
E-bike Adoption: Businesses can explore opportunities in the growing e-bike market for urban deliveries. I’m thinking maintenance, renting swapping , financing e bike companies, providing B2C e-bike rental (like Careem is doing with electrical bicycles).

Source: https://gulfbusiness.com/enoc-drive-terra-to-launch-battery-swap-network/

South Korea company to export it’s Post Quantum Computing technology to Saudi Arabia for NEOM project

South Korea-based IoT security company Norma signed a $2 million deal with Saudi Arabia's ITB Belt to export its Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC)-based security solution, Q Care.

Significance: This is Norma's first export to the Middle East, marking a significant milestone for the company. This deal not only strengthens Norma's presence in the Middle East but also opens up various business opportunities in the cybersecurity and IoT sectors.
Deployment: Q Care solutions will be integrated into projects for Saudi Arabia's Neom City, a futuristic mega-city on the Red Sea coast.
Technology: Q Care leverages PQC, designed to withstand quantum computing threats.

Locally, Our business partner company, Qamia, is the only GCC based company proposing PQC (and other AI/Quantum solutions) for the market.

Business Opportunities

High-profile projects like Neom represent a huge opportunity for companies worldwide to showcase their cutting-edge technologies and gain international recognition.

Source: MiddleEastAINews

Dubai to Authorize & launch first Drone Delivery Ecosystem

Following our last week’s edition important announcement: UAE's First Commercial BVLOS Drone License (read here)

Dubai has launched the Middle East's first drone delivery system at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum placed the inaugural order, successfully delivered from RIT-Dubai to a designated landing point within DSO.

This initiative not only supports Dubai's smart city goals but also opens up various business opportunities in the logistics, technology, and research sectors.

Technology: The drones use advanced flight control algorithms and multi-sensor fusion positioning technology.
Strategic Focus: This initiative aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to position Dubai among the world's top three urban economies by 2033. Drone delivery services are expected to cover 33% of Dubai by 2030, positioning the city as a global leader in smart mobility.

Business Opportunities

Smart Logistics: Companies can invest in or partner with drone delivery infrastructure to enhance logistics and last-mile delivery solutions.
Technology Integration: Firms can develop or integrate advanced flight control and positioning technologies for drone operations.
Market Expansion: Companies can leverage Dubai's strategic focus on smart city solutions to expand their market presence in the region. It’s an open invitation for both drone technology companies and delivery services.

Source: Gulf Business

NEOM has entered into a joint venture agreement with Samsung to advance construction automation technology

Similarly to the Post Quantum Computing deal, NEOM wants/needs to be at the forefront of technology to achieve it’s ambitious goal. NEOM has entered into a joint venture agreement with Samsung C&T Corp. to advance construction automation technology in Saudi Arabia.

Investment: The partnership involves an initial investment exceeding SR1.3 billion ($350 million) in construction robotics.
Technology: Focus on automating rebar cage assembly using advanced robotic welding and tying techniques.
Impact: Expected to reduce manual labor by up to 80%, minimize material waste, enhance safety and quality, and lower rebar cage assembly costs by up to 40%.
Job Creation: Establishment of rebar cage assembly factories in the region, creating over 2,000 skilled local jobs.

Business Opportunities

Construction Automation: Companies already working on construction automation technology can discuss with Samsung and NEOM to accelerate the innovation.
Local Manufacturing: Businesses can explore opportunities in establishing or supporting rebar cage assembly factories in the region.
Job Training: Companies can offer training programs for skilled labor in construction automation and robotics.

Source: ArabNews

💶 Tech Funding & Support programs

SAUDI Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) to launched its 2025 grant program

The Saudi Minds grant program, funded by the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), aims to empower research and innovation in Saudi Arabia. It aligns with Vision 2030 and focuses on fostering a sustainable, world-class national RDI ecosystem.

Priority Areas: Health & Wellness, Sustainable Environment & Supply of Essential Needs, Energy & Industrial Leadership, Economies of the Future. I recommend you check the website for more details about priority areas.
Target Audience: Researchers and innovators, Small & Medium Businesses, Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia
Support: The program offers financial support, workshops, and access to a network of experts and resources.

This program is designed to support cutting-edge research that can transform industries and create value for society.

To check more details & apply: Saudi Minds website.

$10 million investment fund & program for startups in Al Madinah

Al Madinah Ventures, a $10 million investment fund, has been launched to attract tech startups to Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The program aims to unlock the untapped economic potential of Al Madinah, which is home to over 60,000 SMEs and contributes 7% of Saudi Arabia's GDP.
Support: The initiative is supported by Value Makers Studio, the Economic Development Centre, and the Madinah Chamber of Commerce.
Target Date 2025: Target year to establish the $10 million investment fund and attract over 30 investors annually.

Business Opportunities

Startup Investment: Opportunities for investors to support tech startups in Al Madinah.
For Entrepreneurs: Encourages innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, fostering a dynamic business ecosystem.

Source: here.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

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

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

Guidelines for AI in Creative Industries by Dubai Future Foundation

The Dubai Future Foundation and C4IR have released a report on the development, regulation, and use of AI in creative industries. The report provides essential guidelines for integrating AI responsibly into fields such as art, music, literature, and media.

Key Insights

AI's Creative Potential: AI can automate routine tasks, spark innovation, and broaden access to creative tools.
Cultural Risks: AI may perpetuate mainstream narratives, potentially sidelining underrepresented voices.
Environmental Concerns: The energy consumption and resources required for AI systems pose significant environmental challenges.
IP and Ownership: AI challenges traditional notions of authorship and creative ownership.

For more details, you can read the full report here.

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Amine Rabehi

Find me on LinkedIn or Book a Free Call

🔍 Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 things I can help you with:

Technology Advisory: I help you assess your product idea from a technological & business point of view. So far, I have built a network of professionals covering the MENA region in term of IP, Market Research & Complex AI solution development.
Market entry strategy and support: understand the market, legal framework
Tech Product Development Solutions: I’ve managed more than 15 tech product development projects (hardware & software). I help you go from idea to initial batch launch.