News related to
Edge

du has unveiled its Envision 2025 agenda, signalling a decisive push towards an AI-first future. The event is scheduled for 9 September 2025 at Atlantis, The Royal, and is designed to mobilise public and private sector leaders around AI-enabled smart communities and sovereign digital innovation.

The Envision 2025 blueprint brings together a distinguished roster of sponsors and partners. Oracle is confirmed as Host Sponsor, contributing expertise in cloud and sovereign AI capabilities. Cisco, as Platinum Partner, reinforces commitments to digital advancement. Gold Partners include HPE, Huawei, Akamai Technologies and CyberKnight, while Silver Partners—Dell Technologies, Fortinet, Accenture, Hexaware and Palo Alto Networks—support AI and cybersecurity resilience. Equinix and Joy Smart Technologies join as Bronze Partners, emphasising a collaborative approach to transformation. du charts AI-first future with Envision 2025 echoes this collaborative vision, emphasising alignment between leadership and technological innovation.

The threefold Envision platform will host both an exhibition and a conference, spotlighting cutting-edge domains: AI Data Centres, Sovereign Cloud, Generative and Agentic AI, GPU-as-a-Service, Industry 4.0, Advanced Robotics, and Cloud Computing. It seeks to provoke strategic alliances and stimulate discourse aligned with the UAE’s National AI Strategy and National Digital Government Strategy 2025.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du, underscored the alignment with national vision, referencing the leadership of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who asserted that “future is not something we wait for, but something we make.” Al Hassawi emphasised that converging leadership with advanced technology will underpin the creation of a scalable, secure, and AI-first UAE.

Jasim Al Awadi, Chief ICT Officer at du, described Envision 2025 as more than a technology event—but as a national platform uniting future shapers to align vision, innovation and execution. He stressed that the collaborators are vital to delivering secure, scalable, sovereign digital solutions that enhance smart communities, economic growth and quality of life.

Miguel Vega, Senior Vice President for Database Platform & Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said Oracle’s participation will centre on advancing sovereign AI and cloud functions, aiming to help public and private sectors unlock greater levels of innovation, security and efficiency.

A high-level delegation from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, led by MD & CEO HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, is in the People’s Republic of China to boost collaboration with leading firms in solar and battery storage technology. The mission aims to support Dubai’s clean energy ambitions under its 2050 strategies by examining advanced practices in renewable energy systems. DEWA Seeks Deeper Energy Ties With Chinese Firms, as the delegation intends, marks a pivotal move in cross-border energy engagement.

Al Tayer and his team engaged with Huawei, BYD, Tesla’s battery energy storage plant, Sungrow, and the CRRC Zhuzhou Institute to survey cutting-edge developments in photovoltaic panels, energy storage solutions, artificial intelligence applications, smart infrastructure, and Fourth Industrial Revolution advancements. These interactions reinforce DEWA’s commitment to integrating global expertise into its operations.

The delegation includes prominent executives such as Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence; Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power; Marwan bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources; Mohammed Jamea, Vice President of Clean Energy and Diversification; and Ghanim Al Qassim, Senior Manager of Solar Energy. Their breadth of expertise equips DEWA to absorb and apply technological insights strategically.

Central to the discussions is the seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, currently at the tendering stage. This phase will incorporate 2,000 MW of photovoltaic solar capacity alongside 1,400 MW of battery energy storage, delivering six hours of storage—establishing it among the largest solar-plus-storage projects globally under the independent power producer model. The delegation’s visit underscores this project’s importance in shaping Dubai’s sustainable energy future.

Samsung has introduced its newest Galaxy S25 FE handset and Tab S11 tablet series, underlining an ambition to deliver flagship-level features to a broader audience. The Galaxy S25 FE arrives at around $650, equipped with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, Exynos 2400 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and a 4,900 mAh battery—paired with Galaxy AI enhancements such as Instant Slow-Mo, Generative Edit, and Audio Eraser. The Tab S11 models—the 11-inch base and the 14.6-inch Ultra—feature One UI 8, Android 16, S Pen support, 120Hz AMOLED screens, MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chips, and AI-enabled enhancements including Samsung DeX’s new Extended Mode.

At the event held alongside IFA 2025, Jay Kim, one of Samsung’s corporate executive vice-presidents, noted that Galaxy AI is now live on more than 200 million devices, and the company expects to double that by year’s end. The Galaxy S25 FE delivers the longest battery life yet for an FE phone and debuts with improved cooling via a larger vapour-chamber system, alongside a build featuring Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus+, with IP68 dust and water resistance.

The Tab S11 Ultra matches the iPad Pro’s 5.1 mm thinness and brings Wi-Fi 7 support, anti-reflective coating, enhanced DeX features, and promising multitasking capabilities. Together, these devices reflect Samsung’s approach to combine premium hardware with smart, AI-powered functionality at competitive prices.

Samsung’s announcement suggests a deliberate strategy: expanding access to its AI ecosystem, offering extended software support—seven years of OS and security updates for the S25 FE—and positioning these devices ahead of major rival launches.

The Galaxy S25 FE is now available and begins around $650 in the US, while the Galaxy Tab S11 line starts from $799 for the base model and $1,199 for the Ultra.

Samsung’s timing—introducing value-oriented yet AI-driven phones and tablets just before its biggest mobile competitor’s next launch—signals a sharp push to attract consumers with strong hardware, intelligent software, and long-term support.

In Bangalore and beyond, industry observers note that the S25 FE’s offering of Galaxy AI tools, robust support lifespan, and competitive price point could challenge rivals in emerging markets. The Tab S11 series, with its stylus-enabled productivity enhancements and tablet-as-laptop flair, appears aimed at professionals and creatives seeking seamless workflows on Android.

Echoing its messaging, Samsung is enhancing its Galaxy ecosystem, aiming to envelop users in its AI capabilities—whether through smartphones or tablets—while ensuring that cutting-edge features are no longer confined to its flagship devices alone.

Abu Dhabi will host the BRIDGE Summit from 8 to 10 December 2025 at the ADNEC Centre, uniting heads of state, media executives, policymakers, technologists and content creators in an ambitious bid to redefine the global media landscape. Announced in Washington by Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, chairman of the National Media Office, alongside Dr Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, director-general of the NMO, the summit pledges to foster dialogue, innovation and sustainable growth across the sector. Attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 participants, underpinning its status as a global media landmark.

Preparatory efforts have extended worldwide. In June, a roundtable in London convened Al Hamed and Al Kaabi with media experts during London Tech Week to reinforce the summit’s commitment to transparency, accountability and cross-sector collaboration in an increasingly digital era. In Asia, the BRIDGE roadshow landed in Shanghai, following stops in New York, London and Osaka, each event contributing insights to shape the summit’s agenda. A mission to Seoul in August further advanced partnerships with technology and media firms, including I-ON Communications on AI and data storytelling; Dentons on regulatory frameworks; Lotte Caliverse on immersive media; and SM Entertainment on cultural collaboration. These discussions cemented shared goals around content credibility, technology ethics and investment in creative startups.

The BRIDGE Summit is embedded within a broader ecosystem spearheaded by the National Media Office. Alongside the summit lies the BRIDGE Foundation, a non-profit body dedicated to empowering media professionals, funding research and supporting startups. This aligns with the UAE’s pursuit of media as a force for societal development and economic progress. A recently published fact sheet outlines the summit’s six thematic zones—Academy, Diplomacy, Forum, Marketplace, Impact and Spotlight—designed to foster skills, policy engagement, tech innovation, social impact and cultural exchange across a three-day programme.

AI and ethics feature prominently among the summit’s themes. Organisers emphasise human values in storytelling amid accelerating digital disruption and algorithmic influence. Al Hamed has characterised media as a humanitarian force that must uphold integrity and cohesion, not merely chase clicks. The summit will address responsible AI’s potential and pitfalls, ethical journalism, and media business models fit for the digital age.

Beyond content and tech, BRIDGE seeks to bridge policy and practice. With roundtables and forums designed to foster international dialogue, policymakers, creators and academics will collaborate on frameworks that safeguard credibility while embracing innovation.

The summit’s global scope is reflected in its steady itinerary of international engagements. From Washington to London, Shanghai to Seoul, each stop has contributed regional perspectives and partnerships that will inform the summit’s structure, themes and participant networks.

Saudi Aramco is poised to issue U. S.‑dollar denominated sukuk within September in a bid to fortify its financial position amid subdued oil prices. The company aims to raise between $3 billion and $4 billion through Shariah‑compliant bonds, according to insiders familiar with the matter.

Aramco’s timing underscores a strategic response to heightened volatility in oil markets. The company’s dividend payouts remain intact—$21.1 billion in Q2 and still on track for an $85.4 billion annual total—demonstrating a commitment to returns despite pressure on profit margins. The sukuk issuance follows a $5 billion conventional bond sale in May, as indicated by Aramco’s sukuk prospectus filing with the London Stock Exchange on 30 May. That filing allows up to one year for issuance, signalling flexibility in debt deployment.

Despite the fall in crude prices, Aramco’s gearing remains among the lowest in the global oil industry—a point highlighted during the company’s August earnings call. That financial cushion gives it room to tap capital markets when conditions are favourable.

The sukuk issuance aligns with broader Kingdom‑level bond activity. Saudi Arabia has raised $5.5 billion through a dual‑tranche sukuk offering, comprising a $2.25 billion five‑year tranche and a $3.25 billion ten‑year tranche—sold at spreads of 65 bps and 75 bps over U. S. Treasuries respectively, substantially tighter than initial guidance. Investor demand exceeded $17 billion.

Aramco’s anticipated issuance would tap into the same deep liquidity pool, appealing to Islamic finance and ESG‑oriented investors while preserving fiscal discipline. This approach mirrors the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify its funding base and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. The proceeds are likely to support refinancing, cost‑management efforts, and strategic asset redeployment.

In parallel, measures such as an $11 billion lease‑and‑leaseback deal for Jafurah gas processing assets with a BlackRock‑led consortium, reflect efforts to raise liquidity without reducing shareholder returns. CFO Ziad Al‑Murshed emphasised the aim to “redirect capital away from low‑return assets to core operations” during the earnings briefing.

This financial planning arrives at a time when Aramco continues to face earnings pressure—second‑quarter profit fell by 22 per cent—but the dividend pledge remains firm, maintaining investor confidence.

Dubai Chambers, together with the International Chamber of Commerce and its World Chambers Federation, introduced a new digital platform designed to elevate the performance of chambers of commerce worldwide. Unveiled at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, the Chamber Benchmarking Tool offers structured data analysis, best-practice comparisons and a repository of global insights to help chambers advance operational standards.

The launch was witnessed by over 1,200 chamber officials representing more than 100 countries, reaffirming the tool’s role as a global platform for strategic exchange.

The Chamber Benchmarking Tool evaluates performance across seven principal functions of chamber institutions—spanning economic research and business intelligence, advocacy and policy representation, trade and investment facilitation, workforce training and support, networking, advisory services and legal or dispute resolution. These are assessed alongside eight dimensions of operational excellence, including strategic alignment, innovation, governance and financial impact.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, described the initiative as emblematic of the emirate’s ambition to lead in institutional innovation, enabling chambers to elevate their value to business communities through streamlined services and resilient strategies. John W. H. Denton AO, Secretary‑General of the ICC, hailed the tool as a “milestone,” praising Dubai Chambers for their leadership in bringing the platform to fruition.

Built from research examining 19 diverse chambers, the tool rests on a foundation of empirical insight. It offers a data-driven framework of self-assessment, enabling chambers to compare their metrics against anonymised regional and global averages and receive tailored strategic guidance drawn from global case studies.

Developed in confidence under ICC‑WCF’s secure, cloud‑based infrastructure, the platform ensures high standards of data confidentiality. Only aggregated benchmarking results are shared publicly, with each chamber’s data kept private unless explicit consent is granted.

The tool assigns two access roles: the ‘chamber steward’, who leads data submission, assessment completion and case‑study creation; and ‘chamber staff’, who receive view‑only access to performance dashboards, insights and the best‑practice library.

Participation remains voluntary and open to all types of chambers—whether national, regional, thematic or international—particularly those connected to the ICC‑WCF network. Non‑members may apply for membership to gain access.

Chambers that perform well in given categories become eligible to develop case studies, using an integrated creator to document initiative details, global trends addressed, outcomes and lessons learned. Authors may enrich submissions with supporting documents, media, and contact details. Approved case studies are added to the global repository, fostering peer learning and strategic inspiration.

With an emphasis on continuous improvement, the platform allows chambers to refresh their assessments annually—or after major organisational shifts—and to update roles and responsibilities over time, ensuring the tool remains current with evolving strategic priorities.

Beyond benchmarking, the platform is a strategic intelligence system. Chambers gain access to emerging trends, visibility into gaps and growth opportunities, and direction for innovation and future readiness. It fosters cross‑border collaboration, data‑led decision‑making and collective excellence across the global chamber ecosystem.