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The RNTrust Group is set to roll out its digital-trust architecture under the banner “Infinite Trust” at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai. The offering is built around three flagship technology pillars—BOAT orchestration, cyber-intelligence, and stratum-level time synchronisation—aimed at solving friction points faced by large enterprises operating across complex, digital ecosystems.

At the core of the strategy is Coopera BOAT, RNTrust’s enterprise orchestration and automation engine, which integrates bots, APIs, microservices, content, case-management, and AI agents under a unified platform. The company positions BOAT as a successor to legacy BPM and ECM systems, enabling long-running and cross-domain workflows across IT and business domains. Integrated AI and generative flows help with decision intelligence and unstructured data extraction. RNTrust claims the platform aligns with market forecasts that predict the orchestration market will expand markedly in the coming years.

Complementing BOAT is ThreatLeap, a cyber threat intelligence and compliance platform operating 24/7 to scan external attack surfaces, detect leaks, misconfigurations, phishing domains and advanced threats, and flag compliance gaps across regulations such as NIS2, DORA, GDPR and PCI-DSS. The system is portrayed as proactive, intended to reduce risk exposure rather than simply respond to incidents.

Lastly, the group is spotlighting StratumOne, a time-synchronisation solution leveraging GNSS signals, atomic clocks and precision engineering to deliver nanosecond-level accuracy. Target sectors include finance, telecoms, 5G networks and critical infrastructure where time precision is essential.

RNTrust leadership will host product demos and discussions at the Novotel World Trade Centre during the expo, targeting CIOs, CISOs, system integrators and partner firms. The platform claims deployments and partnerships across the GCC, Europe and the U. S., drawing on R&D centres in Southeast Europe, Italy and the UAE.

The company frames “Infinite Trust” as a unification strategy—bringing orchestration, security and timing coherence into a cohesive architecture that can scale across diverse enterprise landscapes. This positioning aims to appeal to large organisations wrestling with digital transformation, hybrid workloads, compliance burdens and the growing attack surface of distributed systems.

Market watchers note that digital trust is becoming a key battleground for software and cybersecurity vendors. The integration of orchestration and security is a direction echoed by peers embedding zero-trust and AI decision engines into automation platforms. The time-sync component adds a niche yet strategic dimension, tapping into sectors where precision timing is a regulatory and technical requirement.

Branded residential developments in the Middle East and North Africa are now capturing a larger share of global signings, with standalone projects set to make up 45 per cent of the regional portfolio—well above the global average of 36 per cent.

Data from Global Branded Residences shows that the MENA region now accounts for 36 per cent of new global branded residence signings, outstripping traditional hubs such as North America, Europe and Asia. The region currently has 99 completed branded residences and 241 under development, representing 13 per cent of existing global supply and 25 per cent of the pipeline. The UAE leads with 201 projects, followed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Dubai remains the most active city globally, with nearly 160 branded developments either completed or in the pipeline—surpassing markets like Miami, London, and New York. The breakdown in MENA shows that 31 per cent of completed branded residences are standalone, while 51 per cent of the pipeline comprises standalone projects. This shift indicates broader confidence among developers in models unlinked to hotel operations.

Fashion and lifestyle brands are playing an increasingly prominent role in driving the shift away from purely hospitality-anchored residences. In MENA, fashion labels account for 51 per cent of non-hotel branded projects—nearly double the global average of 26 per cent. Non-hotel brands now represent 30 per cent of the regional pipeline, up from 24 per cent among completed schemes. In effect, branded residences in the region are diversifying beyond hotels into lifestyle, design and luxury branding.

Fairmont is poised to be the largest operator in the region, with 19 schemes across completed and pipeline stages. New entrants include jewellery brand De Grisogono and hospitality/lifestyle brand Nobu.

Globally, the branded residences sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade. The total number of schemes globally stands at 1,746—779 completed and 967 under development. Across this global portfolio, hotel brands still dominate, accounting for 79 per cent of projects. However, standalone branded residences—those without hotel attachments—are projected to rise from about 8 per cent of the world’s projects to 12 per cent over time.

Broadly, the market is seeing several converging trends. Buyers are increasingly willing to pay a premium—often 20 to 35 per cent or more—for branded units over comparable non-branded luxury real estate, citing consistency of design, service, and long-term resale value. Developers, in turn, see branding as a differentiator that supports stronger pricing, absorption rates and margins. In fast-growing wealth markets, branding provides credibility and global marketing reach.

Asia Pacific has also moved into the spotlight. GBR has formally launched operations in APAC, targeting markets such as Thailand, Vietnam, India, Malaysia and emerging resort destinations. The firm forecasts that branded development projects in APAC may more than double, with the region evolving into one of luxury real estate’s fastest growing markets.

Nevertheless, challenges remain. Aligning brand partnerships with regional regulatory, legal and operational frameworks is complex. Delivering consistent service quality over time, especially in newer locations with less mature hospitality infrastructure, is no small task. In denser branded markets, developers must differentiate amenities, design and buyer experience to avoid commoditisation.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announced that its six publicly traded subsidiaries will distribute AED 158 billion in dividends through to 2030, nearly doubling the AED 86 billion cumulative payout since the first listing in 2017.

The announcement came during ADNOC’s inaugural Investor Majlis in Abu Dhabi, where the group underscored its commitment to shareholder returns and transparent governance. The dividend programme is subject to customary approvals and will provide long-term visibility to investors across its diversified portfolio of listed entities.

ADNOC’s six listed companies currently account for more than AED 550 billion in market capitalisation on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and represent nearly 40 percent of the annual dividends distributed on the market. Under the new plan, three additional entities—ADNOC Distribution, ADNOC Gas, and ADNOC Logistics & Services—will join ADNOC Drilling in issuing quarterly dividends.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, ADNOC’s Managing Director and CEO, also serving as UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, described the dividend target as a “landmark step” adding clarity to the group’s capital return path. He stated the move would “enhance value” for citizens, residents, and partners, and reaffirmed ADNOC’s focus on cost discipline, efficiency and growth.

Each listed unit announced specific dividend floors and policy reforms. ADNOC Drilling set a cumulative floor of AED 25 billion by 2030, representing a 26 percent minimum return over the period. ADNOC Gas pledged a target of AED 90 billion, with dividends moving to a quarterly basis from 2025 onward. ADNOC Logistics & Services raised its guidance to AED 8.1 billion for 2025–2030 and intends to adopt quarterly distributions from the third quarter of 2025.

Other units will also tighten their dividend structures. ADNOC Distribution expanded its dividend policy through 2030 and targets cumulative returns exceeding 30 percent over the 2025–2030 period. Borouge affirmed a dividend floor for 2025 and envisaged a payout ratio of 90 percent of net profit in future years. Fertiglobe flagged interim dividend payments and share buybacks for 2025 to support yield.

Beyond dividends, ADNOC disclosed key developments across its upstream, LNG and petrochemical segments. ADNOC Gas has secured a long-term feedstock agreement worth AED 147 billion with its Ruwais LNG facility. Over 80 percent of project capacity is under contract. The group also reported that the merger of its petrochemical assets with OMV—that is, combining Borouge and Borealis into Borouge Group International —remains on course for completion in Q1 2026. Financing for the transaction, valued at AED 56.6 billion, is in place and synergies of at least AED 1.8 billion annually have been identified.

Earlier this year, ADNOC transferred its stakes in several listed subsidiaries—namely Distribution, Drilling, Gas and Logistics & Services—to its wholly owned investment arm, XRG, via off-market moves. The transfers, completed or pending regulatory clearance, were explicitly stated not to affect operations, leadership or dividend policies. Control remains with ADNOC via its 100 percent ownership of XRG.

Analysts view the dividend pledge as a strategic signal in a more competitive capital-raising environment. It strengthens the case for long-term investor confidence, especially amid global volatility in energy markets and shifting sector dynamics. Some warn, however, that such large commitments require careful balance with capital expenditure demands, especially for exploration, decarbonisation and upstream expansion to meet rising regional energy and gas demand.

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health will present a portfolio of artificial intelligence–based healthcare solutions at the upcoming GITEX Global 2025 event in Dubai. The showcase is intended to reinforce the emirate’s ambitions to lead in digital health transformation and embed AI into clinical and public health systems.

DoH plans to display tools ranging from predictive diagnostics to personalised wellness platforms, emphasising preventive care and data-driven interventions. H. E. Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, stated that leveraging AI is central to “reshaping how care is delivered” and enabling people to “live healthier, longer lives.”

The Abu Dhabi delegation will also highlight the emirate’s efforts to integrate AI across healthcare infrastructure, including hospital systems and community services. As part of the pitch, DoH intends to advance models that predict health risks, flag early disease onset, and streamline patient journeys from diagnosis to treatment.

The timing of this unveiling aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader push into AI research and high-tech partnerships. In September 2025, Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute launched a joint lab focusing on robotics and advanced AI models, including deployment of Nvidia’s “Thor” chip for robotic applications. That initiative is part of the UAE’s wider effort to become a global AI player.

At GITEX Global—a technology exhibition scheduled from 13 to 17 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre—the DigiHealth & Biotech track is expected to draw startups, tech firms and health ministries showcasing innovations across genomics, diagnostics, telemedicine and biotech. The exhibition emphasises frontier domains: physical AI, quantum computing, semiconductors and data-centre infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi is also seeking to signal that its AI investments are more than pilot projects. Through collaborations with private technology firms, academic institutions and regional health authorities, DoH aims to build a scalable, interoperable health data ecosystem. Under its strategy, AI modules would be deployed not just in tertiary hospitals, but in primary care, clinics, remote monitoring and wellness programmes.

Critics point to challenges ahead, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, regulatory oversight and integration with legacy systems. Effective AI deployment in health requires robust patient consent frameworks, transparent models and continuous validation across diverse populations. Observers note that many AI health systems falter when scaled beyond controlled environments.

Dubai Investments has revealed that its wholly owned subsidiary, Emirates Float Glass, will expand its float-glass manufacturing capacity by launching a second production line that will raise output from 600 tonnes per day to 1,200 tonnes. The upgrade is slated to introduce Ultra Clear low-iron glass—marketed as a first in the MENA region—with advanced automation and energy-efficient systems, and is scheduled for commissioning between late 2027 and early 2028.

Under the plan, the second line will incorporate next-generation process control technology to ensure consistent product quality while curbing energy consumption and lowering the environmental footprint. Dubai Investments emphasises that this aligns with its broader industrial growth strategy and the UAE’s ambitions in high-value manufacturing.

Abdulaziz Bin Yakub Al Serkal, CEO of Dubai Investments’ Industrial Platform, described the move as crucial for strengthening regional competitiveness. He said the introduction of Ultra Clear glass will allow EFG to penetrate premium markets, give clarity advantages over conventional float glass, and support growing demand from architectural, infrastructure and design sectors. The project involves a collaboration with Germany’s HORN Glass Industries, which will supply glass-melting furnaces and associated systems, while local civil-works contractors and international project teams will oversee implementation.

EFG currently operates out of its float plant in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, where its capacity now stands at 600 tonnes per day. The expansion marks the second phase of investment in the plant. Dubai Investments’ announcement underlines its commitment to scaling up industrial assets and achieving technological differentiation in its manufacturing portfolio.

The expanded capacity is seen as a response to rising demand across the Gulf and broader regional markets, where premium architectural glass is gaining traction, driven by growth in high-rise construction, sustainability mandates and demand for energy-efficient façades. Analysts note that the move helps EFG hedge against rising competition from international glass producers by offering higher-clarity, value-added products.

Edgecore Networks will reveal its latest open infrastructure solutions at the OCP Global Summit in San Jose and GITEX Global in Dubai, with demonstrations of next-generation AI, networking, and compute platforms designed to ease deployment and boost performance.

The Taiwanese firm plans four flagship showcases: new Tomahawk 6–based data centre switches, a proof-of-concept for co-packaged optics, its Nexvec™ turnkey AI solution, and an upgraded Nous infrastructure controller offering composable compute management. The exhibitions will take place during the week of 13 October: at the OCP Summit from 13–16 October and at GITEX from 13–17 October.

Edgecore emphasises that the Tomahawk 6 switches can deliver more than 100 Tbps of bandwidth, supporting AI cluster demands with low latency and high density. The company adds that its CPO concept demonstrates integration of optical elements directly into switch silicon, reducing power and footprint. Its Nexvec™ offering is a pre-validated stack combining open networking with GPU compute, while Nous enables dynamic allocation of GPU, memory and compute resources.

Mingshou Liu, President of Edgecore, is quoted as saying that as AI workloads accelerate, simplifying deployment is crucial, and that the firm seeks to lead in the open infrastructure community with turnkey and scalable offerings.

Edgecore’s push comes at a time when hyperscale data centre operators are under pressure to manage burgeoning AI compute demands without ballooning costs or power draws. Industry trends point to co-packaged optics, disaggregated architectures, and composable resource frameworks as priorities for the next wave of infrastructure evolution. At the OCP Summit, the AI HW/SW co-design and open systems tracks will explore modular compute, memory architectures and photonic interconnects for AI clusters.

In parallel, GITEX Global has become a high-stakes stage for showcasing AI infrastructure, especially in the UAE’s drive to scale AI capabilities and attract global tech investment. With over 45 editions, the event draws global vendors and governments presenting AI, semiconductors, networking, and startup innovation. Edgecore’s presence signals its intention to engage key markets in the Middle East, where data centre growth, AI deployment, and regional cloud expansion are strong levers.

Edgecore is not alone in spotlighting AI infrastructure at these events. Major networking suppliers, chip vendors, and cloud players are expected to present competing solutions, particularly around optical integration, disaggregation, and hardware-software co-design. Observers will closely track how well Edgecore’s offerings stack up in power efficiency, interoperability, and ease of deployment.

Within its broader strategic frame, Edgecore continues to emphasise open, standards-based infrastructure. Its public messaging highlights disaggregated networking, composable compute, and software-defined manageability. The timing of product demonstrations at both OCP and GITEX gives the company a dual audience of deeply technical integrators and regional enterprise buyers.

At the OCP Summit, Edgecore’s participation also coincides with evolving community priorities—AI, sustainability, modular compute, and photonics interconnect are central tracks. During the event, Edgecore’s representative Tim Zhou will present on simplifying large-scale “agentic AI” deployments in a session scheduled for 16 October.][5])

Dubai Airports has announced an extended 10-year strategy aimed at transforming Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum into the world’s most accessible and inclusive airports by 2035. The plan underscores a shift from enhancing infrastructure alone to driving cultural change, embedding empathy and user-centred design in every element of the passenger journey.

The strategy rests on three pillars: reinforcing existing accessibility frameworks, improving guest experience across every touchpoint, and elevating the airports’ status as global benchmarks in inclusive aviation. The commitment aligns with the UAE’s broader obligations to support the rights of People of Determination and Dubai’s ambition to become a disability-friendly city.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, emphasised that accessibility is a “core pillar” rather than a peripheral initiative. He noted that, for the first time, the airport authority is co-creating programmes with the PoD community to redesign the passenger journey from their lived perspective. The launch coincides with the debut of a public awareness campaign called “DXB for All”, which presents six narratives of travellers with sensory sensitivities, mobility challenges, hearing or visual impairments, and highlights their airport experiences.

This new phase builds on the 2022 “We All Meet the World Differently” campaign. While that initiative focused primarily on raising awareness, the current strategy delves deeper by integrating accessibility into operations, staff training, and passenger interactions. Airport operators intend to cultivate empathy across staff, travellers, and the public, encouraging all stakeholders to reframe how they engage with PoD.

To facilitate inclusive travel, Dubai Airports already provides a suite of services: a Travel Planner visual guide, the Sunflower Lanyard to signal discreet assistance, free two-hour parking, dedicated taxis, wheelchair support from curb to gate, over 520 hearing loops across terminals, and a sensory-friendly Assisted Travel Lounge in Terminal 2. These measures will be expanded and refined under the new strategy.

The initiative is being deployed through the “oneDXB” partnership network, which includes Emirates, flydubai, Dubai Police, GDIFA, Dubai Customs, dnata, Dubai Health, Dubai Duty Free, Serco, and other stakeholders. The collaborative structure ensures that airport services, security, passenger handling, health and taxi operations all align with inclusivity goals.

Challenges are considerable. DXB is already operating near capacity: in 2024 it handled 92.3 million passengers, its highest ever annual volume. That puts pressure on space, queueing, and infrastructure to adapt without undermining operational efficiency. Meanwhile, DWC is undergoing significant expansion—with a projected $35 billion investment to scale it toward handling up to 260 million passengers annually. Dubai Airports plans to shift major operations to DWC by 2032, adding urgency to ensuring that new terminals and systems are fully accessible from the start.

Cisco will unveil its latest innovations at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 in Dubai, aiming to equip enterprises across the Middle East and broader region with infrastructure built specifically for the AI era. The showcase focuses on AI-ready data centres, resilient network architectures, and strengthened security frameworks designed to support advanced workloads in data-intensive environments.

By joining the AI Infrastructure Partnership alongside BlackRock, Microsoft, NVIDIA, xAI and others, Cisco has committed to accelerating capital flows into datacentre and infrastructure projects. The partnership expects to unlock $30 billion in initial funding, scaling up to $100 billion including debt financing. Cisco brings its network, security and systems expertise to support the platform’s mission of secure, at-scale AI infrastructure.

At the heart of Cisco’s push is its new Cisco Data Fabric, launched in integration with Splunk, which provides federated data access across systems such as Amazon S3, Iceberg, Delta Lake and Snowflake, routing workloads intelligently to the best analytics or storage engine. This architecture is intended to reduce data movement, shorten analysis latency, and enable enterprises to transform machine data into AI-ready intelligence.

To support retrieval-augmented generation and agentic AI deployments, Cisco introduced the Secure AI Factory solution with NVIDIA and VAST Data. This validated architecture accelerates data extraction and retrieval at scale while enforcing security guardrails for every token processed. AI PODs built under this architecture offer pre-validated, high-performance building blocks for enterprise AI.

Networking and security are being redefined for the AI workload environment. At Cisco Live 2025, the company launched a next-generation network architecture for campus, branch and industrial environments, delivering unified management and devices purpose-built to support AI traffic patterns. It also introduced Hybrid Mesh Firewall and Universal Zero Trust Network Access to embed security into network fabric across hybrid and distributed environments. These features aim to simplify policy enforcement, improve visibility, and reduce complexity in securing both human users and AI agents.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins disclosed that fiscal year 2025 saw record AI infrastructure orders. In its final quarter, the company secured over $800 million from webscale clients, bringing total AI-focused orders to more than $2 billion—more than double its initial target. He described the pipeline as steadily growing into “hundreds of millions” as enterprises demand scalable, secure solutions.

In the Middle East, Cisco plans to demonstrate the regional relevance of its technologies under the theme “Make AI Work for You.” According to Cisco’s new AI Readiness Index, a vast majority of organisations in the UAE expect to expand their data centre capacity for AI within five years. The company will also present its work with Splunk on security and observability platforms at the event.

Cisco’s collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN is intended to build out an open, scalable AI infrastructure ecosystem aligned with Vision 2030. The multi-year programme includes deployment of cloud-based AI infrastructure, joint research initiatives, and efforts to grow local talent and innovation. The partnership underscores Saudi ambitions to position itself as a global AI hub.

Cisco sees accelerating demand for network modernisation. Its internal research reports that 97 percent of IT leaders view modernised networks as critical to deploying AI, cloud and IoT workloads, and 98 percent rate secure networking as essential for growth. However, the same study notes that only 40 percent of organisations have begun deploying advanced segmentation or intelligent control, illustrating an execution gap.

To strengthen its AI strategy, Cisco also expanded its presence in Indonesia by signing a Letter of Intent with BRIN to develop AI and cybersecurity capabilities via its Country Digital Acceleration programme. The plan includes building an AI Centre of Excellence and delivering training in AI, security and networking to 500,000 Indonesians by 2030.

Splunk’s observability portfolio itself is being reworked to embrace agentic AI, deploying AI agents to automate tasks such as root cause detection, alert correlation and issue resolution. This is intended to lighten the operational burden on IT and engineering teams while driving real-time insight.

Telecom operator du and technology vendor Nokia have completed a trial of an artificial intelligence–driven automation system aimed at simplifying and expediting the expansion and management of optical networks in the UAE.

The deployment tested Nokia’s WaveSuite AI, which combines traditional AI methods with generative models to assist du engineers with tasks such as planning, troubleshooting and documentation retrieval. The trial reportedly halved the time needed for optical network planning and produced designs 30 percent more efficient, while reducing errors during deployment.

During the trial, du’s engineering team used a single natural language interface to query live network status, access accurate documentation instantly, and simulate potential network evolutions. The system flagged possible inconsistencies or conflicting configurations early, allowing corrective adjustment before full-scale rollout. According to du, the result was faster troubleshooting, fewer manual errors and improved resource utilisation.

Saleem AlBlooshi, chief technology officer at du, said the trial “shows how innovation can transform network operations to face challenges brought on by increasingly sophisticated networks and ever-higher traffic volumes.” He emphasised that the automation of routine tasks and provision of intelligent tools would lead to more reliable, SLA-backed connectivity for customers.

From Nokia’s standpoint, Ron Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of Optical Networks, called WaveSuite AI “a demonstration of the real value of automation solutions with both classical and generative AI for optical networking.” He noted that the system reduces friction in planning, documentation search, and operational processes, and helps service providers accelerate provisioning of higher-speed, more reliable services.

The trial builds on du’s broader effort to embed AI and automation more deeply across its systems. Earlier this year, du partnered with Microsoft, Nokia, Khalifa University’s 6G Research Center and the ITU to launch an “Arabic Telecom LLM,” a large language model tailored for internal telecom operations. That model is designed to handle internal workflows, resolve device issues, process complaints and provide operational insights in Arabic and English. The initiative is part of du’s strategy to blend regional research leadership and global AI tools while retaining language and cultural fidelity in its operations.

This AI-driven automation trial comes amid growing pressures on telecom operators worldwide to scale quickly to meet surging demand for bandwidth, driven by AI workloads, data centers and new real-time applications. As networks grow in complexity, manual processes no longer scale efficiently, pushing operators into an era of closed-loop or autonomous operations. Nokia, in its public literature, frames network automation as essential to reducing manual intervention, improving performance and enabling faster service delivery across domains such as core, mobile, IP and optical networks.

In the UAE context, this trial signals du’s ambition to advance its optical infrastructure ahead of demand peaks, while benchmarking its operations for future 6G readiness. The success of automation in planning and deployment could reduce operational costs, increase agility, and support more complex services such as network slicing, ultra-low latency applications and differentiated service tiers.

Teams at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai will put liquid-cooled AI laptops under extreme thermal stress, testing whether advanced cooling systems can uphold sustained performance in one of the world’s harshest climates. Omnix International’s HOT Systems division, in partnership with PNY, will unveil a lineup of AI workstations, liquid-cooled laptops and the new HOT Guard monitoring suite, aiming to prove that these machines can maintain stability in high ambient temperatures.

At the heart of the exhibit is the challenge posed by regional heat: daytime temperatures in Dubai frequently exceed 40 °C, while indoor exhibition halls still pose cooling constraints. For high-performance AI workloads—particularly those involving CAD, BIM and machine learning—thermal throttling can cripple throughput. HOT Systems claims its integrated cooling and hardware optimisation can circumvent that performance drop. The accompanying HOT Guard software will monitor temperatures, fan and pump behaviour and security in real time on site.

Liquid cooling is no novelty in high-density server enclosures, but applying it in portable form factors presents a tougher engineering problem. In data centres, the shift from air to liquid systems has accelerated because conventional cooling struggles to keep up with power densities above 10–15 kW per rack. Liquid systems offer reduced power use, higher thermal headroom and often reclaimed waste heat reuse. But translating that to mobile form demands compact and robust fluid paths, efficient pumps, and risk control against leakage.

Advances in chip cooling are reinforcing that liquid systems represent more than a marginal improvement. Microsoft engineers have developed a microfluidics cooling technique that embeds coolant channels within the silicon substrate itself, enhancing heat removal efficiency at the chip level. That suggests future AI hardware may increasingly rely on liquid solutions at a micro scale.

Regional data centre operators are already embracing the shift: Khazna Data Centres, active across the UAE, has rolled out the country’s first liquid-cooled AI data centre and is developing more AI-optimised campuses. The move reflects recognition that standard cooling infrastructure cannot scale profitably with AI workloads.

Technical design choices behind liquid cooling include direct-to-chip systems, which place cold plates atop CPUs or GPUs, and immersion cooling, where liquid envelops hardware. The former is more suited for modular, retrofit deployments; the latter can offer full heat removal but introduces maintenance and material challenges, especially for localised devices. A recent review in AI systems architecture emphasises single-phase direct cooling as a flexible compromise for power levels below extreme thresholds, though it demands high reliability in fluid delivery and sealing.

Within the exhibition context, the HOT Systems demo will likely emphasise sustained throughput rather than peak benchmarks. The company plans real-world workflows—such as rendering, simulation and AI model inference—to demonstrate how the cooling system maintains clock speeds under load. PNY’s involvement underlines the reliance on qualified memory, GPUs and driver support, ensuring that thermal gains translate into usable computing stability.

End-users in architecture, media, engineering and AI fields are closely watching such developments. If heat throttling can be mitigated in this climate, portable AI rigs could expand in markets previously constrained to air-conditioned labs. But adoption depends on how well the solutions resist failure under harsh dust, vibration and heat cycles inherent to Gulf environments.

iFLYTEK is stepping up its engagement in the Middle East, unveiling two flagship AI products at GITEX 2025 in Dubai as part of a broader strategy to localise its offerings and anchor its presence in the region.

The company’s showcase spans three core portfolios—AI Translation, AI Infrastructure and AI Solutions—tailored for Gulf markets, with particular emphasis on Arabic dialect support and secure deployment. Among the new offerings is the AI Translation Earbuds, designed to enable seamless multilingual communication, and the e-ink AINote 2 work device, both making their global debut at the event. The debut underscores iFLYTEK’s intent to go beyond product marketing, emphasising solutions that address regional business needs.

Vincent Zhan, Vice President of iFLYTEK, asserted that the company is focused “to deliver intelligent solutions that address real business challenges” rather than merely present tech demonstrations. The firm has already placed a local team in Dubai to oversee deployment, maintenance, and customer support. It also customised algorithms to handle multiple Arabic dialects, expecting that linguistic responsiveness will differentiate it from global rivals.

iFLYTEK’s portfolio for the event includes the Spark WallEX system, designed for intelligent space management, along with Spark Smart Blackboard and Spark GuideX. The firm says these are engineered to support a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, enterprise operations and government. Its “All-in-One AI Solution” is positioned as a secure infrastructure package for organisations seeking turnkey AI adoption.

The Middle East expansion is part of a larger international push. Outside Asia, iFLYTEK is targeting Europe, as trade tensions and regulatory pressures create incentives to diversify markets. It is reportedly planning offices in France and Hungary, with growth ambitions in Spain and Italy. In March 2025, Zhan cited tariffs in the US as influencing iFLYTEK’s decision to look more aggressively into Europe and the Gulf.

China’s AI giant also faces headwinds. It was placed on a US trade blacklist in 2019, making procurement of certain high-end components dependent on US approvals. To mitigate vulnerability, iFLYTEK has shifted many of its models to Huawei’s chip platforms. It developed its Xinghuo X1 large language model in partnership with Huawei, reportedly running entirely on domestic chips. The firm claims to have pushed chip efficiency from 20 per cent to nearly 80 per cent of equivalent U. S. hardware, though Huawei leadership acknowledges that domestic chips still lag behind by a generation.

Market observers note that iFLYTEK’s shift toward the Gulf aligns with governments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia pushing AI-first national strategies. However, the company must navigate regulatory, data residency and market competition risks. In the Gulf, local AI and language processing firms are emerging, and global players like Amazon and Microsoft are pressing deeper into the region.

iFLYTEK’s presence at major global events is integral to its positioning. In July 2025, at MWC Shanghai, it launched the Spark All-in-One AI Machine and Dual-Screen Translator 2.0—capable of handling translation across dozens of languages—to reinforce its push into enterprise AI. The company has also rolled out smart products such as the AINOTE Air 2 across Asia and Gulf markets, with strong uptake in multilingual productivity segments.

Dubai has issued Law No. of 2025 to regulate the professional practice of engineering consultancy firms, forbidding unlicensed operations and introducing a tiered classification system.

Under the law, no individual or office may conduct consultancy across fields such as architectural, civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, geological or coastal engineering in the emirate without proper authorisation. Firms must hold a valid trade licence, register with Dubai Municipality, and submit detailed disclosures regarding their licensed scope, classification, and technical staff credentials.

A unified electronic platform, to be integrated with “Invest in Dubai,” will centralise firm registration, classification, issuance of competency certificates, and updates to consultancy qualifications.

A permanent “Committee for the Regulation and Development of Engineering Consultancy Activities” will be established under the law, chaired by a Dubai Municipality representative and comprising stakeholders from relevant authorities, tasked with overseeing implementation and resolving sectoral disputes.

The legislation classifies eligible firms into several categories: local Dubai-based companies; branches of UAE-based consultancies with at least three consecutive years of experience; branches of foreign consultancies with at least ten years of global experience; joint ventures between local and foreign players with at least a decade of consultancy track record; advisory offices led by registered engineers with a decade of experience; and engineering audit offices providing third-party evaluations.

Firms are barred from operating beyond their licence scope, hiring unregistered engineers or subcontracting to unlicensed entities. Violations can attract fines up to AED 100,000, stricter penalties for repeat breaches, suspension, downgrading classification, removal from the registry, licence cancellation, or revocation of professional certificates. Affected parties may file appeals within 30 days and decisions must be issued within 30 days, communicated within five working days.

Existing regulations under Local Order No. 89 of 1994 and its amendments will remain effective until new implementing regulations are issued, provided they do not conflict with the new law.

Consultancy firms and staff will have one year from the law’s effective date to regularise their status; extensions may be granted, and expired registrations can be renewed by committing to full compliance.

Dubai’s move mirrors the emirate’s broader legal recalibration of the infrastructure sector. In July 2025, Law No. 7 of 2025 was enacted to regulate contracting activities, consolidating prior laws and mandating registration, classification, subcontracting oversight and ethics codes across construction and engineering services. The new consultancy law can be seen as a complementary measure to ensure that consultancy services feeding into contracting projects meet defined quality and governance standards.

Industry stakeholders have expressed cautious optimism about the changes. Some consultancy firms believe the law will reduce unfair competition by eliminating unlicensed operators, thus raising standards overall. Others warn of compliance costs, especially for smaller local consultancies that may struggle to meet classification thresholds or hire adequately certified staff.

Regional and international firms see opportunity in the rule clarity and the potential to compete more transparently. Observers expect the new digital registry and classification framework to influence government procurement and tenders by favouring higher-ranked consultancies.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman is leading a high-stakes campaign across East Asia and the Middle East to secure investment and bolster chip supply for the company’s AI infrastructure push. He has held talks since late September in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan with leading hardware suppliers to prioritise OpenAI’s orders and expand capacity.

Altman has met with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Foxconn, as well as Samsung and SK Hynix, pressing them to accelerate production and give OpenAI preferential access. In South Korea, Samsung and SK Hynix have signed letters of intent to supply memory chips for OpenAI’s data centres. Meanwhile, OpenAI plans further fundraising discussions in the United Arab Emirates.

The urgency of Altman’s mission reflects the intensifying global competition for advanced computing resources. OpenAI projects it will spend around US$16 billion this year on renting computing servers, with long-term forecasts stretching to US$400 billion by 2029 as AI models grow ever more complex.

Industry analysts note that the semiconductor supply chain remains highly constrained. TSMC dominates GPU chip production, and memory manufacturing is largely concentrated in East Asia, creating significant strategic leverage for the manufacturers approached by Altman.

As part of his tour, Altman is also pressing Japanese firms to contribute to infrastructure support. Hitachi has entered discussions to provide power transmission and distribution systems for OpenAI’s data centres, while sharing technical resources under joint development agreements.

Sources familiar with the process say Altman pushed for direct prioritisation in chip delivery schedules, asking that OpenAI receive top-tier production slots. In some cases, he proposed co-investment or co-development of next-generation AI hardware to bind partner incentives more closely.

In South Korea, early architecture proposals include planned data centres of 20 megawatts in collaboration with Samsung and SK Hynix. Altman is reportedly exploring “floating” data centre designs to manage land constraints and cooling demands.

The UAE leg of his mission is expected to involve negotiations with sovereign investment firms such as MGX and Mubadala, with the aim of funding both OpenAI’s expansion and joint infrastructure ventures in the region. In past rounds, UAE investors have already taken part in funding OpenAI operations.

Challenges remain significant. The sheer scale of chips and memory required for stacked AI model training is pushing the boundaries of global wafer fabrication capacity. Market watchers point to the high capital expenditure and long lead times in the semiconductor industry as obstacles to rapid scaling. Some of Altman’s proposals—for example, co-development of bespoke ASICs—are still in preliminary stages and face technical risk.

OpenAI’s valuation and investor backing give the company leverage. Earlier this year, it closed deals that valued it at about US$500 billion, with new capital injections from investors including SoftBank and UAE entities. Those moves have fortified its position in negotiating upstream deals with manufacturers.