AI and the Gulf: Where it's been and what's next

AI and the Gulf: Where it's been and what's next

Author: The National News February 26, 2025 Duration: 19:04
In the past decade, Gulf countries have prioritised innovation. It's part of a shift from their prime standing as oil economies to their new goal of using the advent of AI to enhance their economies all around.   It's getting attention from global tech hubs. A former Google chief recently said Saudi Arabia has the potential to become the next AI powerhouse. Only last month, Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector economy recorded its strongest expansion in more than a decade.   Some of the biggest names in tech are pouring billions into innovation in Gulf countries, from physical infrastructure such data centres to partnerships that support virtual breakthroughs. In this episode of Business Extra, Salim Essaid hears from tech experts and leaders on the Gulf's AI appeal and where it's going.

Tune into Business Extra for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping commerce in the Middle East and beyond. Produced by The National News, this podcast moves past the headlines to deliver substantive conversations with the analysts, executives, and innovators driving change. Each episode leans on the deep regional expertise of our editors and reporters, who translate complex developments in markets, energy, and technology into accessible insights. You’ll hear grounded discussions that connect local trends to global patterns, offering a necessary perspective on one of the planet's most dynamic economic landscapes. Whether it's a shift in oil policy, a tech startup's rise, or a new trade agreement, this series provides the context often missing from daily news cycles. For anyone with a stake in understanding how business really works in this pivotal region, Business Extra is an essential listen, blending authoritative journalism with genuine curiosity. The result is a consistently informative podcast that feels less like a briefing and more like a series of insightful conversations with people who have their finger on the pulse.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Extra
Podcast Episodes
Ramadan Edition - Gilberto Silva and Tim Chase on Striver app [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:07
Start-up Striver, which has football as its focus, is hoping to leave its mark as the world’s first abuse-free social media platform. In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody Combs sits down with Tim Chase, co-founde…
Ramadan Edition -  How can AI provide solutions to improve our lives? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:13
It’s Ramadan, a time of reflection and renewal in all aspects of life. And though it might seem like quite the juxtaposition, the themes of reflection and renewal are not lost on technology – especially in an age of arti…
Tech Edition - How Abu Dhabi's Adia Lab will use data for progress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:08
Never before have we had so much computing power so widely available. We have super computers, we have quantum computers and, yes, we have an unprecedented amount of data. It is all creating a perfect situation where we…
Tech Edition - AI-generated deepfake videos, why should we worry? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
AI-generated deepfake videos and images often go viral, deceiving millions before the truth comes out, and even then, it keeps on circulating.In fact, 2023, according to one study, saw a record-setting number of AI incid…
Tech Edition - Bloomberg executives on the impact of AI on finance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:47
Since 2022, the ripple of artificial intelligence has turned into a tidal wave around the world, having an effect on almost all industries and areas of expertise, including finance and investing. Bloomberg, a leading glo…
Tech Edition - How an AI model will transform the health sector [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:43
Large language models, more commonly known as LLM, are the backbone of what makes artificial intelligence so intelligent. M42, Abu Dhabi's technology-enabled healthcare company, has designed a clinical generative AI LLM…
Tech Edition - What is the future of entrepreneurship in Sharjah? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:20
What do you do with a critical mass of talent yearning to make an entrepreneurial mark in the Middle East? That is the task faced by the UAE’s northern emirate of Sharjah. In particular, that is the task of the Sharjah E…
Tech Edition - Will Vero change social networking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:48
Does the world need another social network? Ayman Hariri, co-founder of Vero and son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, thinks so. Host Cody Combs talked to the co-founder of the ad-free, algorithm-free alte…