Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant driving force in plenty of different industries, especially with regard to innovation and development.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in particular has done a significant amount of work to try and become a world superpower in AI, making moves in government, education and even policy to push the region into a position of power within the industry.
The Startup Ecosystem in the UAE
The UAE has made a concerted effort to stimulate the startup ecosystem in the region more generally, creating an environment that is conducive to growing small businesses.
Some of the most significant benefits of starting a business in the UAE include:
- Tax incentives
- Option for 100% foreign ownership
- Financial access without the requirement of having to do international money transfers
- Top-notch infrastructure
- Plenty of accelerator programmes
- Burgeoning tech industry
And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. These may seem like small things, but these features of the startup environment in the UAE make it preferable in comparison to other locations around the world.
The most beneficial part of starting and running a business in the UAE is if you’re able to do it in what’s called a “free zone”.
A free zone – that is, a free-trade zone (FTZ) – is an economic zone that exists for the specific purpose of making it more conducive for the establishment and running of businesses. In these areas, you’ll have access to things like tax concessions and customs duty benefits to expatriate investors. Businesses and entrepreneurs will have easy access to capital, markets and a global network of partners and investors.
There are currently 46 different FTZs in the UAE, with 26 of these located in Dubai.
What Is the UAE Doing to Encourage the Use of AI?
The UAE is not only committed to becoming a conducive environment to startups, it’s also making a specific effort to contribute to innovation in the AI industry.
It’s doing this by means of:
- The government’s active support of the AI industry by means of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. The goal is for AI to be incorporated into sectors including healthcare, transportation, education and more.
- AI has been (and is being) used in public services to improve efficiency and decision-making. The aim is to integrate AI into various aspects of national governance and public utilities too.
- There are plenty of tech hubs within the UAE, specifically Dubai Internet City and Abu Dhabi’s Hub71. These hubs attract global tech companies and startups that specialise in AI.
- AI is used across a variety of different industries and sectors, from healthcare and transportation to finance.
- Arguably most importantly, the UAE is investing a significant amount of money in AI education via specialised programmes and universities. For instance, a great deal of financial support is going into the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) which is all about research and development in the world of AI.
Indeed, there’s absolutely no doubt about how much effort the UAE is putting into supporting the growth and success of AI in the country.
Top UAE Startups in the AI Industry
With the government offering such a great environment for startups and AI-related businesses more specifically, it’s no surprise that the UAE has plenty of promising and successful AI startups.
1. One.com
Founded and based in Dubai, One.com is an AI-powered website development platform that functions as a starter website builder for people to be able to develop sites without having to do any coding.
By means of One.com, users can make use of templates to create websites in real-time. It also provides the use of an AI-enabled writing assistant to create articles and other types of content. In addition, you can also use the site’s web hosting solutions.
2. Derq
Derq is the developer of a real-time predictive analytics platform that is specifically designed to help prevent car accidents in order to make roadways safer and potentially save lives.
By means of data generated by means of AI technology, the company is able to feed information to a live dashboard that sends alerts to vehicles. It also contributes to driver behaviour modelling, deep learning methods, sensor fusion advanced driver assistance and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. This allows for the prediction and preferable prevention of card accidents on behalf of both drivers and autonomous vehicles.
3. TruKKer
TruKKer, established in 2016, is the developer of a logistics and fleet management platform that is specifically designed for the purpose of simplifying road freight and logistics operations.
By means of AI-related intelligence, the platform is able to help integrate data regarding the availability of trucks to users in real-time. The overall purpose is to ensure maximum asset utilisation in the transportation industry, reducing costs and enabling shippers, carriers and businesses to get cross-border transportation services effectively and efficiently.
4. Sleek Flow
Sleek Flow, founded by Henson Tsai in 2019, is the developer of an omnichannel conversational AI suite. It provides customers with the opportunity to have personalised experiences while streamlining business operations.
Sleek Flow makes use of conversational AI in marketing, sales, support and more in order to optimise conversations about routine tasks, support and interactions with customers too.
5. Lulu Exchange
Lulu Exchange provides banking institutions, businesses, corporations (both local and international) and individuals with financial services, including cross-border money transfers and currency exchange services.
The platform allows for wallet-enabled money transfers, the payment of bills and more by means of AI-powered bots. Users can make payments by means of wire transfers, debit cards, internet banking and more. By means of artificial intelligence, Lulu Exchange is able to provide a financial exchange service that is effective and efficient.
6. Visage
Visage, founded by Joss Leaufrancois and Emmanuel Marboeuf in 2015, provides users with a platform that allows for online recruitment by means of crowdsourcing qualified candidates.
The idea is that candidates can make use of an efficient pipeline that allows employers to focus on the interviewing process and finding appropriate talent rather than spending loads of time searching for employees.
Overall, by using this AI-powered programme, companies are able to save time and money in the recruitment process.
DP World is the provider of a variety of logistics services that are specifically focused on social, environmental and economic sustainability, powered by AI.
The company provides the use of supply chain services, transportation, financial services and economic zones to help streamline shipping and more.
Ultimately, DP World is making use of AI technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire shipping process, including container services, third-party logistics as well as automated customs clearance and brokerage services too.
Lyve, based in Abu Dhabi, is the developer of an integrated logistics services platform that is intended to reimagine the logistics behind business innovation and digital transformation.
The platform utilises AI technology to provide consumers with integrated B2B SaaS solutions to take into account all points in the value chain, from payment to delivery. Thus, businesses are able to integrate digital solutions into their customers’ experiences to improve efficiency and engagement across the board. AI technology makes this process more efficient and more accurate too.
9. Nybl.
Nybl. is the developer of a platform that aims to transform data that is normally underutilized into actionable intelligence. It does so by means of knowledge-driven machine learning.
The intelligence used by the platform offers intelligence that is based on expertise in specific areas as well as proven data behaviour models. This allows businesses and even governments to learn more than ever before from data they may have already had but weren’t able to use.
Based in Abu Dhabi, Etisalat is a telecommunications company that provides services including telecommunication, consulting, media and equipment to customers in more than sixteen different companies across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
The company specialises in fixed-line services, wireless communication, data communication and voice communication services, all of which is powered by AI technology. AI ensures that each customer’s experience is unique and personalised, improving the customer experience and overall efficacy and Etisalat’s services.
Founded in 2016, Seez in the developer of an automotive AI software company that provides P2P buying and selling services. The marketplace combines the reach of digital services with the physical world by means of digital tools which allows people to discover to new cars, buy cars they’re interested in and sell cars too.
By means of AI technology, Seez is able to match consumers to products more effectively and efficiently than ever before, not only improving user experience but increasing sales too.
Invixium is the manufacturer of biometric security products that are intended to improve businesses’ access control in terms of both security and convenience. By means of biometric systems, Invixium uses multi-biometric and multi-factor authentication to protect data while using blockchain technology for security.
The technology offers industrial access control, workforce management, fingerprint security, facial recognition solutions and enterprise access control, all powered by AI technology.
