#UAE #funding - Dubai-based autonomous vehicle start-up Micropolis Robotics, focused on developing the next generation of autonomous rover, has closed a $4 million Seed funding round led by San Francisco-based venture capital firm Mindrock Capital. (The National)

#Oman #dronedelivery - UVL Robotics launched a first-of-its-kind drone parcel delivery service in Muscat yesterday. In the first phase, parcels will be delivered to residents of Muscat Bay residential complex in Qantab and surrounding areas. (Muscat Daily)

#Qatar #drones - Ibtechar, one of Qatar’s top practical innovation and turnkey solutions providers, has developed a drone tracker and a GPS system that ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure, VIP residents, national borders, and military facilities. (The Peninsula)

#UAE #robotaxis - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced today that trials for Cruise robotaxis will start by the end of 2022. The authority is currently developing the digital maps needed for the  driverless vehicles. (The National)

#Israel #UAE #banking - Mashreq Bank will use a transaction monitoring tool for correspondent banking developed by Israeli cybersecurity firm ThetaRay to detect financial crimes, according to an announcement made on Monday. (Reuters)

#UAE #Serbia #cloud - Serbia’s Office for IT and egovernment signed an MoU with Group 42 (G42) during a visit to the UAE. Director Mihailo Jovanovic commented that the MoU could be a good foundation for a potential investment in the country’s national hybrid cloud infrastructure. (EKAPIJA)

#UAE #digitaltwins - BEEAH Group, the Sharjah-based environmental management company, will create a digital twin of its new headquarters in the metaverse, according to the company. The digital twin of the Zaha Hadid-designed facility, will not only replicate the physical structure. but also the systems, tracking data parameters in real-time. (The National)

#UAE #construction - Emaar Properties has deployed robots from Singapore-based MYRO International to complete the painting works of its luxury high-rise residential project in Downtown Dubai. (Arab News)

#Oman #datalaw - Oman has become the latest country in the Middle East to issue national privacy legislation with the publication of a new Personal Data Protection Law. Royal Decree 6/2022 promulgating the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) was issued on 9 February 2022. (Lexology)

#Saudi #opendata - stc has launched an Open Data Initiative via stc lab, offering free-to-use open data sets to help support Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing data community. The telecom giant launched the open data initiative to help data scientists, researchers, students and universities process, analyse and model real data. (STC)

#Egypt #roboticsurgery - Alameda Healthcare Group will purchase four CMR Surgical Versius robots over the next 4 years, following the signing of an MoU. (Daily News Egypt)

#Turkey #UAE #techfund - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for the establishment of a joint technology fund between Turkey and the UAE, during this state visit to the Emirates this week. (Emirates News Agency)

#Philippines #UAE #diplomacy - The Philippines and UAE will explore possible collaboration on AI. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) participated in a diplomatic mission to the UAE earlier this month. (PNA)

#UAE #customs - Dubai Customs is piloting a variety of unmanned systems for investigating contraband, security patrols and the inspection of vessels. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and smart electric vehicles are among those being tested by the department. (Gulf News)

#Lebanon #UAVs - Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday the group has been producing drones and has the capability of turning thousands of rockets to precision missiles. (Al Arabiya)

#Dubai #DIFC - The DIFC AI Festival - An AI festival bringing together fintech startups, global tech firms and educators to illuminate AI technologies, innovations and impact, will take place from 21-23 February at the DIFC Innovation Hub. (DIFC)

Carrington Malin helps large organisations, digital brands and fast growing tech ventures with brand, communications and go-to-market strategies.