Author: Arabian Media staff
There’s a new AI-powered toy for kids called Stickerbox, and, before you groan, I’m here to report that it’s surprisingly fun. Stickerbox, a product born out of Brooklyn-based startup Hapiko, is a voice-activated sticker printer. The device takes whatever creative idea you have in your head and transforms it into a printed sticker that you can then color, peel, and stick anywhere. Before trying the device itself, I have to admit I came with a preconceived negative bias — as did my fellow tester (my daughter). Our initial reactions were similiar: “An AI that prints stickers? I’d rather design and…
Short videos are in high demand. Across large platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, users are watching billions of videos every day, with companies benefitting massively from this content explosion. For creators, this often means there is pressure to create more content than ever before to be relevant and make a living out of it, especially as more AI-generated slop is infiltrating these platforms. Jay Neo, a creator and former content lead for short videos at MrBeast, thinks AI can help creators understand what is working for them and also help them create new content ideas in that direction.…
Image credit: Supplied Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) has signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and promote sustainable trade and investment between the UAE and the People’s Republic of China. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. The agreements were signed by Zaid S Al Khayyat, MD of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), with Cainiao, an Alibaba company, to advance collaboration in logistics…
Image credit: Supplied noon Minutes, the on-demand quick-commerce service by noon, successfully carried out multiple fully autonomous drone deliveries during DriftX, an international exhibition for smart and autonomous technologies held as part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week. The demonstration, which required no human control, showcased the future of last-mile logistics and marked a major step toward making autonomous delivery a standard in the UAE. Visitors to the noon stand at DriftX were able to order products directly from a touchscreen and receive their deliveries by autonomous drone in under 15 minutes. Over the two-day event, noon completed more than 50…
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Ninety-four per cent of data leaders in the UAE admit they do not have full visibility into how their AI systems make decisions, according to a new report from tech company Dataiku, highlighting rising governance risks as the country accelerates its AI ambitions. The Global AI Confessions Report: Data Leaders Edition, conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku and based on a survey of more than 800 senior data executives across eight countries, shows the UAE’s rapid AI adoption is being undermined by traceability and explainability gaps. Only 17 per cent of UAE respondents…
Image credit: Getty Images Gold prices dropped for a third consecutive session on Monday, as the dollar firmed near six-month highs, while investors awaited more clarity on the US interest rate trajectory. Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $4,055.73 per ounce, as of 0636 GMT. US gold futures for December delivery fell 0.7 per cent to $4,052.40 per ounce. Read more-Markets shift: Gold sinks while dollar surges after Fed’s rate projections “The dollar index is up near six-month highs, it’s above 100 and if it continues to trade above 100, then there will be further pressure on gold…
Image: Supplied The GCC is undergoing a transformative shift in foreign direct investment (FDI), with capital flowing into the region driven by regulatory reforms, economic diversification, and sector-specific opportunities, says Mohanad Yakout The landscape of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has entered a defining new chapter. A decade ago, the region was viewed primarily through the lens of hydrocarbons and state-led megaprojects. Today, global capital is flowing into the Gulf for very different reasons: regulatory liberalisation, investment-friendly laws, advanced infrastructure, and a wave of economic diversification strategies that are reshaping entire industries. For investors, the…
Image credit: Getty Images As 2025 draws to a close, global enthusiasm for artificial intelligence is increasingly tempered by a rising wave of doubt. Stunning AI breakthroughs now sit uncomfortably beside warnings of an overheated market, an overbuilt data-center ecosystem, energy constraints, and a growing list of GenAI pilots sputtering out before reaching meaningful business value. SAS experts and industry leaders say 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year, one in which AI’s power brokers and enterprise adopters will be forced to justify return on investment, implement credible governance, and confront complex technical and ethical questions that can…
Emaar is preparing one of its largest-ever New Year’s Eve productions, announcing an expanded entertainment programme and an upgraded Burj Park experience designed to offer a premium vantage point for Dubai’s globally watched Burj Khalifa fireworks and light show. The NYE celebration will feature large-scale live acts, visual spectacles, aerial performances, fireworks and advanced staging technologies. Burj Park will once again serve as a controlled, ticketed location for guests seeking an elevated and crowd-free viewing experience, with direct sightlines to Burj Khalifa’s fireworks, laser displays and live entertainment. Adding a new dimension this year, Burj Park has partnered with Frontstage…
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Oman’s economy and social indicators have recorded steady improvement in recent years, supported by the country’s diversification agenda, the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) said in a new report released to mark the Sultanate’s National Day. Non-oil sectors accounted for 68.2 per cent of GDP at current prices in 2024, up from 66.7 per cent in 2023. GDP reached $107.1bn in 2024, compared with $75.9bn in 2020, representing 41.1 per cent growth. Manufacturing activities contributed 10.0 per cent to GDP in 2024. The value of merchandise trade rose 81.3 per cent to $109.0bn in 2024…