Cybersecurity, transformative impact of AI techs in spotlight

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

The Gitex Global 2024 entered its third day on Wednesday. The exhibitors are upbeat about this year’s event due to huge turnout and latest technologies.  The event is showcasing the latest advancements in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

A cross section of exhibitors spoke to Gulf Today on Wednesday.

G42:  The Abu Dhabi-based global leader in AI and cloud computing, has today launched a landmark report on AI’s role in reshaping the sports industry at Gitex 2024.

“The Future of AI and Sport” report showcases the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of competitive sports.

Developed in partnership by G42 and The Future Laboratory, the report examines how AI will redefine critical pillars of sport, including strategy, talent scouting, fan engagement, athlete health, and performance.

G42, which champions AI as a force for good, believes the integration of advanced technologies like AI will revolutionise how athletes train, compete, and recover, as well as how fans engage with their favourite sports.

Through its deep-rooted partnerships with global sports organisations such as the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and UAE Team Emirates, G42 is at the forefront of unlocking new ways which AI can enhance performance and strategy in elite sports.

As the report outlines, AI is set to become an indispensable tool across all levels of sport. According to industry forecasts, the sports AI market is expected to reach $30 billion by 2032, with a staggering 30% annual growth rate, again underlying the importance of AI.

The report explores five key areas where AI will have the most profound impact: Strategy and Tactics, Talent, Engagement, Health and Performance, and Design. Whether it’s optimising team tactics through data-driven analysis, enhancing fan experiences with personalised content, or providing real-time health monitoring for athletes, AI is set to elevate every aspect of the sporting ecosystem.

RAKEZ: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) is participating in Gitex Global 2024, including the niche exhibition segment - Expand North Star - dedicated to connecting startups with tech industry leaders across 100 countries.

The economic zone is showcasing its thriving business ecosystem and unique opportunities for tech companies at the mega annual event.

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “Gitex Global and Expand North Star are the best-suited platforms for technology firms looking to tap into or expand within the Middle Eastern markets. These events align with the UAE’s governmental efforts to integrate digital transformation into our national strategies, emphasising the importance of technology in diversifying the economy. At RAKEZ, we are ideally positioned to facilitate this rapid growth and innovation, offering tech companies the tools and resources necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive global landscape. Our active participation in such events reflects our dedication to supporting the UAE’s vision by empowering tech businesses to succeed.”

LEXAR: Lexar, a leading global brand in memory and storage solutions, has announced that its product showcase at Gitex Global 2024 includes the world’s toughest, thinnest and fastest suite of memory solutions - all coming with massive capacities at blazing speeds, specifically targeted at the region’s professional photographers, videographers, gamers and content creators. Gitex Global 2024, the world’s largest tech event, is running from 14-18 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre. 

Fissal Oubida, General Manager and Global Marketing Director  Middle East, Africa, and India, Lexar, said, “Our impressive product showcase at Gitex reflects our relentless focus on research & development and our deep commitment to consistently bring out innovative memory solutions to address the evolving needs of today’s consumers. Lexar’s product designs undergo extensive testing in our Quality Labs, which are facilities with more than 1,100 digital devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability.”

The Lexar ARMOR series, the world’s first memory cards made of 316 stainless steel, includes the GOLD SD UHS-II and the SILVER PRO SD UHS-II cards. Encased in high-quality steel, both these rugged cards offer IP68 waterproofing, dustproofing and bend-resistance, making it ideal for outdoor filming. Both the Gold and Silver editions promise read speeds up to 280 MB/s. The cards differ in terms of write speed, with the Silver Pro topping out at 160 MB/s and the Gold delivering up to 205 MB/s. The Lexar Armor Gold and Silver Pro SD cards will come in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities.

At this edition of GITEX Global, Lexar is showcasing the Professional DIAMOND CFexpress 4.0 Type B Card which is regarded as the world’s fastest memory card, boasting industry-leading speeds of up to 3700MB/s read and 3400MB/s write. The other major highlight at Lexar’s stand this year is the new SL500 Portable SSD, positioned as one of the world’s slimmest SSD – it is 4.8 millimeters (0.2 inches) thin and almost the same size of debit or credit card, weighing just 43 grams (1.5 ounces). For USB 3.2 Gen2x2 devices, the SL500 promises read speeds up to 2,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,800 MB/s.

“Our participation at Gitex Global perfectly aligns with our commitment to bring the future of memory solutions to the Middle East and Africa region. We are excited to showcase the world’s first stainless steel memory card ‘Armor series’, the extremely compact SL500 Portable SSD, in addition to our other innovative storage solutions that are designed to meet the unique needs of users and also offer unmatched performance and value to customers in the region,” he added.

Introducing HMD Skyline: The New Era of European Innovation arrives in the Middle East Human Mobile Devices (HMD) is putting the ‘human’ back into phone design with its new smartphone: the HMD Skyline 5G

 Shoot Like a Pro and Capture stunning 4K videos, vibrant portraits, and flawless selfies with the Skyline’s 108MP Triple Main Camera and 50MP AI Selfie Shooter • Style Meets Sustainability: Crafted from recycled aluminum, built to Last longer with great battery cycle and easy self-repair innovative design.

 Mindful Technology, stay in control with Digital Detox Mode for a balanced life • Reasonably priced at Dhs1,699, providing premium innovation, exceptional design and high performance Human Mobile Devices (HMD), the leading European smartphone manufacturer and makers of Nokia phones, announced the launch of its highly anticipated HMD Skyline 5G mobile phone in the UAE and Middle East markets. The device is now available in stores, offering consumers an innovative smartphone experience.

Singh Kochhar, Vice President of HMD in the AMEA region, said: “We are excited about the launch of the HMD Skyline, a device we believe will redefine the mobile market in the Middle East. Designed with Gen Z in mind, the HMD Skyline combines cutting-edge technology, sustainable design and easy repairability—making it the perfect choice for young tech-savvy consumers.” HMD Skyline is equipped with a 108MP main camera with OIS, a 50MP telephoto and 13 MP ultrawide lens, it captures breathtaking night shots, vibrant colors, and crisp 4X zoom—all while keeping your wallet happy. Whether you’re shooting in low light or zooming in for detailed close-ups, HMD Skyline ensures your photos stand out in any setting. Tailored for content creators, its camera capabilities are perfect for photographers looking to impress. HMD Skyline has been built with a progressive GenZ audience firmly in mind, so the camera capabilities are standout – and seemingly endless. The 50MP AI selfie camera is perfect for effortless vlogging, live streaming, snapping and social media content creation. It comes with autofocus and eye-tracking to ensure the sharpest of selfies, and with Skyline, creators don’t even need to press a button or set a timer to take a picture.

Previously going by the acronym HMD, the company rebranded as Human Mobile Devices at the beginning of 2024. Alongside this transformation, they unveiled an exciting partnership strategy, collaborating with a dazzling lineup of global lifestyle brands to launch a collection of bespoke phones. Human Mobile Devices is also committed to enhancing its market-leading initiatives in self-repairability, and digital detox tech, further solidifying its innovative approach.

Extreme Networks: Extreme Networks, a leader in cloud networking is demonstrating how its secure, automated and easy-to-use solutions make the network more insightful and unlock purposeful AI potential at GITEX Global 2024.

Maan Al-Shakarchi, Regional Director – META at Extreme Networks, said: “As we redefine the future of enterprises through technology,GITEX Global serves as a launchpad for us to showcase the new products, services and innovations. Extreme Networks is exploring to promote intelligent networks and purposeful AI deployment. Here in Dubai, a hub for technological innovation and adoption, Extreme Networks is excited to showcase our role in driving a future built on secure networks and driven by insightful AI as we interact with our customers and partners at this incredible forum.”

The company’s technological preview of its new Generative AI Solution, Extreme AI Expert, which is designed to go beyond public product and network optimization knowledge to deliver the best insights. It will securely and effectively combine public data with customers’ private data to create proactive recommendations that make it easy for customers to accelerate the discovery of information and solve problems across their networking environment. The tool aims to lead to substantial optimizations and cost savings in the design, deployment and management of enterprise networking and security.

Mappable signs partnerships: Mappable, a global provider of highly customizable and locally relevant geospatial and mapping solutions, has announced three new strategic partnerships with Fujairah Center for Geographic Information Systems (Fujairah GIS Center), Emirates Transport (ET), and Emirates Petroleum Company (Emarat). The alliances were formalized during Gitex Global 2024 in Dubai.

These initiatives reflect Mappable’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s business and public development and growth by aligning its innovative solutions with the strategic goals of the country and contributing to the nation’s prosperity.

Solidifying a vision for improved infrastructure, navigation and logistics services across the UAE, the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at Gitex Stage by key executives from all four parties, including Dr Ahmed Hassan Almurshidi, General Director of Fujairah GIS Center; AbdelHamid Sba, Chairman at Emirates Transport Technology Solutions; and  Ali Bin Zayed, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Emarat. Under the agreements, ET, Emarat and Fujairah GIS Center will leverage Mappable’s cutting-edge geospatial technologies to enhance quality of services, operational efficiencies and customer experiences. Mappable, in its turn, is planning to expand its advanced geospatial solutions across the region in accordance to its corporate mission and capitalize on the GIS market in the GCC, which is forecasted to reach $2.15 billion by 2032.

Dr Ahmed Hassan Almurshidi said: “Our cooperation with Mappable marks a significant advancement in our collaboration with the private sector to leverage advanced technologies that enhance customer experience through a wider range of services offered by the Center. Mappable specializes in interactive mapping and geospatial solutions, which align with the Center’s strategic goals of empowering Fujairah with solutions that facilitate its transformation into a smart city while improving overall user experience.”

AbdelHamid Sba said: “Our partnership with Mappable underscores our dedication to adopting innovative technologies to be at the forefront of transportation and smart technologies in the UAE. These advanced mapping capabilities and geospatial expertise are instrumental in improving the operational efficiency of our fleet and improving services for our customers.”

In parallel, Mappable also signed an MoU with Emirates Petroleum Company P.J.S.C. - Emarat, one of the pioneers in the nation’s petroleum industry. Through this collaboration, Mappable will integrate its interactive fast-loading maps into Emarat’s Loyalty app EmCan. This partnership will help users find nearby fuel stations with precise location points, enable seamless navigation within the app, and support other upcoming app features that require location-based mapping services.

Ali Bin Zayed, Senior said: “Partnering with Mappable aligns perfectly with our vision to serve the nation and enhance customer experience through technological innovation.

Abdullah Mohamad, Chief Commercial Officer for the GCC region at Mappable, commented: “We are excited to collaborate with all three partners, as these are significant steps in expanding the reach of our advanced mapping and geospatial solutions across the country. By integrating our technologies into ET’s taxi fleet and Emarat’s Loyalty app EmСan, as well as developing geospatial data projects with Fujairah GIS Center, we aim to also contribute to the government’s initiatives in enhancing transportation and infrastructure services to drive economy growth, providing seamless and accurate location-based solutions that deliver exceptional value to drivers and passengers.”