01 | Huawei Unveils AI Computing Technologies for Growing Middle East Demand

As of 2026-09-19, competition in the Middle East’s AI infrastructure market is shifting from standalone chip performance towards system-wide capabilities spanning computing, interconnects, storage and power consumption. At Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, Huawei unveiled the Atlas 960E, the Hi-ONE optical engine and its Ascend chip roadmap in response to the computing, energy-efficiency and reliability demands created by increasingly large AI models.

Built on the UnifiedBus architecture, the Atlas 960E can scale to 4,096 NPUs, deliver 8 EFLOPS of computing performance at FP8 precision and 16 EFLOPS at FP4 precision, and support up to 1 PB of HBM capacity. The system uses 5,500 Hi-ONE units. According to Huawei, this can replace approximately 48,000 conventional 800G optical modules, reduce power consumption by more than 550 kilowatts and achieve 99.8% system availability.

Hi-ONE is a mass-production-ready Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) optical engine. Huawei says its architecture can reduce power consumption by approximately 66%, cut signal transmission latency by around 90% and improve overall reliability tenfold. On the chip roadmap, Ascend 960DT is expected in the first quarter of 2027, followed by Ascend 960PR in the third quarter of the same year. Ascend 970 and Ascend 980 are then scheduled for 2028 and 2029, respectively.

For Chinese server, network equipment and software companies seeking to participate in Middle East AI projects, the threshold will increasingly depend on adapting and delivering an integrated system rather than a single product. Huawei reported that Ascend supports more than 90 third-party open-source projects, while the Kunpeng ecosystem has more than 4.16 million developers and 7,200 partners worldwide. Ecosystem compatibility will directly affect whether companies can enter regional project partnerships.

Source: TechAfrica News, 2026-09-18

02 | Abu Dhabi Releases Visitor Experience Guidelines

Abu Dhabi is extending visitor-experience requirements beyond individual attractions or hotels to a unified standard covering the full journey. The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi has released Visitor Experience Guidelines as a common reference for organisations in the culture and tourism sectors, with implementation supported by audits and compliance checks.

The guidelines cover 11 key touchpoints: cultural sites, museums, mobility, attractions, hospitality, tour guides and tour operators, visitor information, events, the cruise terminal, the airport and malls. They were developed with internal and external stakeholders and aligned with and validated by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council.

For hotels, attractions, destination management companies and tourism service providers operating locally, service processes need to be reviewed across the entire journey from trip planning to departure. As the unified standards take effect, gaps between front-desk service, transport connections, information provision and complaint handling will have a greater impact on compliance checks and the overall experience than the performance of any single touchpoint.

Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, 2026-09-18

03 | Sharjah Chamber Connects Emirati Jewellery Designers with Manufacturing Technologies in China

Cooperation between Sharjah’s jewellery sector and China’s manufacturing capabilities is moving beyond product sourcing towards technology, training and supply-chain collaboration. Through the Emirati Goldsmiths Platform, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a visit to China for designers and artisans to examine gold and jewellery manufacturing processes and discuss technology transfer and expertise exchange with specialised organisations, manufacturers and industry professionals.

The delegation studied the full production process, from concept design, goldsmithing and shaping, setting and assembly through to polishing, inspection and packaging. During its visit to Shenzhen, it also explored technologies including 3D design and printing, laser cutting and engraving, precision casting, advanced polishing, gold and gemstone testing, and jewellery design software.

The visit points to specific areas of potential cooperation. Chinese companies can explore opportunities involving manufacturing equipment, digital design tools, testing technologies, technical training and supply-chain collaboration. The Sharjah Chamber also identified joint training workshops with Chinese industry specialists as one possible direction for future cooperation.

Source: ZAWYA, 2026-09-17

04 | Hanwha Life Enters Abu Dhabi Through Blockchain and Tokenised Assets

Hanwha Life has chosen digital financial infrastructure as its entry point into Abu Dhabi, showing that the emirate’s appeal to international insurers now extends to real-world asset tokenisation, cross-border payments and digital banking. On 17 September, several Hanwha Finance companies signed a series of agreements with Abu Dhabi institutions, although no financial commitments or implementation timelines were disclosed.

Hanwha Life’s partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office covers the development of a digital asset ecosystem, links between the capital markets of South Korea and Abu Dhabi, and digital banking, including Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenisation. In a separate memorandum of understanding, Hanwha Asset Management, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and South Korea’s Hana Financial Group agreed to explore stablecoin infrastructure and cross-border payment solutions between the two countries.

These agreements show that the opportunities insurers are pursuing in Abu Dhabi extend beyond conventional underwriting. For Chinese insurtech, blockchain infrastructure and compliance service providers, practical entry requirements will include regulatory alignment, asset-structure design, cross-border payment capabilities and institutional-grade risk controls—not merely exposure to digital asset market growth.

Source: Insurance Business, 2026-09-18

Other updates

  • 08 | Lucid and Bolt partner on a European robotaxi network: Lucid plans to work with European ride-hailing platform Bolt to deploy automated taxis based on its upcoming midrange EV model. The first vehicles could enter service as early as 2028, with the partnership expected to involve at least 25,000 vehicles. (Source: Silicon UK, 2026-09-18)
  • 11 | Aldar launches Talay, the first homes at Marsa Al Saadiyat: Aldar has launched Talay, the first residential community within the Marsa Al Saadiyat masterplan on Saadiyat Island. It comprises 351 standalone villas with four to six bedrooms, while the wider waterfront destination has a masterplan value of AED 100 billion. (Source: Construction Business News Middle East, 2026-09-18)
  • 12 | Abu Dhabi launches its Programme for the Future of Reproductive Health: The Department of Health — Abu Dhabi has launched the programme and a roadmap towards its 2030 targets, aiming to integrate talent, research and innovation resources to advance relevant standards, technologies and solutions. (Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, 2026-09-17)
  • 15 | Core42 and the Technology Innovation Institute partner on sovereign cloud and AI security: G42 company Core42 and Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute have signed an agreement combining sovereign cloud and AI capabilities with cybersecurity research to advance locally developed digital sovereignty and cybersecurity capabilities. (Source: Telecompaper, 2026-09-18)
  • 16 | Dubai inflation rises to 5.5% as Emirates NBD lifts its year-end forecast: Dubai consumer prices rose 5.54% year on year in August, up from 5.3% in July. Emirates NBD Research raised its year-end inflation forecast from 2.9% to 5.6%, with transport, housing and food prices all adding pressure. (Source: EnterpriseAM, 2026-09-18)
  • 18 | Abu Dhabi signs nine Indian tourism partnerships targeting 75,500 visitors: The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi signed joint marketing partnerships with nine Indian travel companies to attract 75,500 additional visitors. India was Abu Dhabi’s largest overseas source market in 2025, accounting for 436,124 hotel guests, up 22% year on year. (Source: ETTravelWorld, 2026-09-18)
  • 19 | Abu Dhabi Stopover programme expands to Al Ain: The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways have expanded the programme to Al Ain, allowing eligible connecting passengers to use a complimentary one- or two-night hotel stay there. More than 310,000 international visitors have extended their stays since the programme launched in 2024. (Source: TradingView, 2026-09-18)
  • 20 | Majid Al Futtaim reports a rapid recovery after the second-quarter demand shock: Chief Executive Ahmed Galal Ismail said the market had recovered relatively quickly after demand was hit in the second quarter, while the company still plans major investments across the region. (Source: CNBC, 2026-09-18)
  • 21 | UAE-based POWERTECH targets the global drone and missile engine market with proprietary designs: EDGE Group company POWERTECH is developing proprietary engines for drones, missiles and aircraft and plans to expand internationally through a European supply chain. It has also expressed willingness to transfer technology and localise production. (Source: Defence Industry Europe, 2026-09-18)
  • 22 | Aldar launches the Yas Riva Reserve waterfront villa community: Aldar has launched the gated Yas Riva Reserve community with 292 four-, five- and six-bedroom villas, including 45 homes with direct waterway access. A new bridge will connect the development to Yas Island. (Source: ZAWYA, 2026-09-18)
  • 24 | Huawei Cloud launches a Model-as-a-Service security white paper at a Dubai cybersecurity exhibition: Huawei Cloud launched its MaaS Security White Paper at GISEC GLOBAL 2026. Based on a shared-responsibility model, it sets out security measures across five areas: data, models, content, applications and operations. (Source: TahawulTech, 2026-09-18)
  • 26 | Aramex’s Europe-to-Gulf road freight business gathers pace: Aramex has completed more than 100 road-freight journeys from Europe to the Gulf, with transit from Europe to Dubai taking approximately two weeks. Businesses are using the overland route to reduce supply-chain risks associated with shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. (Source: AGBI, 2026-09-18)
  • 28 | Amaala Yacht Club opens on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast: The yacht club is now operational with a 119-berth marina capable of accommodating superyachts over 100 metres, as well as a 7,900-square-metre clubhouse, dining venues, a rooftop pool and a sailing academy. (Source: Marine Industry News, 2026-09-18)
  • 29 | ENOC and Landmark Group link their loyalty programmes in the UAE: The companies have enabled point exchanges between YES Rewards and Shukran, covering spending across fuel, automotive services, convenience stores, fashion, electronics and home retail. (Source: MobilityPlaza, 2026-09-18)
  • 30 | Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opens ticket sales ahead of its launch: The museum will open on Saadiyat Island on 11 December, with adult tickets priced at AED 70 and free entry for visitors under 18. Spanning 80,000 square metres, it is the largest museum in the Guggenheim network. (Source: The National, 2026-09-18)

Last updated: September 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.