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Local Content Creators Celebrated at NVIDIA Studio Nights 2

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NVIDIA, in partnership with Microsoft, announced the winners of the second edition of its creative design competition, NVIDIA Studio Nights. The regional event, held at twofour54 in Abu Dhabi, highlighted talented content creators who leverage the power of the NVIDIA Studio platform and RTX GPUs and offered them the opportunity to network with other designers and artists. This year, the competition saw winners across five distinct categories – 3D, Videography, Photography, NVIDIA Canvas Art and CGI.

The winners were Nadeem Ashraf for 3D, Mohannad Nasr for Videography, Aziza Kashash for Photography, Joseph John for NVIDIA Canvas Art, and Mosab Sharef for CGI. They each received a Microsoft Laptop Studio 2 powered with NVIDIA RTX GPUs, as well as a Surface Slim Pen 2 which allows for a seamless transition from a canvas for drawing and designing to a versatile touchscreen laptop.

“NVIDIA’s RTX GPU were especially helpful when rendering my video, particularly the encoders and AI capabilities,” said Mohannad Nasr. “Tasks like removing objects with rotoscope and rendering with the RTX card are much faster. With the NVIDIA GPU, you can shoot in 4k, 8k, or even 12k and you don’t have to worry about rendering. When it came to Photoshop, the Firefly feature powered by AI was amazing, as I could remove unwanted details or add new elements to my photographs within seconds.”

“I have an NVIDIA RTX laptop and it is so important for us as designers that our GPUs are fast when we render. Even though I have an older version, the 2060, it is still really efficient. What we suffer from the most is opening multiple applications at the same time and the laptop slowing down. Thanks to NVIDIA, although I had multiple apps running, it still remained fast and my workflow was very smooth,” said Aziza Kashash.

Commenting on his win, Joseph John said, “I used NVIDIA Canvas, an AI tool that generates images based on brushstrokes. There’s a palette of more than 10 materials and different scenarios and variations.  It’s all run through the hardware and not through the cloud, and you need to have a very powerful hardware component which NVIDIA provides. The beauty of creative processes is knowing when to stop because creativity is endless. For the details on my frame to be generated from mere brushstrokes is quite impressive.”

John added, “I’ve got one of the Founder’s Edition graphics cards – I’ve been an NVIDIA loyalist for a very long time.”

Attendees got to experience the latest RTX-powered laptops, including the Microsoft Laptop Studio 2 and Surface Slim Pen 2, as well as try several AI-powered apps from NVIDIA, such as Canvas, Omniverse, and Broadcast.

Chantelle Tavid, Head of Marketing at NVIDIA MENAT said, “The remarkable creativity showcased in the entries was truly incredible, underscoring how these creators absolutely harnessed the power of the NVIDIA Studio Platform and RTX GPUs. We look forward to more events where the local content creator community and artists can get together to collaborate, create and celebrate how far technology has come.”

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WHOOP RAISES $575 MILLION AT $10.1 BILLION VALUATION TO ADVANCE GLOBAL HEALTH PLATFORM AND FURTHER GCC EXPANSION

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WHOOP, the human performance company, today announced it has raised $575 million in Series G funding at a $10.1 billion valuation, advancing its global expansion and long-term vision for personalized health. The round was led by Collaborative Fund and includes strong participation from GCC-based investors, including 2PointZero Group, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Mubadala Investment Company, alongside global investors Abbott, the Mayo Clinic, Macquarie Capital (entities administered by Macquarie Capital), Glade Brook, B- Flexion, IVP, Foundry, Accomplice, Affinity Partners and Bullhound Capital, as well as prominent global athletes and individual investors.

Individual investors in the round include notable figures with strong ties to the GCC, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karen Wazen. Other individuals investing in the round include LeBron James, Rory McIlroy, Reggie Miller, Niall Horan, Virgil van Dijk, and Shane Lowry, underscoring the brand’s growing cultural relevance across the region and deep connection to elite performance, health and global culture.

This funding comes at a defining moment for WHOOP and the future of health. Chronic disease is rising globally, while many healthcare systems remain built for reactive care. At the same time, advances in AI and continuous biometric data are enabling a fundamentally new approach that predicts risk, guides behavior, and improves health in real time. WHOOP has spent over a decade building toward this moment. With this investment, the company will accelerate global expansion and scale its platform as a new standard for personalized, preventive health.

“We are building the personal health platform that people use to improve their health and livelihood,” said Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WHOOP. “The GCC is one of the most forward-looking regions in the world when it comes to health, performance and longevity. We’re building real momentum on the ground, expanding our local teams and growing our retail footprint in multiple markets. We’re also developing meaningful partnerships across the region to integrate WHOOP into broader health and performance ecosystems. We’re committed to investing here for the long term. We’re especially proud to be joined by so many investors from the region.”

Accelerating International Growth

WHOOP is experiencing rapid global momentum amid an extraordinary period of growth:

  • The company now has over 2.5 million members around the world
  • In 2025, bookings grew 103% year-over-year, exiting the year at a $1.1B run rate
  • In 2025, WHOOP operated cash flow positive
  • WHOOP is hiring for over 600 new roles around the world this year to support research and development and international expansion

Proceeds from this Series G financing will fuel international expansion across the GCC, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

 

 

Building the Preeminent Global Health Platform

This financing will accelerate WHOOP in building the world’s leading personal health platform – an intelligent, unified system designed to extend healthspan, optimize performance, and prevent disease before it begins.

As part of its international expansion, WHOOP is scaling its presence across the GCC to deepen research and innovation capabilities while contributing to the region’s rapidly evolving performance science ecosystem. In the coming months, WHOOP will open WHOOP Labs Doha, the company’s first international performance research and development facility, marking a significant milestone in its global growth. Alongside this, WHOOP is advancing a series of initiatives across the UAE and Qatar designed to accelerate adoption and establish WHOOP as a leader in health and human performance across the region.

Powered by more than 24 billion hours of physiological data and purpose-built AI models, WHOOP delivers predictive, personalized health insights. Members open the app an average of over eight times per day – almost three times higher than other screenless wearables – to understand how they slept, whether they are recovered, how hard to push or pull back, and how daily behaviors like training, nutrition, and stress are impacting their performance and long-term health. These insights go beyond sleep and fitness, helping members identify early warning signs, reduce risk, and take action that can prevent serious health events. From world leaders and executives to elite athletes and artists, WHOOP has become an essential platform for those committed to performing and living at their highest level.

“WHOOP has become one of the most important tools I use to support my long-term health,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, a WHOOP investor and global ambassador. “I am proud to participate in this round because I believe in the future we are building together. No other company has created a health platform this powerful that people are proud to wear.”

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HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro: The Return of a Flagship Powerhouse

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The Mate series once represented the pinnacle of smartphone innovation. Now, the series returns to the global stage after a brief hiatus. Building on the Mate series’ strong tradition of pioneering technology, the Mate 80 Pro sets new standards in imaging authenticity, durability, performance, and intelligence. At a time when innovation among standard slab smartphones appears to have stalled, the Mate 80 Pro emerges as a serious contender for the best flagship smartphone of the year.

Capturing Reality with True Fidelity

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro revolutionises mobile photography with its True-to-Color Camera System. Compared to the previous generation, this system achieves a 43% improvement in colour reproduction to guarantee authentic, professional-grade results in any scenario. The system is powered by a premium 50 MP Ultra Lighting Main Camera featuring a large 1/1.28-inch sensor. This flagship main sensor captures significantly more light and detail than those of previous generations, providing superior low-light capabilities and lifelike textures.

The true strength of the Mate 80 Pro lies in its True-to-Color Camera. This camera system boasts 96% better light intake to offer more accurate, true-to-life detail in low-light conditions. Additionally, DCG HDR technology enhances dynamic range by 300% when compared to the previous generation, preserving details and contrast even in strong backlight scenarios.

The Mate 80 Pro’s 48 MP Ultra Lighting Telephoto Macro Lens supports 4x optical zoom and a minimum focus distance of 5 cm, unlocking effortless close-up and long-range shooting to support stunning clarity and enchanting bokeh. For capturing wide canvases, there is the 40 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.

Built to Endure Adventures

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro features the Super Durable Architecture, providing comprehensive protection without compromising elegance. The 2nd Generation Kunlun Glass offers 20x greater drop resistance than conventional glass, safeguarding the display from accidental falls. In addition, the ultra-durable vegan fibre back panel boosts impact resistance by 5x, all while maintaining a silky scratch- and wear-resistant texture.

The device also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance (up to 6 m depth) and an IP69 rating for high temperatures and high-pressure jets, offering a multi-layer shield against spills, rain, and dust. This makes the Mate 80 Pro an ideal companion for splash days, workouts, or rainy commutes.

Powerful Performance

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro supports all-day usage thanks to a huge 5750 mAh battery, which can be rapidly recharged through 100 W wired SuperCharge or 80 W wireless SuperCharge. The device also comes equipped with the industry-first SuperCool Dual Phase Change Heat Dissipation System, capable of boosting thermal conductivity by 16% and reducing temperature rise by 33%. This allows the phone to remain 1°C cooler during gaming and 2.5°C cooler during HD streaming compared with the previous generation—ensuring smooth, lag-free performance under heavy loads.

Dual space ring design

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro introduces a Dual Space Ring Design with a symmetrical aesthetic. The Mate 80 Pro is available in three colours inspired by nature: Gold, Green, and Black. Paired with a silky, ultra-durable vegan fibre back panel, the phone offers a premium feel.

A Smarter Experience

The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro integrates innovative AI features for exceptional creativity. With AI Remove, users can effortlessly erase unwanted elements like passers-by or clutter, after which backgrounds are seamlessly reconstructed. AI Best Expression is capable of analysing burst shots and then merging everyone’s best faces into a single image, creating timeless group photos. In addition, AI Composition provides real-time framing guidance for professional-level shots, while Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation filters ambient noise for crystal-clear calls in noisy environments.

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HUAWEI FREEBUDS PRO 5 LAUNCHES WITH REVOLUTIONARY DUAL-DRIVER ANC AND HIGH-RESOLUTION AUDIO

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Huawei has announced the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5, the world’s first dual-driver ANC earbuds. Delivering a breakthrough lossless listening experience and significantly enhanced noise cancellation, the new flagship earbuds redefine the listening experience across music, calls, and productivity, setting a new standard for wireless earbuds. The earbuds are offered in four colourways inspired by nature— Sand, White, Grey, and Blue. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 will be available for purchase later this month in the UAE through official channels and select retail stores.

Dual-Engine AI Noise Cancellation: Instant Silence

Moving beyond merely reducing noise, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 pioneers a new noise cancellation paradigm as the world’s first earbuds with a dual-driver ANC architecture. Its Ultra-Linear Dual-Magnet Driver and Ultra-Thin Micro Planar Diaphragm Driver work in unison as independent noise cancellation engines. The low-frequency driver is optimised to tackle persistent rumbles, while the high-frequency driver swiftly neutralises sudden, sharp sounds.

Integrated with a new MIMO AI Sensing model that processes noise data up to 400,000 times per second, the system intelligently coordinates both drivers to emit precise anti-noise waves in real-time. This ensures the earbuds automatically adjust to provide optimal noise cancellation performance, improved to 220% compared to the previous generation.

High-resolution audio tuned by HUAWEI SOUND

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 integrates an innovative Dual-Drive Acoustic System with L2HC 4.0 audio codec technology. This combination enables high-resolution lossless audio at up to 2.3 Mbps and supports 48 kHz / 24-bit lossless transmission when paired with certain phones, like the HUAWEI Mate 80, Mate X7 Pura 80 series, etc., running HarmonyOS 4.3 or later with Huawei’s proprietary Bluetooth protocol L2HC 4.0 enabled. It faithfully recreates an authentic, immersive listening experience.

By separating high and low frequencies through its dedicated dual-driver design, the earbuds deliver exceptionally layered sound: crystal-clear highs, deep and powerful bass, and finely rendered details. HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 offer four distinct sound profiles: HUAWEI SOUND Balanced, HUAWEI SOUND Voice, HUAWEI SOUND Classical, and HUAWEI SOUND Bass.

Star Oval Design

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 debuts with an all-new Star Oval design. Crafted with a diamond-cut surface technique and adorned with the HUAWEI SOUND logo, the earbuds exhibit a distinctive play of light and shadow in every detail.

The new case is 5.5% smaller than its predecessor, and for the Sand, White, and Grey models, it features a new excimer film layer process that creates a unique micro-texture for a smooth, skin-friendly feel. The Blue variant features premium, eco-friendly vegan leather.

Awareness Mode and Adaptive Volume

Beyond creating silence, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 intelligently manage your sonic environment. Its advanced Awareness Mode uses ultra-clear microphones and AI processing to blend ambient sounds naturally and safely into your audio, allowing you to stay aware of important announcements or conversations without removing an earbud. Complementing this is the Adaptive Volume feature, which automatically adjusts media volume in response to changing environmental noise, from a quiet library to a busy street, ensuring optimal listening clarity without any manual intervention.

Dual-Device Connection & Audio Sharing 

Designed for the dual-device lifestyle, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 offers effortless Dual-Device Connection. Simultaneously paired to your phone and laptop, the earbuds intelligently switch audio sources based on activity, answering a call on your phone, then seamlessly returning to your laptop’s video. Furthermore, the Audio Sharing feature allows you to wirelessly share your audio stream with a second pair of compatible Huawei earbuds, perfect for enjoying music or movies together with a friend.

Additionally, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 earbuds boast an IP57 rating Dust- and Water-resistance, ready for diverse usage scenarios. For a complete and customizable audio experience, users are recommended to explore the HUAWEI Audio Connect app, available for download on iOS and Android devices.

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