Tech News
Msheireb Museums Announces Participation in Major Grant Collaboration with HBKU on QRDI-Funded Digital Citizenship Project
International Museums Day panel discussion explores the role of museums in academic research
Msheireb Museums and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) announced their partnership on a pioneering research project funded by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) to champion responsible digital citizenship and constructive online community engagement. The collaboration was announced to mark this year’s International Museums Day in line with the “Museums for Education and Research” theme that encourages a more conscious, sustainable, and inclusive world.
Msheireb Museums is joining the four-year “Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach” project, supported by QRDI’s National Priorities Research Programme-Cluster (NPRP-C), as part of its commitment to preserve and promote cultural heritage while addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
Abdulla Al Naama, General Manager of Msheireb Museums, said, “As a vanguard institution committed to documenting and advancing societal progress, Msheireb Museums is honoured to join forces with a consortium of leading researchers and innovators to showcase the wealth of knowledge museums have to offer. It is apt for our collaboration to come on the heels of International Museum Day as we rethink how knowledge and education can be shared – a topic explored by ICOM during this year’s International Museums Day.”
The research project, titled ‘The Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach,’ brings together 10 national and international entities from academia and industry, led by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). IT encompasses six sub-projects focused on synthesising social media discourse, developing web-based tools, creating educational resources, and investigating digital literacy and well-being, gender equality, social inclusion, and behavior-based approaches to online security. Final research findings will be used to enhance the digital experience for users in the Arab world and GCC area through a focus on diversity and inclusion.
The six sub-projects are:
− MARSAD Social Media Observatory, led by Dr. Wajdi Zaghouani, HBKU.
− Digital Critical Literacy & Propaganda Detection, led by Dr. Firoj Alam, HBKU.
− Digital Wellbeing, led by Dr. Raian Ali, HBKU.
− Security and Safety as Behavior, led by Dr. Khaled Khan, Qatar University.
− Gender Equality and Social Inclusion on Social Media, led by Dr. Osama Halabi, Qatar University.
− Digital Citizenship Ambassador Program, led by Dr. Eddy Borges-Rey, Northwestern University in Qatar.
Msheireb Museum’s Abdulla Al Naama added, “We are eager to facilitate the robust evolution of digital citizenship in Qatar and beyond by leaning into our expertise in cultural heritage, community outreach, and education. Msheireb Museums is offering the researchers access to our heritage houses, collections and exhibitions as a platform to investigate opportunities for public engagements on issues relating to digital citizenship.”
Dr. Raian Ali, Professor in Information and Computing Technology at HBKU and one of the research leads, commented on Msheireb Museums joining the collaboration, “As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it’s imperative to elevate our understanding and engagement with the concept of digital citizenship. We are grateful to Msheireb Museums for serving as platform for this important research cluster. As a narrative museum, filled with thoughtful digital exhibits, Msheireb Museums offers a dynamic backdrop for exploring this crucial topic.”
Situated in Msheireb Downtown Doha and developed by Msheireb Properties, Msheireb Museums offer a compelling narrative of Qatar’s evolution in the context of the country’s oldest city center. Comprising Bin Jelmood House, Radwani House, Company House, and Mohammed Bin Jassim House, the museums serve as a repository of social history, documenting and promoting societal and cultural progress.
Shedding light on common human heritage and cultural diversity has become the hallmark of Msheireb Museums. One of its heritage house sites, Bin Jelmood House, pays tribute to and acknowledges the social, cultural, and economic contribution of formerly enslaved people to the growth of human civilisations.
“This year’s International Museums Day theme, ‘Museums for Education and Research,’ resonates deeply with the core mission of cultural institutions worldwide. It underscores the pivotal role museums play in supporting education through ongoing research and exploration. We whole-heartedly support a future where knowledge knows no bounds with the help of advancements in technology and research practices,” said Dr. Hafiz Al Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties and ICOM Qatar Board Member.
As Msheireb Museums continues to collaborate on groundbreaking research projects and engage with the community, it remains dedicated to its role as a social history museum that observes, documents, and encourages societal and cultural development in Qatar.
Tech News
PNY STRENGTHENS ITS TEAMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SAUDI ARABIATO SUPPORT STRATEGIC GROWTH


PNY today announces the reinforcement of its commercial and marketing teams across the Middle East, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, a key strategic market for the expansion of its professional and consumer solutions businesses.
These recruitments are designed to support the acceleration of PNY’s expanding business around AI Factory initiatives and large-scale datacenter deployments. By strengthening its capabilities across computing, networking, storage, the full software stack, and the integration of NVIDIA and Vertiv solutions, PNY is positioning itself to deliver scalable, reliable end-to-end infrastructures that meet the evolving needs of enterprises as well as public and governmental organizations investing in AI and high-performance computing.
To support this growth strategy, PNY announces several key appointments:
Hashem Abughazaleh joins PNY to lead Professional Solutions Sales.
A seasoned Business Development and Enterprise Sales leader, Hashem brings over 15 years of experience across the Middle East and GCC. He has led high-level partnerships, defined enterprise sales strategies, and managed full solution lifecycles—from partner onboarding and technical customization to delivery.
Abdullah Algahyadh is appointed to drive the expansion of PNY’s presence in Saudi Arabia.
Born and raised in Riyadh, Abdullah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems and a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from Middlesex University. His professional background includes business development, account management, and IT consulting. Abdullah brings strong local market knowledge and will play a key role in strengthening PNY’s footprint in the Kingdom.
Mohammed Hamdouche will lead the development of local marketing activities.
His background sits at the intersection of business, marketing, and technology, shaped by experience in large, tech-driven organizations across MENA markets. He brings expertise in digital marketing, with a strong interest in AI-driven technologies. Mohammed will actively support the growth of consumer solutions (a complete ecosystem of NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics cards, SSD components, and memory modules), storage ranges (USB flash drives and memory cards), as well as professional solutions.
“With these strategic hires, PNY is reinforcing its commitment to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We are strengthening our proximity to partners and customers, while helping them embrace innovative technologies to meet the region’s growing needs in digital transformation, AI, and high-performance computing.” – Jérôme Bélan, CEO at PNY Technologies EMEA
Tech News
ACCELERATING AI ADOPTION IN HEARING HEALTH CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING PATIENTS WITH HEARING LOSS IN UAE
Drawing on feedback from patients across the globe, Starkey highlighted that accelerating AI adoption in hearing health is already transforming daily life for people with hearing challenges, improving how they hear, connect and participate with greater confidence. Starkey addressed UAE’s leading audiologists, clinic owners and industry stakeholders from across the Middle East and Africa, led by Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering.
The session focused on Starkey’s blueprint for AI-led hearing performance for patients in UAE and wider Middle East region, anchored by Omega AI, and detailed how the platform is advancing real-world speech clarity in challenging noisy environments, listening comfort and spatial awareness today, while setting the architecture for next-generation sound processing.
“At Starkey, sound quality is always, and will remain, job number one. Hearing is essential for how people connect, work, and participate in everyday life. When people delay action, outcomes suffer and quality of life and cognitive ability can decline unnecessarily,” said Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Starkey. “Omega AI is built to bring people closer to natural hearing in real environments, using an industry-first 360-degree deep neural network processing and generative AI designed to dynamically adapt as listening conditions change and assist the patient in all environments. Hearing aids are high tech multifunction devices. The next step is accelerating adoption, so these capabilities reach more patients in the UAE who can benefit from them.”
During the session, Starkey highlighted how Omega AI advances the shift from conventional amplification toward intelligent hearing systems designed for clarity, comfort and usability. Omega AI includes new connectivity features including Auracast assistant and Google Fast Pair, fall detection and a special AI assistant. Starkey is setting the new standards for the industry.
The briefing took place against a backdrop of hearing loss emerging as a major global health and societal challenge. The World Health Organization projects that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss, with more than 700 million expected to require hearing rehabilitation. The WHO also estimates the annual global cost of unaddressed hearing loss at almost US$ 1 trillion, reinforcing why prevention, early checks, and access to care matter.
The roadmap also emphasized connectivity and ecosystem design, including features intended to reduce friction for wearers, support faster fitting and follow-up, and enable a smoother clinical experience for hearing care professionals.
“Audiologists and clinic leaders in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey can rest assured that the new OMEGA AI platform will give them confidence and speed in treating their patients,” said Giscard Bechara, Director, Starkey MEA. “This briefing was designed to align the professionals on a larger point – hearing care is the need of the hour. Starkey has the technology today to service our patients better than any time before and we will waste no effort to educate and bring it here to our patients in the UAE and the Middle East.”
Starkey Middle East and Africa will continue engaging hearing care professionals and partners through professional education, technology briefings and clinical enablement initiatives, supporting evidence-based hearing care practices and helping translate the latest hearing innovation into improved patient outcomes.
Tech News
NEMETSCHEK GROUP AND INGRAM MICRO PARTNER TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION
The Nemetschek Group, one of the world’s leading software providers for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AEC/O) industry, announced a strategic partnership with Ingram Micro, a business-to-business (B2B) platform company for the global technology ecosystem, to jointly explore new business opportunities and accelerate digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The strategic partnership brings together Nemetschek’s cutting-edge software portfolio with Ingram Micro’s extensive regional reach, ecosystem enablement capabilities and deep market expertise. As part of the collaboration, both companies will work closely on joint market development initiatives, including coordinated marketing campaigns, industry events and customer engagement activities aimed at increasing awareness and adoption of Nemetschek’s solutions across the region. The collaboration also outlines a strong focus on sales enablement and training, equipping Ingram Micro’s teams with the technical, product and commercial expertise required to effectively promote, demonstrate and support Nemetschek technologies.
In addition, the partnership will support customers throughout their digital transformation journey through pre-sales collaboration, post-sales support and long-term account growth strategies. It is designed as a progressive onboarding framework, with Ingram Micro expected to be gradually onboarded across Nemetschek’s portfolio on a brand-by-brand basis as the partnership evolves.
Yves Padrines, Chief Executive Officer of the Nemetschek Group, noted that partnerships are a cornerstone of Nemetschek’s strategy to scale innovation and drive digital transformation globally. “The Middle East and North Africa region offers immense opportunity, defined by ambitious infrastructure programs and a clear commitment to digitalization. By collaborating with Ingram Micro, we are strengthening our ability to deliver open, connected and future-ready solutions that empower our customers to design, build and operate more efficiently and sustainably.”
Commenting on the partnership, Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director of Nemetschek Arabia, said: “This collaboration represents a strategic step forward in our mission to enable meaningful digital transformation across the built environment in the Middle East and North Africa. Ingram Micro’s strong regional footprint, ecosystem-driven approach and proven ability to scale technology adoption make them an ideal partner as we continue to empower architects, engineers and construction professionals with innovative, open and interoperable solutions. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more connected, efficient and sustainable future for the industry.”
Shaikh Mohammed Ahmed, Managing Director, Ingram Micro KSA, added: “At Ingram Micro, we see digital transformation as a collaborative journey built on strong partnerships and shared expertise. Our collaboration with Nemetschek reinforces our commitment to enabling our customers and partners with world-class technologies that address the evolving needs of the AEC sector. By combining Nemetschek’s industry-leading solutions with our regional capabilities and enablement services, we aim to unlock new growth opportunities and deliver tangible value across the MENA region.”
Ingram Micro is a leading global technology distributor and services provider, playing a critical role in the IT ecosystem by connecting technology manufacturers with solution providers and end customers. Through its extensive portfolio, digital platforms and value-added services, Ingram Micro enables businesses to scale, innovate and transform in an increasingly digital world.
The partnership underscores both companies’ shared vision of driving innovation, accelerating technology adoption and supporting regional ambitions for smarter infrastructure, sustainable development and digitally enabled economies.
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