At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping economies, industries, and education systems, the UAE is accelerating its ambition to become a global AI hub. Against this backdrop, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai Campus has unveiled NEXORA, a next-generation artificial intelligence lab designed to equip students with applied, real-world AI capabilities.

The launch comes as the UAE’s AI market is valued at over USD 3.47 billion and is projected to grow at nearly 44% annually through 2030, with AI expected to contribute up to 14% of the country’s GDP. At the same time, the country is advancing its talent agenda, with artificial intelligence being introduced into school curricula from the 2025–2026 academic year, alongside increasing employer demand for AI and data-driven skills.

NEXORA has been developed as an integrated AI environment where students move from ideation to development and deployment within a single platform. Structured across dedicated zones for ideation, learning, development, and experience, the lab enables users to conceptualise solutions, build prototypes, test applications, and demonstrate outcomes in real-world scenarios.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. S. Sudhindra, Pro Vice Chancellor of MAHE Dubai, said: “The conversation around artificial intelligence has moved from awareness to application. The real differentiator today is not access to tools, but the ability to apply them in meaningful, domain-specific contexts. With NEXORA, we are creating an environment where students are not just exposed to AI concepts, but are expected to build, test, and deploy solutions that reflect real industry challenges. This is essential to developing talent that is relevant from day one.”

A key highlight of the launch was the demonstration of AI applications developed entirely by students, showcasing practical use cases across industries. These included interactive virtual avatars for visitor engagement, real-time facial recognition systems operating on edge devices to ensure data privacy, and intelligent retail inventory solutions designed to improve on-shelf availability and operational efficiency. Additional innovations such as sentiment analysis kiosks, voice-based biometric systems, and interactive learning platforms further demonstrated how AI can be applied across customer experience, retail, and enterprise environments.

The lab is supported by advanced infrastructure, including high-performance computing systems for large-scale model development, edge AI platforms for real-time intelligence, and cloud-integrated environments for scalable experimentation. Industry-standard frameworks and tools are embedded across the ecosystem, ensuring alignment with enterprise technology environments. Looking ahead, MAHE Dubai also plans to introduce a dedicated quantum computing terminal, enabling exploration of next-generation computing and the convergence of AI and quantum technologies.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Dr. Balamurugan Balusamy, Dean and Professor at the School of Engineering and IT, MAHE Dubai, added: “AI cannot be taught effectively in isolation from its application. What differentiates NEXORA is the focus on building systems. Students are working with real data, real constraints, and real use cases, which fundamentally changes how they understand and apply AI. This shift from theoretical learning to applied capability is what will define the next generation of technology professionals.”

Designed as a cross-disciplinary initiative, NEXORA extends beyond engineering to include management, health sciences, media, and other academic domains, reflecting the growing role of AI as a foundational capability across sectors. The lab is also expected to drive research, industry collaboration, and skill development through faculty-led projects, partnerships, and specialised training programmes.

With the launch of NEXORA, MAHE Dubai strengthens its contribution to the UAE’s innovation ecosystem, supporting the development of talent equipped to navigate and shape an AI-driven future. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how industries operate and compete, initiatives like NEXORA serve as critical platforms for developing the talent, research, and real-world capabilities needed to power the next phase of growth.

Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, continues to strengthen its footprint in the UAE market with the opening of two new strategic locations in Dubai: the new Hisense – Avatar Trading brand showroom in Bur Dubai and the new Hisense Care Hub and showroom near Dubai Airport. These openings mark a significant milestone in Hisense’s regional expansion strategy, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering premium technology experiences and enhanced customer support across the UAE.

The newly launched Hisense and Avatar Trading brand showroom in Bur Dubai offers consumers a dedicated destination to experience the latest innovations from Hisense across home entertainment and home appliances. The showroom showcases Hisense’s newest premium technologies, including large-screen MiniLED TVs powered by advanced AI capabilities, flagship PureView and PureFlat refrigerators, premium washing machines, dishwashers, small kitchen appliances, and a wide range of smart and eco-friendly air conditioning solutions.

The showroom also highlights the Hisense smart ecosystem through the ConnectLife platform, enabling consumers to experience how connected living and AI-powered technologies can seamlessly integrate across multiple product categories.

Ashish Kapur, Managing Director of Avatar Trading, said: “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Hisense through the opening of this new premium showroom in Bur Dubai. This space is designed to provide customers with a hands-on experience of Hisense’s latest innovations and technologies, while supporting the growing demand for premium consumer electronics and home appliances in the UAE market.”

In parallel, Hisense also announced the opening of its new Care Hub and showroom near Dubai Airport, further reinforcing the company’s investment in after-sales excellence and customer experience in the UAE. The dedicated facility is designed to enhance after-sales services and provide customers with a seamless support experience, while also offering a modern showroom environment where visitors can explore and experience the latest Hisense technologies and products firsthand.

During the launch, Jason Ou, President, Hisense Middle East, Africa, and India, emphasized the strategic importance of the UAE market to the company’s regional growth plans. “The UAE remains one of our key strategic markets in the region, and these openings reflect our continued commitment to strengthening our presence and accessibility across the country. Through our strong partnership with Avatar Trading and the launch of our new Care Hub and showroom, we aim to deliver a more premium, connected, and customer-focused experience for consumers in the UAE,” he said.

He added: “These investments reinforce our confidence in the long-term potential of the UAE market and support our vision of expanding both our product accessibility and after-sales capabilities, while continuing to elevate the consumer experience across the region.”

The openings also reflect Hisense’s broader vision of driving innovation and smart living experiences in the region, while continuing to strengthen its premium positioning and long-term investment in the UAE market.

Cloudera, the only company bringing AI to data anywhere, today announced it will host its annual global data and AI conference, EVOLVE26, in Dubai on 05   November 2026.

With a focus on attracting global talent, investing in innovation, and building a strong digital economy, the UAE has positioned itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence adoption through its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. The country aims to become a global hub for AI by integrating advanced technologies across key sectors and strengthening government performance. According to PwC, AI is expected to contribute 13.6%  of the UAE’s GDP, compared to 12.4 % in Saudi Arabia and 8.2%  in the rest of the GCC.

Supporting this regional vision, Cloudera’s EVOLVE26 conference will bring together industry visionaries, customers, and partners to explore how enterprises can unlock the full value of AI by accessing data anywhere, and with a consistent cloud experience that enables organizations to run AI anywhere across public clouds, on-prem data centers, and the edge.

It will focus on reducing risk, strengthening security and governance, controlling costs, and unlocking data to drive measurable business outcomes for organizations, especially those in regulated industries operating in hybrid environments.

Through visionary keynotes, industry-focused sessions, interactive hands-on labs, and exclusive ‘Meet the Experts’ meetings, attendees will gain actionable insights into leveraging AI for transformative impact. The conference will also feature breakout sessions and technical talks centered on three core themes:

• Operationalizing AI Across Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments: Discover proven strategies from pioneers successfully moving Agentic AI from pilot to production. Hear global thought leaders unpack the Era of Convergence and address real-world challenges, such as data gravity and sovereignty, equipping organizations with a clear roadmap for smarter decision-making across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Building Enterprise Expertise and Ecosystem Advantage: Engage with a global community of data architects, partners, and AI experts through curated networking opportunities and collaborative, hands-on experiences. Advance your career through expert-led training, certifications, and candid customer case studies highlighting what worked, what didn’t, and how technology was transformed into a competitive advantage.
• Designing High-Performance Data Strategies for Measurable Impact: Meet one-on-one with executives and technical specialists to shape a tailored, high-performance data strategy. Leave with fresh perspectives, practical next steps, and lasting relationships that empower you to scale innovation and deliver measurable business results.
  
  

There will also be an expo zone showcasing some of the industry’s most ground-breaking solutions for scalable and secure data management, enabling business-critical AI applications and real-time analytics at scale.

Cloudera’s Data Impact Awards will also be announced at EVOLVE26. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding data-driven projects that have made a significant business impact within their organizations, across industries, and globally.

Learn more about  EVOLVE26 events. The schedule is as follows:

• Dubai: November 05
• Singapore: August 20
• Sao Paulo: September 10
• New York: October 14

“AI is only as powerful as the data strategy behind it,” said Charles Sansbury, CEO of Cloudera. “At this year’s EVOLVE26, we’re focused on helping enterprises move from experimentation to real results, unlocking the value of AI, no matter where the data lives, without compromise. By bringing together customers, partners, and industry leaders, we’re creating a space to share why a ‘data anywhere approach’ is vital for accelerating measurable business impact.”