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AI-powered personalized learning: The next frontier for Middle East education

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Pearson

By Isil Berkan, Marketing Director, Middle East, Africa & Turkey at Pearson

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant promise: it’s already reshaping how we live, work, and learn. In the classroom, AI-powered tools are adapting lessons in real-time to each student’s strengths, gaps, and pace. That means less time marking, and more time for teachers to connect, coach, and inspire.

In the Middle East, governments are actively reforming education to build a digital-ready workforce. AI offers a unique opportunity to close skill gaps, increase engagement, and prepare youth not only for today’s jobs but for those yet to come. With thoughtful implementation and the right safeguards, AI-powered learning is reshaping education at an unprecedented scale and speed.

The current state of AI in Middle Eastern education

Across the region, governments are investing significantly in digital transformation in education. In the UAE, AI learning begins from kindergarten, part of its ambition to become a global leader in AI. The country now ranks third globally for attracting AI talent, according to Stanford’s 2024 AI Index report.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 includes a bold national strategy for data and AI, aiming to position the Kingdom among the world’s top AI-powered economies. Initiatives like “One Million Saudis in AI” and “Artificial Intelligence Hour” are already equipping hundreds of thousands of students with essential skills. Public-private partnerships are accelerating progress, especially in STEM and bilingual education.

Why AI-powered personalized learning is needed

Many traditional classrooms are constrained by fixed curricula and standardized teaching methods. This can make it difficult to meet the needs of individual students. AI can help close the gap—giving every student tailored support based on how they learn best. It doesn’t replace teachers; it gives them better tools to adapt, support, and engage.

The AI in education market is expected to grow to over $20 billion by 2027. Pearson’s own research found that 76% of teachers spend at least an hour a week planning lessons in their own time. This provided inspiration for innovations like our Smart Lesson Generator, which reduces admin and delivers curriculum-aligned content at the right level, in seconds.

Generative AI can identify at-risk learners early, recommend specific interventions, and dynamically adapt materials for better comprehension and retention. These tools tailor content to each learner’s unique needs by offering personalized explanations, summaries, and practice questions.

How it can be implemented and the benefits

AI needs more than access to devices; it works best when integrated into pedagogy. Tools like Mondly by Pearson let learners practise speaking and listening in realistic, role-based scenarios, powered by speech recognition and adaptive feedback.

This kind of real-time assessment is especially valuable for workforce preparation, where language skills, particularly English, directly influence employability. In Saudi Arabia, Pearson’s research shows a 40% gap in English skills across industries, something AI can help address at scale.

Challenges and considerations

In a world where 60% of educators are already implementing AI in the classroom, concerns around data privacy, digital literacy, and equitable access cannot be ignored.

Many schools still lack the infrastructure or teacher training needed to roll out AI programs effectively, with 61% of teachers indicating they would feel more confident using AI if they were properly trained. However, these challenges present opportunities for regional collaboration and innovation. Ethical frameworks, clear data policies, and inclusive curriculum design can mitigate risks.

AI-powered tools that are built on proprietary standards like the Global Scale of English can ensure precision and alignment with real-world learning outcomes. Rather than replacing educators, AI should be positioned as a tool that empowers them, providing real-time assistance during lessons, answering questions, and offering extra resources.

Government initiatives and national strategies

The UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 show a clear commitment to integrating AI across all levels of education. Programs like the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) are sending students abroad to study advanced technologies, while EdTech partnerships are multiplying across the region.

By 2030, AI is expected to contribute over $96 billion to the UAE’s economy and $135 billion to Saudi Arabia’s. To realise this, education must lead the way.

The road ahead

To make the most of AI in education, we need more than devices and dashboards. We need collaboration.

Educators need hands-on training. Policymakers need to create regulations that promote safe, equitable use of AI. And technology providers must build tools with—not just for—teachers and learners. That includes embedding AI into curricula and teaching the next generation how to use it responsibly.

The Middle East has momentum on its side. If governments, educators, and tech companies act together, the region can set a global example, building an education system that’s more personalised, more agile, and fit for the future.

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HISENSE EXPANDS PRESENCE IN THE UAE WITH NEW BRAND SHOWROOM AND CARE HUB OPENINGS

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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.

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EXPERIENCE THE FUTURE OF CLOUD ANYWHERE AT CLOUDERA EVOLVE26 DUBAI

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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.”

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SYNOLOGY UNDERSCORES NEED FOR CYBER RESILIENCE AND AI-READY INFRASTRUCTURE IN MIDDLE EAST

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Synology, a global technology company that enables businesses to manage, secure, and protect their data, highlighted the accelerating shift from traditional backup methods to integrated, resilience‑driven strategies among Middle Eastern enterprises during a successful online media briefing it recently hosted.

The company emphasized the urgent need for businesses to modernize their data protection strategies as rising cyber risks, accelerating AI adoption, and evolving data sovereignty requirements continue to redefine the region’s digital landscape. Recent reports indicate that cyberattacks across the GCC have surged by nearly 40 percent year on year, with the UAE alone experiencing more than 200,000 attempted intrusions per day. This points to the critical need for more robust, adaptive, and forward-looking data protection strategies.

During the session, Synology underscored a significant shift among regional enterprises towards comprehensive approaches for continuous data protection, enhanced recovery readiness, and secure infrastructure designed to support AI-driven innovation. Mike Chen, Senior Sales Manager at Synology, emphasized that modern organizations require integrated solutions that not only safeguard critical data but also enable operational agility and scalable growth in an increasingly digital economy.

“Data security today is no longer just about backups—it is about building continuous resilience, ensuring rapid recovery, and maintaining full control over critical assets,” said Mike Chen, Senior Sales Manager at Synology. “As AI adoption accelerates, organizations need secure, scalable infrastructure that not only protects against evolving threats but also enables them to innovate with confidence.”

Synology highlighted two priority areas for enterprises in the UAE and wider region. The first is unlocking value from fragmented and unstructured data through integrated storage, hybrid cloud architectures, and AI-driven capabilities such as semantic search and intelligent workflows. The second is strengthening digital sovereignty by enabling organizations to retain full control over their data while meeting evolving regulatory and operational requirements.

The company also pointed to real-world applications of its solutions, citing the Museum of the Future as a case in point. The landmark institution has leveraged Synology’s technologies to support scalable storage, real-time collaboration, and reliable media backup in a high-demand, data-intensive environment.

With more than 14 million installations across over 120 markets, Synology continues to support organizations in building secure, resilient, and AI-ready data ecosystems as digital transformation accelerates across the Middle East.

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