Luxury fashion, hospitality, and design brands took over the city with installations, exhibitions, and intimate aperitivo gatherings.

© <p>Pietro D'Aprano/Getty Images</p>

Lexie Moreland via Getty Images

It’s the first Monday of May, which means The Metropolitan Museum of Art is holding its annual Met Gala. As always, plenty of the sports world’s biggest stars were in attendance, donning fashions in line with this year’s dress code: “Fashion is Art.”

Per the Met’s website, the dress code invites “guests to express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form and celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history.”

Tennis star Venus Williams was one of the first to hit the red carpet, as she is one of this year’s co-chairs, alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour. Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson is one of the host committee members for the event.

Another tennis star, Naomi Osaka, brought the drama in not one, but two outfits. She removed her white coat ensemble to reveal a sparkly red dress and dramatic gloves.

Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu has been busy in the months since her historic win, and her latest stop is the Met Gala red carpet.

This story will be updated as more stars arrive.

Reports have revealed that Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro for the global market. While the 15T series was unveiled in September, the 17T lineup is expected to debut much earlier, possibly as soon as this month. Ahead of the impending launch, Winfuture has published a report revealing the full specifications and official renders of the 17T duo.

Xiaomi 17T, 17T Pro specifications (rumored)

The Xiaomi 17T is expected to feature a 6.59-inch display with a resolution of 2756 x 1268 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The 17T Pro may come with a larger 6.83-inch panel offering 2772 x 1280 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, indicating smoother visuals and improved responsiveness on the Pro model.

In terms of performance, the standard model could be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, while the Pro variant may feature the Dimensity 9500vv. Both phones are likely to include 12GB RAM with storage options of 256GB and 512GB. The Xiaomi 17T is said to house a 6500mAh battery with 67W charging support, while the 17T Pro could pack a 7000mAh battery with 100W wired charging and up to 50W wireless charging.

For cameras, both devices are expected to feature a triple rear setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. On the front, both models may include a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls.

The Xiaomi 17T is likely to come with a plastic build, whereas the Pro variant may feature a metal frame. The design differences between the two are expected to be minimal, mainly in size and camera module detailing.

Xiaomi 17T, 17T Pro price (rumored)

The Xiaomi 17T is tipped to start at 749 euros (~$935) for the 12GB+256GB variant, while the Xiaomi 17T Pro could be priced at 999 euros (~$1,170) for the 12GB+512GB model. Both devices are expected to be available in black, with the Xiaomi 17T also likely to come in light blue and pink finishes, while the 17T Pro will have dark blue and dark pink shades.

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The conference semifinal matchups are set. Cavs-Pistons and Sixers-Knicks in the East. Lakers-Thunder and Timberwolves-Spurs in the West. Which teams will advance to the NBA’s final four? And what has been the biggest takeaway of the playoffs so far? Let’s break it down.

Sixers-Knicks: Who wins?

Tom Haberstroh: Knicks in 7. I can’t wait to see the Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns matchup. I think Embiid gets the best of KAT in their minutes. But when projecting the Sixers, I just don’t know how much Embiid we’ll see. The Sixers big man has missed games in four out of the last five playoffs series his team has played, which doesn’t give me much hope that he can go the distance. 

Kelly Iko: Knicks in 7. Something clicked for the Knicks in the first round with Towns serving as a high-functioning offensive hub. Turns out, involving one of the most versatile bigs in basketball works — the Knicks are 13-2 since Feb. 1 when Towns logs a usage rate of at least 25%, according to Cleaning the Glass. The 76ers can go in a few directions with the Towns assignment, but expect them to cycle through Paul George, Kelly Oubre and Embiid. What the Knicks ultimately do to slow down Embiid is, of course, the most critical part of this series. A healthy Embiid is the most dominant player in the East, but New York’s depth and physicality should push them over the top. 

Ben Rohrbach: Knicks in 6. The matchups will be fascinating — Embiid overpowering Towns; Towns spacing out Embiid; New York going double big at times; a whole lot of mixing and matching — but the 76ers trusted only six players at the end of their upset series against the Celtics, and one of them was Embiid. Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson may match each other shot for shot, but so much falls on Embiid’s shoulders, and I’m just not sure how long he can carry that load in the playoffs.

Dan Titus: Knicks in 7. Philly’s win over Boston was massive, but Embiid’s health is still up in the air and New York’s depth gives them the advantage. The Embiid-KAT and Brunson-Maxey matchups will be must-see, but the Sixers lack a true interior presence to control the glass and limit second-chance opportunities. Paul George and VJ Edgecombe could swing things, yet the Knicks’ superior defense and versatility should be the difference — especially if Embiid isn’t 100%.

Wolves-Spurs: Who wins?

Titus: Spurs in 5. The Wolves showed grit beating Denver without Anthony Edwards or Donte DiVincenzo, but with Ayo Dosunmu likely out to start the series, they’re simply running out of bodies. Who’s checking Wemby? More importantly, who keeps pace with the Spurs’ second unit led by Dylan Harper? If Minnesota wasn’t missing three key offensive pieces, this would be closer, but they just don’t have the horses.

Rohrbach: Spurs in 6. The Timberwolves are tough, and they will be even tougher if they can work a healthy Edwards into the fold, but it appears their primary offensive creator will miss at least the start of the series with a hyperextended knee. Fall behind early, and I’m afraid the Wolves could get swallowed whole by Victor Wembanyama. Meanwhile, San Antonio has so many ways to attack a Minnesota defense that is wearing thin.

Iko: Spurs in 6. I’m fascinated by the battle on the boards. The Wolves are the No. 1 rebounding team in the playoffs, and overwhelmed the Nuggets in the closeout game in ways that could be replicated against the Spurs, even with the very large Frenchman on the floor. Jaden McDaniels, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Naz Reid have enough collective crashing ability to give Minnesota more bites at the apple, although I worry about the composure of Shannon and Bones Hyland against a stout, aggressive Spurs unit. Portland, despite losing in five, was able to build big leads in segments, a sign of the youth that still exists in San Antonio, but the Spurs have enough to get it done. 

Haberstroh: Spurs in 5. Rudy Gobert will need another Superman performance against Wemby in order to make this a real series, though I suspect Julius Randle will get the first stab at Alien duties. The Spurs’ guards and Wembanyama present a much tougher challenge for Minny than the gimpy Denver Nuggets.

Cavaliers-Pistons: Who wins?

Iko: Cavs in 5. I’ve yet to come down from my Cleveland-is-coming-out-of-the-East ledge and I won’t do so today. The Pistons’ defense is aggressive, brilliant and will do its absolute best to cause chaos whenever Donovan Mitchell or James Harden touch the basketball. I just don’t think it’ll be enough to mask Detroit’s lack of secondary scoring (outside another epic Tobias Harris breakout series), bench production relative to Cleveland’s, or collective postseason experience.

Titus: Cavs in 7. Detroit’s defense will grind this out and Mitchell’s struggles getting downhill against Toronto probably repeat here. Expect Detroit to pack the paint. But the Pistons’ challenge will be on offense. They are far too dependent on Cade Cunningham, and Harris acting as their secondary scoring option is troubling. Cleveland’s depth and perimeter shooting — something Orlando lacked — should swing this series in the Cavs’ favor. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen must be aggressive to win this bruiser of a matchup.

Haberstroh: Pistons in 7. I think Jalen Duren breaks out. After a huge letdown against Orlando, Duren won’t have much trouble asserting himself in a matchup against Mobley and Allen. The Cavs’ frontline isn’t nearly as physical as Orlando’s big bodies, which gives Detroit a significant advantage inside. 

Rohrbach: Pistons in 6. On one hand, can the Pistons keep pace with the Cavaliers’ offense? Their lack of secondary shot creation looked to be an issue against the Magic, until Harris found another gear. How long they can rely on that is anyone’s guess. On the other hand, Cleveland struggled, for the most part, to score against the Raptors’ defense. Wait until the Cavs get a load of Detroit, a team that found its 60-win form in the direst of circumstances.   

Lakers-Thunder: Who wins?

Rohrbach: Thunder in 5. LeBron James works miracles. Winning a game against this Oklahoma City team, without Luka Dončić, would qualify as one. Dominating against the Rockets the way he did was nothing short of remarkable. Doing it against OKC’s ferocious defense is a different story. Never mind what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will do to the Lakers. Even without Jalen Williams, who may return sooner than Dončić in this series, the Thunder should run away with it.  

Haberstroh: Thunder in 5. The reports about Dončić’s availability, or lack thereof, is deeply concerning. I just don’t see how LeBron at 41 years old, with Dončić out for the foreseeable future, can withstand the physical track meet that will be this OKC series.

Titus: Thunder in 4. The Lakers’ defense looked great against a Houston team that couldn’t shoot, but OKC is a whole different challenge. Marcus Smart will likely draw SGA, but that won’t be enough, and Chet Holmgren is set to shine in this matchup. Even if Luka returns, it’s tough to see LA keeping up. OKC just put up 126 points per 100 possessions in the first round without even tightening the screws defensively.

Iko: Thunder in 5. This series will go one of two ways; either the Lakers do the proverbial “steal Game 1 on the road and momentarily shock the world” or “win the emotional Game 3 on their return home.” James’ brilliance is enough to keep these games closer than expected, but the Lakers have no answers for SGA, Oklahoma City’s stable of two-way threats and one of the most prolific transition defenses, especially sans Dončić. The basketball world is patiently awaiting the eventual Thunder-Spurs heavyweight bout. 

What's your biggest takeaway from the playoffs so far?

Rohrbach: Defense is king. The teams that have looked the best — the Thunder and Spurs, specifically — are the league’s top defenses. I’ll even throw the Pistons and the Knicks in there. When they have looked their best, it has been the defense that has carried them to dominant stretches. Meanwhile, the Nuggets and Celtics — the NBA’s top two offenses during the regular season — struggled to score against the smothering defenses of the Timberwolves and 76ers, respectively. Offense comes and goes, but defense is the constant, or however the saying goes.

Titus: Anyone can win the East. I’ve got the Knicks making the Finals, but with three of the first four series going seven games, it’s clear there’s no truly dominant team. The margin for error is razor-thin — whoever emerges will have to find a combination of making in-series adjustments, executing and surviving the war of attrition.

Iko: Your biggest strength can ultimately become your undoing. Teams that put extra emphasis on creating extra chances via offensive rebounds — that had underlying shot-creation issues outside of heliocentric figures — learned the hard way about the perils of playoff basketball. Five of the top seven teams in offensive rebounding rate are now eliminated from the postseason altogether. The real-time tradeoff between sending more bodies to the boards as opposed to getting back in transition and setting up a defensive shell has been fascinating to see unfold.

Haberstroh: No lead is safe. In-game or in-series. It’s been an incredible postseason full of surprises, drama and physicality, but the player health variable still looms large unfortunately. Injuries and 3-point variance are creating such chaos that it’s hard to get a handle of each team’s true strength. That makes it hard to predict, but enthralling to watch.

There’s also a bustling arts scene.

© <p>Michael Warren/Getty Images</p>

Best of all? It's just a short drive from San Francisco.

© <p>M Woolsey/Sonoma County</p>

Places like this park are what make the Southwest special.

© <p>Brad Sutton/Explore Cochise</p>

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and the National Agriculture Center have concluded Agriboost 2026 – a comprehensive training and hands-on program to empower agritech startups, develop innovative solutions to support the sustainability of agriculture, and reinforce food security ecosystems in the UAE.

The closing ceremony took place as part of the Emirates Agriculture Conference & Exhibition 2026, organised by the National Agriculture Center, and featured live demonstrations in which the five winning startups presented their business models and technological solutions. The event was attended by H.E. Eng. Amal Abdulrahim, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), H.E. Sultan Al Shamsi, Director of the National Agriculture Center, and H.E. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa).

H.E. Sultan Al Shamsi, Director of National Agriculture Center said: “Agricultural entrepreneurship is our goal, and the Agriboost program received more than 100 applications. Following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process, a distinguished group rose to the top, presenting practical and innovative solutions that are scalable and applicable, and that directly contribute to advancing the agricultural sector and enabling its sustainable future. This comes in line with the National Agriculture Center’s commitment to adopting smart solutions and raising awareness, as it continues to support startups across diverse fields and create broader opportunities for innovation and growth.”

H.E Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa: “Agriculture sits at the heart of how nations plan for the future, shaped by priorities such as sustainability, food security, and economic resilience, and enabled by the effective use of technology. Through Agriboost, we saw five startups apply this in practice, developing solutions tailored to the UAE’s environment and long-term needs. This reflects the kind of innovation Sheraa is committed to enabling: ideas that move with clarity from concept into application, contributing to a more resilient agricultural sector.”

During the Demo Day pitches, CropGuard presented its integrated approach to protecting high-value crops through soil sensing, smart precision irrigation, and an adaptive shading system, a unified platform purpose-built for harsh, arid climates where precision directly determines crop survival and profitability. Hareth demonstrated how intelligent, IoT-driven solutions can address the UAE’s water scarcity challenges in agriculture by optimizing irrigation, reducing resource waste, combating soil salinity, and enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions that improve yields while supporting national food security goals. Agrotunes introduced its AI-powered platform for intelligent farming within the built environment, integrating crop planning, environmental control, and harvest forecasting, while connecting farms to buyers, consumers, and new revenue streams through its community layer.

INNOFarms.AI showcased its enterprise AI and robotics platform that connects farms, supply chains, and food enterprises through a unified intelligence layer, delivering real-time traceability, supply risk visibility, and farm automation across the agrifood system, including through a chat-based interface for on-the-ground decision-making. Madiya Farms presented its vertically integrated platform combining standardized greenhouse infrastructure, AI-driven farm management, and an integrated supply chain, positioning itself as a national operating system for scalable, investment-accessible food production in the UAE.

Madiya Farms secured first place in the pitch ranking, followed by Hareth in second, CropGuard in third, Agrotunes in fourth, and InnoFarms.ai in fifth. The rankings reflected the overall strength and progression of the cohort.

The rankings were announced during the Agriboost Demo Day, where founders pitched their startups to a curated judging panel, including Abeer Al Ameeri, Director of Ecosystem Development at Sheraa; Kamal Rasool, Chief Technology Officer at RDI; and H.E. Hamad Al Hamed, CEO of Gracia, in the presence of investors, partners, and sector stakeholders. The session captured the evolution of each startup, highlighting the strength of their solutions and their readiness to engage with real market opportunities, supported by ongoing mentorship and strategic guidance throughout the program.

Agriboost represents an intensive, application-driven program delivered over six weeks, beginning with a foundational bootcamp focused on agile methodologies and product development, followed by a hands-on incubation phase where startups refined their strategies, tested their solutions in real market environments, and engaged directly with customers. This journey culminated in the Demo Day, reflecting the program’s outcomes and its ability to translate ideas into viable, real-world solutions.

Through its programmes and initiatives, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) continues to build an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the growth of startups across priority sectors, with a particular focus on productive industries such as agriculture. This approach contributes to transforming innovation into sustainable economic value and strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the national economy.

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Udora, the global gifting marketplace formerly known as Flowwow, has closed a $10 million private round and relaunched under a new brand. The round will go toward market expansion, with the Saudi Arabia launch scheduled for Q3 2026, including product catalogue expansion, deep localisation, technology, and AI-powered personalisation.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Dubai, the platform connects customers with local florists, confectioners, and artisan makers across 50+ markets and 1,500+ cities. With a 6% share of the UAE online gifting market and $3.32 million in GMV in 2025 alone, the platform is ready to take the same model across the GCC. The raise and rebranding are part of the same move to accelerate the platform’s global rollout while going deeper into each local market it serves.

The model scales across the country, reaching sellers in big cities, smaller ones, and regional markets. In the UAE alone, the seller network grew 66.5% in 2025, and all orders on the platform are fulfilled exclusively by local SMEs.

The platform gives SMEs the digital infrastructure to reach customers online that they couldn’t access on their own. Udora handles orders, marketing tools, and access to a paying, repeat audience through a single, tech-ready platform, without the overhead of building it in-house.

The company sees this as both a business model and a contribution to the GCC’s broader push to bring independent local businesses into the digital economy. This aligns directly with the UAE government’s strategy to grow the digital economy’s share of GDP to 19.4% by 2031, with SME digitalisation as one of its key drivers.

“More than a decade ago, we started with a simple idea: help people reach their loved ones, no matter the distance. That idea grew into 50+ markets without borders. Now we’re ready to go deeper, to build the end-to-end gifting experience – to do for gifting what Airbnb did for hospitality. But in the GCC, where gifting carries real cultural weight, technology is only part of the story. The real value has always been in local hands: florists, confectioners, artisans, and creators who care and know their communities – that’s where our mission hasn’t changed. Udora will help people across the region stay close and express care through meaningful gestures as long as people love each other,” said Slava Bogdan, CEO & Founder of Udora.

As general marketplaces scale, niche platforms with category depth are capturing their segments, driven by demand for local knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and same-day delivery. Udora has been building these since 2014, and the platform’s current scale reflects this: 150,000+ products across 25+ categories, with verified seller networks in every market it operates in.

Udora tailors its product assortment to local tastes, cultural context, and price expectations in each market it enters. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this means expanding the premium segment with high-demand, high-AOV categories: perfumes, premium chocolate, and confectionery, alongside curated gift bundles suited to the region’s gifting occasions.

The company is building toward one thing: a complete gifting experience tailored to local demand and occasion. The platform already offers personalised recommendations, AI-assisted gift discovery, and automated customer support.

The roadmap includes gift subscriptions, wishlists, and deeper personalisation tools, including a product catalogue tailored to each customer’s browsing and purchase history. Corporate gifting tools round out the updated feature set for business buyers.

Last year, Udora processed orders up to 123% YoY, with gross merchandise value reaching $9.84 million (+129%) globally. In the UAE, the platform’s most established market, GMV reached $3.32 million (+95%), driven by 41,500 orders (+89%). The UAE seller network expanded to 398 active shops, with 61.3% of orders placed by returning customers. While customer satisfaction held at 92.4% positive reviews, well above the 80-85% benchmark for e-commerce platforms.

With the relaunch and new investment in place, Udora projects 100% growth across active markets in 2026. This puts the company’s growth rate at roughly twice the projected pace of the UAE online gifting market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.9% through 2029.

 

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The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) set in motion a unique initiative that seeks to boost the empowerment of Emirati talent and enhance their role in driving innovation and shaping the future.

The initiative was implemented through an interactive encounter between SPARK’s leadership and a group of young Emirati employees drawn from various departments, as part of an institutional approach to fostering a culture of dialogue and openness, and strengthening direct communication channels with the Emirati workforce.

The move is designed to support a stimulating work environment that nurtures creativity and invests in young talent, in line with the United Arab Emirates’ directives to advance Emiratization and build a competitive knowledge-based economy.

During the meeting, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the SRTI Park, had a face-to-face interaction with Emirati employees, listening to their ideas and aspirations, and reviewing their professional experiences as well as their proposals aimed at enhancing the work environment and strengthening the innovation ecosystem within SPARK.

The meeting also featured a series of presentations by Emirati employees from various departments, highlighting current workflows, future plans, and development visions grounded in innovative ideas and creative proposals. These presentations offered suggestions to enhance institutional performance and strengthen integration across departments, reflecting high levels of competency and drive among the Emirati employees.

Al Mahmoudi emphasized that empowering Emirati talent remained a key priority of SPARK, noting that the next phase requires greater engagement of youth in decision-making, as well as providing a supportive environment that would enable them to transform their ideas into practical initiatives.

He added that the Park is doubling down on its efforts to attract and nurture Emirati talent through training and professional development opportunities, and by involving them in innovation and research projects, enhancing their readiness to lead future sectors.

The meeting witnessed open discussions that reflected positive engagement from participants, who presented ideas and perspectives on developing the work ecosystem, reaffirming their commitment to contributing effectively to SPARK’s objectives and translating its strategic vision into tangible outcomes.

SPARK’s new initiative aligns with the vision adopted by the Emirate of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates in general to place people at the heart of development strategies and underlines a commitment to empowering youth as a national imperative for sustainable growth. It also embodies SPARK’s integrated approach to supporting Emiratization by engaging Emirati talent in dialogue and decision-making, and by fostering an enabling environment for creativity—strengthening their role as key partners in building a knowledge- and innovation-driven future, capable of taking responsibility and leading the next phase.

 

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Athar+, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact, announced 15 social enterprises as the winners of the ‘Impact Makers Challenge | AED 1 Million Grant’. The initiative, held as part of the Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, aims to accelerate the growth of social enterprises and high-impact ventures, reinforcing Athar+ ’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and impact-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The announcement took place during the Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, a flagship platform that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to explore opportunities for collaboration and sustainable growth.

The initiative was designed to identify and support ventures that are addressing pressing social priorities through innovative, scalable solutions. Through this initiative, participants went through a pitching stage for shortlisted participants following evaluation rounds led by Athar+, an initiative of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, and supported by Majra – the National CSR Fund.

In collaboration with the Emirates Youth Council for Entrepreneurship, this initiative was organised to empower youth social entrepreneurs, enable them to benefit from shared experiences, inspire the next generation, and strengthen the social entrepreneurship ecosystem.

His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, said, “We believe that the growth of social enterprises is key to driving community development. Through Athar+, we are enabling purpose-driven entrepreneurs to scale solutions that directly addresses community priorities and aligned with Abu Dhabi’s social priorities. By providing tools and initiatives such as this grant, we are ensuring that innovation has a tangible, lasting impact on the community of Abu Dhabi.”

The winners were evaluated and selected based on criteria including innovation, scalability, sustainability, and measurable social impact.

 

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CNTXT AI today announced the launch of Munsit Emirati TTS, a text-to-speech model designed to generate real-time, human-like Emirati Arabic for enterprise and consumer applications. The release comes as voice technology continues to evolve rapidly worldwide, with recent launches from companies such as Google, OpenAI, and ElevenLabs pushing improvements in how AI generated speech sounds and performs. Yet despite this progress, many systems still struggle to reflect how language is actually spoken across regions.

Munsit Emirati TTS is built to address that gap. It enables systems to respond in spoken Emirati Arabic instantly, with a level of fluency and tone that feels natural to the listener. Whether it is a customer calling a bank, interacting with a government service, or speaking to a digital assistant, the experience is designed to feel closer to a real conversation than a scripted response.

At its core, the technology allows machines to convert written information into natural speech in real time. In practical terms, this enables digital platforms, call centers, and AI assistants to communicate directly with users, respond to requests, and guide interactions without requiring a human agent.

The model is designed with enterprise use in mind, allowing organizations to integrate voice capabilities into their operations. This includes sectors such as banking, government services, telecom, and digital platforms, where large volumes of voice interactions need to be handled efficiently and consistently.

In practical terms, this allows banks to automate customer calls while maintaining clarity and compliance, government entities to communicate with citizens at scale, and customer support teams to handle higher volumes of interactions without increasing operational overhead.

In blind testing with Emirati and Arabic-speaking listeners, 93 per cent of participants preferred Munsit Emirati over leading global models in naturalness, emotional expression, and dialect fidelity, placing it among the most advanced Arabic voice systems available today.

Beyond user experience, the impact is also operational. Organizations deploying AI driven voice systems have reported cost reductions of up to 20 to 40 percent, alongside improvements in response times and service efficiency, particularly in high volume environments such as contact centers.

The launch reflects a broader shift across the UAE and the wider region, where organizations are moving away from English-first or neutral voice systems toward solutions that better reflect local identity. For years, many voice-based services relied on imported models, creating a gap precisely where communication matters most. Native Emirati voice AI begins to close that gap, allowing institutions to speak to people in a way that feels more familiar and aligned with the communities they serve.

“Voice is no longer just an interface, it is becoming part of how services express identity,” said Mohammad Abu Sheikh, Founder and CEO of CNTXT AI. “For a long time, the region relied on systems that did not fully reflect how people communicate. This changes that. We are building technology that speaks the language the way it is actually used, and that has a direct impact on trust, engagement, and how services are experienced.”

“Most voice systems were never designed for Arabic, and certainly not for Emirati,” said Shameed Sait, AI Director at CNTXT AI. “What we have built goes beyond generating speech. It reflects how people actually speak, the rhythm, the tone, and the cultural context behind it. The real breakthrough is making that work reliably in real-world environments and at scale.”

As voice becomes a more central interface across customer service, digital platforms, and public services, expectations are shifting. Performance alone is no longer enough. How technology sounds, and how it is experienced, is becoming just as important.

With Munsit Emirati TTS, CNTXT AI is contributing to this shift, enabling organizations to move beyond generic voice systems and deliver experiences that are both efficient and relevant to the markets they serve.

 

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Falcons of Majlis, the UAE’s first trust-led startup investment platform produced by NKN Media and mentored by Bollywood icon and entrepreneur Suneil Shetty, today announces its four principal investors. These are leaders who are actively shaping and strengthening the UAE’s startup ecosystem at a critical global moment.

With over 5,600 startups operating across the UAE, the nation continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for innovation despite geopolitical shifts. With strategic growth, strong investor confidence, and a future-focused vision, the UAE continues to lead as a destination for opportunities, stability, long-term progress and investor confidence worldwide, holding UAE’s response clear and moving ahead. Platforms like Falcons of Majlis are not just reflecting this growth. They are accelerating it.

This is not the UAE reacting to global uncertainty. This is the UAE leading through it.

THE INVESTORS

Maqsood Mohammed
Founder and Chairman
AFM Holding
A self-made entrepreneur with ventures spanning AI, energy, e-commerce, and media, Mr. Maqsood backs today’s founders by creating the same open doors that once defined his own journey.

“I started with nothing and built everything through resilience and the right people. The UAE gave me that stage. Falcons of Majlis gives today’s founders what no one gave me: the open door. Never give up isn’t a slogan. It’s how this country was built.”

Dr. Dhiraj Kantilal Jain
Founder and Chairman
1XL Holdings
A venture studio leader on a mission to scale 100+ businesses, Dr. Jain brings a systems-driven approach to transforming UAE startup ideas into structured, scalable enterprises.

“Build with intent, not for attention. The UAE doesn’t celebrate noise; it rewards foundations. Falcons of Majlis is the first platform I’ve seen that filters for exactly that.”

Rakesh Mirchandani
Co-Founder and CEO, RNR International Real Estate | Co-Founder and Managing Partner
RRS International Development

With billions in transactions and a global investor network, Rakesh connects startups to capital and positions the UAE as a launchpad for founders looking to scale beyond borders.

Sanjay Dhawan
Founder and CEO, Habitat Real Estate | Co-Founder and Managing Partner
RRS International Development

With over three decades of experience across global markets, Sanjay brings strategic depth and execution strength, backing ventures that convert opportunity into lasting value.

“Dubai doesn’t wait for clarity; it creates it. This city has always turned uncertainty into advantage, and the founders coming through Falcons of Majlis are the next proof of that.”

Rakesh and Sanjay share a common belief:
“We strongly believe the UAE is a land of opportunity where dreams transform into reality, inspired by visionary leadership that continues to shape its growth.”

 

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Following a highly competitive national final in Dubai, Dev Bhoda and Joshua Koshy have been selected to represent the UAE at the Red Bull Basement World Final in San Francisco, standing out among some of the emirate’s most promising young innovators.

When the Red Bull Basement programme invited students and first-time founders from across the UAE to submit their next-generation ideas in this renowned annual competition, hundreds of teams responded, reflecting the country’s rapidly growing reputation as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and AI-driven technologies. After a rigorous selection process, the top 8 finalists were invited to present their concepts at a live national final in The Gate DIFC, where innovation took centre stage in a truly unique format.

Fierce Competition
Hundreds of submissions were narrowed down to a select group of standout finalists, each presenting innovative solutions to real-world challenges, from AI-powered platforms to sustainability-driven technologies. Every entry showcased the depth of talent and entrepreneurial ambition emerging across the UAE.

UAE Finalists 2026

• SightSpec AI (Karim Rashad): Utilizes Vision Language Models (VLMs) to automate visual defect detection within software requirement specifications for autonomous vehicles.
• AeroAqua Dynamics (Ahmed Mohamed): Features an AI-driven kinetic building facade that significantly reduces cooling costs while simultaneously harvesting fresh water from atmospheric humidity.
• Oasis (Stanislav Merkulov): An AI-powered agricultural system designed to enable sustainable food production in desert environments by optimizing irrigation and plant survival rates.
• Pulse AI (Ghaeth Mousto): A comprehensive AI platform for construction operations that automates document workflows and analyzes tenders to improve transparency throughout the project lifecycle.
• SVPIENS (Charis Jain): A wearable EMG-based performance system that tracks real-time muscle activation to help athletes optimize their training and prevent injuries.
• AXON (Astha Chauhan): Combines Quantum-inspired orchestration with upcycled energy storage to reduce AI operational costs by 40% and carbon emissions by 90%.
• Vantage Vision Halo (Dev Bhodia and Jushua Koshy): An assistive-navigation headband that utilizes spatial awareness and obstacle detection to help visually impaired users navigate complex environments independently.
• SpeakForge (Mariam Mahmoud): An AI-powered speaking trainer that provides real-time feedback on clarity, structure, and confidence to help users improve their presentation skills in a single session.

After careful deliberation, the national judging panel selected Dev Bhodia and Jushua Koshy for their idea, Vantage Vision Halo, recognising its innovation, scalability and potential real-world impact.

Bhodia and Koshy said, “We’re honestly overwhelmed – coming through from a simple university idea to winning Red Bull Basement UAE feels surreal, but also like real validation that our product can make a difference in today’s market. The mentorship, being selected from hundreds of applicants, and meeting so many inspiring people who shared their journeys has helped us sharpen our vision and believe even more in what we’re building. To other young entrepreneurs, if you have an idea you truly believe in, put it out there and apply – you never know where it might take you. Now we’re focused on learning even more, making the most of the support around us, and representing the UAE proudly on the global stage.”

This year’s judging panel included leading voices from across the UAE’s innovation, investment and technology ecosystem, including:

• Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni – CEO of AI at DET
• Ahmad Al Room Almheiri – CEO of SME at DET
• Mohammed Alblooshi – CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub
• Zaid Ghattas – General Manager METAP at AMD

Next stop: the world final in the USA
The UAE winners will now enter the global Development Phase, gaining access to advanced tools and resources from programme partners including Microsoft and AMD, alongside mentorship and a global network of innovators, to refine their idea into a functional product.

They will go on to represent the UAE at the Red Bull Basement World Final in the USA, joining teams from over 40 countries in an immersive global experience where they will present their ideas to an international panel of judges, investors and industry leaders.

Red Bull Basement, in collaboration with global partners Microsoft, AMD and Red Bull Ventures, and supported locally by DET, MONIIFY and DIFC Innovation Hub continues to provide a platform for the next generation of innovators, equipping them with the skills, exposure and support needed to build the businesses of tomorrow.

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DeepMinds, a leading Deeptech venture Builder, has officially launched DeepX, the first DeepTech Venture Building Summit in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), aimed at accelerating the transformation of homegrown advanced technologies into real economic value.

The inaugural DeepX Summit was held on April 25–26, 2026, at the Cultural Center of the Great Mosque in Algiers. Algeria is rapidly expanding its technology R&D and advanced technology sectors to diversify its economy. The country’s more than 150 research institutions coupled with its large technology talent pool make it an ideal environment for researchers, entrepreneurs and companies developing DeepTech.

The first edition of DeepX was organized under the patronage of:

• The Ministry of Startups and Micro Enterprises and Knowledge Economy
• The Ministry of Health
• The Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry
• The Ministry of Vocational Education and Training

The launch was officially announced by Dr. Abdenour Haddou, Managing Partner and Chief AI Officer at DeepMinds, who emphasized the importance of moving beyond research into structured execution.

DeepX brings together top-tier scientists, AI experts, industry leaders, and venture builders to collaboratively transform scientific advancements into viable, scalable ventures aligned with real-world needs.

At the core of DeepX are five strategic clusters:

• Food Security
• Healthcare
• Cybersecurity
• Logistics & Smart Cities
• FinTech

Each cluster operates as a continuous engine of innovation, working beyond the summit to identify opportunities, develop strategic roadmaps, and drive venture creation in alignment with industry and national priorities.

The first edition of DeepX has attracted strong international participation, bringing together deep tech experts from the United States, Europe, Asia, and across Africa, alongside policymakers, researchers, founders, and investors.

This structured approach enables DeepX to contribute directly to technology transfer and localization, while strengthening the region’s ability to build and scale its own technological capabilities over time.

“DeepX reflects our commitment to transforming deep technology into tangible economic value through structured venture creation,” said Dr. Abdenour Haddou. “It is about building ventures that are viable, scalable, and impactful for our economies and societies.”

Amine Staali, Managing Partner and CEO of DeepMinds, added: “DeepX reflects our vision to position deep technology at the core of economic development. By connecting science, industry, and venture building, we are creating a platform that enables the emergence of impactful ventures and long-term technological capabilities for the region and beyond.”

A key outcome of the summit is the development of the Deep Tech Opportunities Map, identifying high-potential intersections between emerging technologies and industry needs. This serves as a strategic blueprint for venture creation, investment direction, and ecosystem collaboration.

During the summit, and as part of its execution roadmap, DeepMinds has also initiated strategic partnerships with key industry players, including SAIDAL, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing group, and CAAT, a major national insurance company, supporting the development and deployment of ventures within priority sectors.

Positioned as an annual summit, DeepX will continue to expand its footprint, with the next edition announced for December 2026 in Djanet, southern Algeria. The upcoming edition will further strengthen the connection between deep technology, environment, and reflection, drawing inspiration from the unique landscape of the Tassili n’Ajjer region.

With its launch, DeepX sets the foundation for a new approach to deep technology, one that focuses on venture creation, economic viability, and long-term capability building, positioning the region as an active contributor to global innovation.

 

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Dubai Chambers recently hosted a legal workshop in partnership with Habib Al Mulla and Partners to address the vital issue of force majeure in UAE-governed contracts. The session, which attracted 375 participants from the business community, provided practical guidance on how to read, negotiate, and apply these crucial clauses to build resilience and manage risk effectively.

Held under the title ‘Force Majeure and Contractual Risk: Navigating Contract Obligations Under UAE Laws’, the workshop provided insights on how to correctly interpret and negotiate force majeure clauses, the legal consequences of invoking the doctrine incorrectly, and how recent amendments to the UAE Civil Transactions Law are reshaping the risk landscape for businesses across the emirates.

H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “In an increasingly complex global environment, legal clarity is fundamental to business resilience. Our goal is to empower businesses with the strategic legal knowledge required to navigate uncertainty, manage risk effectively, and thrive amid evolving market conditions. By partnering with leading legal experts, we are proactively helping companies make informed decisions and build more robust contracts that enhance their long-term sustainability and competitive edge.”

Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Founder of Habib Al Mulla and Partners, stated: “Understanding when the law intervenes to rebalance contractual obligations, and when it does not, is critical to managing risk in the UAE. We see this distinction play out regularly in practice, where outcomes often turn on how clearly contracts are drafted and how well their risk allocation reflects the legal framework. A more informed approach in these areas helps businesses make better decisions, particularly in moments of uncertainty.”

Drawing on frontline experience in UAE commercial litigation and contract advisory, the discussions provided valuable guidance on successfully navigating one of the key practical issues in today’s business environment. The workshop highlighted that clearly drafted force majeure clauses are essential in reducing ambiguity, minimising potential disputes, and providing a predictable legal framework for business continuity.

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Comfi today announced it has raised $65 million in a Pre-Series A funding round consisting of both equity and debt. The equity round was led by Iliad Partners and joined by Yango Ventures and Raw Ventures, both making their first investment in the region. The round includes a credit facility from Partners for Growth and a mezzanine facility structured by Shorooq, with participation from a notable family office.

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in the UAE, Comfi was established by Sanjar Samiev, Alisher Akbarov, Amal Abdullaev, and Denis Gavrilin, a founding team with experience spanning fintech product growth, scaling operations, and engineering, shaped by firsthand exposure in the financial services industry and experience with SME cash flow challenges.

SMEs across the region are trapped in a persistent cash-flow race: B2B payment cycles stretch for months, restricting businesses from collecting payments in a timely manner and accessing the working capital they need to survive and grow. Comfi breaks this cycle with a unique B2B Buy Now Pay Later product that allows SME suppliers to provide up to 90-day payment terms to customers while getting paid within 24 hours, helping SMEs build resilience and sustain growth in a changing economic environment, to succeed.

Sanjar Samiev, Co-founder and CEO of Comfi, commented, “We built Comfi from firsthand experience with how disruptive payment cycles can be to an SME’s operations. When you’re waiting over 60 days to get paid, you can’t invest in inventory, hire the right people, or take on new opportunities, you’re just surviving. We’re fixing that by combining embedded finance with AI-driven risk and underwriting to unlock capital instantly, without the friction of traditional lending. This Pre-Series A round gives us the resources to scale our products, strengthen our regional partnerships, and expand access to fast, reliable working capital across MENA.”

Christos Mastoras, Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, commented, “We invest in technology companies that strengthen and digitize the core infrastructure of the GCC economy. Comfi is doing exactly that, tackling one of the most fundamental pain points in the region: access to working capital for SMEs. By combining AI-driven underwriting with disciplined risk management, the team has built a scalable platform designed for real-economy impact. We have been consistently impressed by Sanjar and his co-founders’ clarity of vision, speed of execution, and disciplined approach. We are proud to lead this round as Comfi scales across MENA and beyond as a trusted financing partner to thousands of SMEs powering regional growth.”

Armineh Baghoomian, Managing Director, Head of EMEA, and Co-Head of Global Fintech at Partners for Growth, added, “We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Comfi as the company enters its next growth phase. Comfi’s strong model and innovative approach reflect the ambition, energy and hard work of Sanjar, Alisher, Amal and Denis, and we have been consistently impressed by the team’s execution. The business is a great fit with PFG’s structured credit strategy and our focus on backing high-growth, category-defining companies across the GCC.”

Joe Barron, Credit Principal at Shorooq, commented, “Across the GCC, SME liquidity constraints are not a demand problem – they are a structural financing problem. What stood out to us about Comfi is not just the growth, but its ability to execute and underwrite credit risk utilising its proprietary engine with real transaction data. From our perspective as credit investors, that creates a more resilient and scalable model than traditional working capital lending. We believe platforms like Comfi will become critical financial infrastructure for the region’s supply chains, and we’re excited to support the team as they institutionalize and expand this model across the GCC”

Comfi has processed over 15,000 invoices, works with 4,000+ finance leaders, and serves more than 1,000 clients, reflecting growing demand for fast, flexible SME capital solutions across the region.

The new funding will support Comfi’s next stage of growth, including scaling its underwriting and risk capabilities, expanding its product offering, and accelerating growth across key regional markets.

 

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On an Atlantic Ocean crossing, one traveler discovers the charms of the Norwegian Getaway—and of spending a blissful two weeks at sea.

© <p>Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line</p>

Many tourists to Mexico often miss this magical city, and here's why you shouldn't.

© <p>Fly_dragonfly/Getty Images</p>