UAE

Amazon is launching “Amazon Now” in the UAE, promising deliveries in 15 minutes or less for groceries, cosmetics, and electronics. This follows similar debuts in India and signals a broader push into the competitive “quick commerce” sector. Amazon leverages strategically located micro-fulfillment centers and its established logistics network to achieve these speeds. The company faces competition from existing players and the challenge of profitability seen by struggling quick-commerce startups in the US. Success hinges on optimizing its network and leveraging its Prime membership program.

The UAE’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) introduced K2 Think, a compact reasoning model challenging OpenAI and DeepSeek. Developed with G42, K2 Think utilizes 32 billion parameters and Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5, achieving competitive benchmark results in math and science. MBZUAI emphasizes its focus on scientific advancements, aiming to accelerate research with limited resources. This development underscores the UAE’s ambition to become a key player in the global AI landscape, joining the US and China in the race for AI innovation.

TSMC is considering building a cutting-edge chip fabrication plant in the UAE, a significant strategic move for the world’s largest chipmaker. This potential expansion highlights the UAE’s drive to become a global tech leader, particularly in AI. Discussions with UAE officials and US representatives suggest advanced stages of assessment. This move, along with potential investments from other major semiconductor companies, could lead to major shifts in the global semiconductor supply chain, boosting the Middle East’s tech capabilities.