Hello, Smashi Business readers! 🌟

Today, we are discussing:

1. 🌍 Abu Dhabi to Become the Next ‘Sphere’ Entertainment Hub 🌍

2. 💼 Microsoft’s AI Skills Initiative: Training UAE’s Government Workforce

3. 🌐 Cloud Collaboration: e& and AWS Sign $1B Partnership to Power UAE’s Digital Future 💰

Let's dive in! 👇

🌍 Abu Dhabi to Become the Next ‘Sphere’ Entertainment Hub 🌍

📰 What is it about?

• Sphere Entertainment Co. and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced plans to establish the world’s second Sphere venue in Abu Dhabi.

• Following the success of the first Sphere in Las Vegas, this collaboration aims to create a next-generation entertainment landmark in the UAE capital.

💡 Why it matters?

• This new development aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, enhancing its global reputation as a hub for culture and technology.

• The venue will integrate advanced technology and storytelling, offering residents and visitors immersive experiences.

• Sphere Abu Dhabi will echo the scale of the Las Vegas venue, which holds 20,000 attendees, making it a significant draw for events, concerts, and shows.

• The partnership leverages Sphere’s proprietary technology and content expertise, promising to revolutionize entertainment in the region.

🔜 What’s next?

• DCT Abu Dhabi will fund construction, paying Sphere Entertainment a franchise fee to use its design, technology, and intellectual property.

• Post-opening, Sphere will provide licensed content, operational services, and advisory support, ensuring the venue operates at the forefront of immersive entertainment.

• This addition to Abu Dhabi’s landscape is expected to attract millions of visitors annually, bolstering the city’s economy and cultural offerings.

📈 Markets

💼 Microsoft’s AI Skills Initiative: Training UAE’s Government Workforce

📰 What is it about?

• Microsoft has launched the AI National Skills Initiative to train 100,000 government employees across the UAE. Unveiled at GITEX Global 2024, this program aims to enhance AI knowledge among civil servants in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.

• The initiative will deliver personalized, role-specific training to help employees integrate AI effectively into their roles.

💡 Why it matters?

• The UAE has an ambitious goal to become a global AI leader, and upskilling its workforce is a critical step.

• By focusing on AI fluency and digital transformation, the initiative supports the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, positioning the country at the forefront of innovation.

• Training 100,000 government employees ensures the public sector remains competitive, capable of enhancing the quality of services and fostering a culture of technological advancement.

• Microsoft’s efforts align with the UAE’s vision for economic growth driven by technology.

🔜 What’s next?

• The program runs for 12 months and includes partnerships with local government bodies.

• It will leverage Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator platform, offering customized learning paths through a unified hub.

• At GITEX Global, Microsoft also showcased ‘Sawa,’ an AI application designed to enhance community services and boost citizen engagement, further demonstrating the practical impact of AI on daily life in the UAE.

Quote of the day
“Never Give up. Today is hard and tomorrow will be Worse, but the day after Tomorrow will be Sunshine.” — Jack Ma, Founder Alibaba Group

🌐 Cloud Collaboration: e& and AWS Sign $1B Partnership to Power UAE’s Digital Future 💰

📰 What is it about?

• UAE's telecom giant, e&, has signed a $1 billion deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance cloud adoption and digital transformation in the region.

• Announced during Gitex Global 2024 in Dubai, the partnership aims to provide cloud services, including AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and networking, over six years.

• The collaboration also focuses on modernizing e&’s digital platforms, such as Starzplay Arabia and Careem.

💡 Why it matters?

• Cloud computing is vital for the UAE’s strategy to become a global tech leader.

• AWS, being the world’s largest cloud service provider, will help accelerate e&’s technological capabilities, offering local businesses access to advanced cloud services.

• With AWS’s infrastructure in place, companies can leverage AI to boost productivity and improve customer experience, directly supporting the UAE’s economic and digital transformation goals, aligning with its 2031 vision.

🔜 What’s next?

• As AWS and e& implement this partnership, thousands of individuals, including UAE nationals, will receive training in cloud technologies and AI.

• The initiative supports building a skilled workforce capable of driving further innovation and economic growth.

• AWS’s involvement is set to strengthen its regional presence, contributing to the cloud computing market’s projected growth of $178.52 billion in the Middle East and Africa by 2030.

In other news…

1. Kuwaiti-American entrepreneur Ebraheem Al Samadi’s ‘Forever Rose Cafe’ opens franchising options.

2. Wynn Al Marjan Island will feature 225,000 square feet of gaming area, more than Wynn Las Vegas’ 194,000 square feet.

3. Luc Besson, famous French filmmaker, thinks Dubai is like ‘salt and sugar’.

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