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"UAE to Invest More in US", Saudi Tops AI Gender Equity, UAE's Cargo-Only Airline Gets Approval
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Happy Sunday everyone!
The UAE is set to ramp up its investments in the US energy sector, according to visiting US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, as both nations eye deeper collaboration across oil, gas, and AI. Over in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom now leads the world in female representation in the AI workforce, driven by national initiatives under Vision 2030. Meanwhile, the UAE’s first cargo-only airline, SolitAir, has secured its Air Operator Certificate and added a fourth aircraft, positioning itself as a key logistics player across the Global South.
Let’s dive in!
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UAE Investment In US Energy Sector Expected To Grow, Says Visiting US Energy Chief
📰 What is it about?
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, on his first international visit since taking office, visited the UAE this week.
Wright met with senior officials including Adnoc CEO Sultan Al Jaber to discuss UAE investments in U.S. energy, infrastructure, and low-carbon projects.
The visit is part of a broader Gulf tour that also includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
💡 Why it matters?
Wright signaled expectations for growing UAE investment in the U.S. energy sector, especially in natural gas and emerging technologies.
Despite falling global oil prices, the U.S. projects strong demand growth fueled by AI and tech development.
The visit comes amid heightened trade tensions, with the U.S. imposing record tariffs, and oil prices falling to their lowest in four years.
The UAE has already committed to a $1.4 trillion, 10-year investment framework across energy, AI, and semiconductors.
🔜 What’s next?
UAE firms including Masdar, Mubadala Energy, and Adnoc’s XRG are expanding their U.S. portfolios.
Masdar is developing 12GW of clean energy in California, Texas, and New York.
Adnoc’s XRG is eyeing additional stakes in Texas LNG assets.
Mubadala has entered the U.S. gas market through a 24% stake in SoTex, a Kimmeridge-owned entity.
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Saudi Arabia Leads The World In Female Representation In AI Workforce
📰 What is it about?
Saudi Arabia now has the highest female-to-male ratio in artificial intelligence employment globally, according to the Stanford AI Index Report 2025.
This milestone is the result of national efforts under Vision 2030, including initiatives by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) like the Elevate program, which aims to train 25,000 women in AI and emerging tech.
The Kingdom also ranked 3rd globally for AI job growth and 4th in the number of leading AI models.
💡 Why it matters?
The report marks a significant shift in gender representation in a field historically dominated by men.
Saudi Arabia’s progress reflects a broader transformation within the Kingdom, positioning women at the forefront of its digital economy.
The Kingdom’s AI leadership is not just numerical—it’s strategic, with national LLMs like “Alam”, recognized for Arabic generative capabilities by Hugging Face and IBM watsonx.
🔜 What’s next?
Saudi Arabia is expanding its AI ecosystem with international collaborations (e.g., NVIDIA, Microsoft), university programs, and the establishment of ICAIRE in Riyadh, a global hub for AI ethics under UNESCO.
As Saudi accelerates its AI momentum, it aims to influence both technological innovation and global AI governance standards.
UAE’s First Cargo-Only Airline SolitAir Secures AOC, Adds Fourth Aircraft To Fleet
📰 What is it about?
SolitAir, the UAE’s first cargo-only airline, has received its official Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The Dubai World Central-based carrier has added a fourth aircraft to its fleet, now operating three Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters and one 737-400 BCF.
The airline operates from a 220,000 sq ft logistics hub at DWC and is focused on middle-mile air cargo services.
💡 Why it matters?
The AOC approval affirms SolitAir’s compliance with UAE aviation standards in safety, operations, and financial capacity.
Founded by logistics veteran Hamdi A Osman, ex-SVP of FedEx, SolitAir aims to connect high-growth markets in the Global South with Dubai’s logistics ecosystem.
The airline specializes in express, time-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, and hazardous materials.
🔜 What’s next?
SolitAir plans to grow its fleet to 8 aircraft by the end of 2025 and up to 20 by 2027.
The airline is exploring the integration of electric aircraft by 2030.
Its future network will connect Dubai to 50 key cargo markets across Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.