Tag: technology

Shaping the Future of Climate-Responsive Living

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The Future of Desert Living to Take Centre Stage at the 2nd Desert Architecture MENA Forum

Dubai, UAE: Positioning desert architecture at the forefront of climate responsive design, the 2nd Desert Architecture MENA Forum returns on 30–31 March 2026 at the Habtoor Grand Resort, following the success of its inaugural edition last year. Under the theme “Integrating Heritage with Innovation: The Future of Desert Living”, the Forum will bring together global architects, policymakers, developers, sustainability leaders, and technology innovators.

As the region’s only platform dedicated to desert architecture, the Forum addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing the Middle East and arid regions worldwide: how to design cities, buildings, and communities that are resilient, climate-smart, and culturally rooted in desert environments.

The 2026 edition will expand its scope with deeper technical discussions, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies focused on climate-resilient urbanism, low-carbon materials, passive cooling systems, regenerative landscapes, and self-sufficient infrastructure. More than an event, the Forum serves as a marketplace of ideas and partnerships, providing direct access to project owners, regulators, architects, consultants, contractors, and technology providers shaping the next generation of desert cities.

Mark Powell Kyffin, Director of Architecture, Project Management and Engineering, with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi highlighted the importance of such platforms in shaping future cities, stating: “Desert architecture is not a constraint. It is an opportunity. Rooted in heritage, culture, and innovation, the region is uniquely positioned to lead the world in climate-responsive design. Forums such as this are essential in fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration that translate vision into meaningful, lasting impact.”

Commenting on the Forum’s return, Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner at Great Minds Events, said: “The Desert Architecture MENA Forum was created to move beyond theory and deliver practical, scalable solutions for building in desert climates. The second edition reflects the urgency of the moment, where climate realities demand collaboration, innovation, and a renewed respect for traditional desert wisdom combined with cutting-edge design and technology.”

The Forum aligns closely with the UAE’s broader sustainability, urban development, and cultural preservation agendas. It also reinforces the region’s growing role as a global leader in climate-responsive architecture.

Across two days, the Forum will host 35+ international speakers from leading global and regional firms including Foster + Partners, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Snohetta, Killa Design, Arup, AECOM, SOM, HKS, and DLR Group, alongside senior representatives from government authorities, municipalities, and academic institutions.

Key objectives of the Forum include strengthening cross-sector collaboration, showcasing smart materials and emerging technologies, blending traditional desert knowledge with contemporary design solutions, and positioning the MENA region as a global hub for climate-responsive architecture.

The event will welcome 300+ delegates from across the region and beyond, including government authorities, project owners, developers, architectural firms, consultancies, EPCs, and senior decision-makers spanning architecture, design, sustainability, engineering, R&D, and construction.

As part of the Forum, the Desert Architecture Recognition Awards 2026 will take place on 31 March, celebrating visionaries redefining excellence in arid-climate design. The Awards will recognise achievements across sustainable materials, façade innovation, regenerative landscapes, digital design, architectural lighting, and emerging talent, concluding with an exclusive reception dinner and networking evening.

With over 20 sessions, and case studies, and participation from over 15 countries, the 2nd Desert Architecture MENA Forum promises to be a defining platform for advancing sustainable, culturally grounded, and future-ready design across desert regions.

For more information, visit https://desertarchitectureforum.com/

Bin Ham Travel Group Renews Partnership with Amadeus to Elevate Travel Experiences and Accelerate Growth

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Bin Ham Travel Group, one of the UAE’s leading travel management companies, has renewed its long-standing partnership with Amadeus, a global leader in travel technology, to further enhance travel booking experiences and drive sustainable growth across the region.

Through this continued collaboration, Bin Ham Travel Group will leverage Amadeus’ state-of-the-art solutionsto deliver seamless, real-time booking services. This partnership will continue to provide access to rich travel content, enabling more personalized offers, greater choice, and a seamless booking experience across flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel services.

In addition, Bin Ham Travel Group will benefit from Amadeus’ innovative portfolio of digital solutions, including Amadeus Online Suite Mobile App, which will enhance the mobile booking journey for customers. The Amadeus Value Hotels (AVH) will offer access to competitive hotel content worldwide while the NDC-X program will give access to next-generation airline retailing and personalized offers.

H.E. Ahmed Musallam Bin Ham, CEO of Bin Ham Travel Group, commented: “Our renewed partnership with Amadeus reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative travel solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. Together, we aim to elevate the travel experience by offering a wider range of choices, seamless booking, and greater convenience.”

Echoing this sentiment, Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf, said: “Bin Ham Travel Group has been a valued partner for many years. By renewing our collaboration, we are jointly advancing the travel ecosystem in the UAE with cutting-edge solutions that enhance efficiency and deliver exceptional value to travelers and partners alike.”

This renewed alliance underlines the shared vision of both companies to set new benchmarks in travel technology, strengthen the UAE’s position as a global travel hub, and deliver enriched experiences to both individual travelers and corporate clients.

Reolink Concludes a Dynamic Presence at GITEX GLOBAL 2025 with ReoNeura™ AI and TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi

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Products on show reflected Innovation, Intelligence, and Impact

Reolink, an innovative leader in intelligent visual technology for home and businesses, today announced ReoNeura™, its next-generation AI system transforming smart security, and unveiled the TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi, the world’s first 4K 360-degree PTZ floodlight camera with local AI Video Search at GITEX GLOBAL 2025.


ReoNeura™: AI Security for Every Moment

Tired of endless video scrubbing, missed events, or false alerts? ReoNeura™ is designed to tackle these challenges. It is Reolink’s intelligent AI system that sees smarter, understands deeper, and responds faster.

In July, Reolink debuted ReoNeura™, powering its AI Video Search to make video review faster and more precise. At GITEXGLOBAL 2025, the company is expanding ReoNeura™ with even more AI features. Two highlights include:

  • Smart Detection: Includes Person & Object Detection, which identifies people, animals, vehicles, bikes and parcels. Custom zones and schedules help reduce false alerts. And Smart Event Detection (Beta), adds the ability to track deliveries and detect when objects appear or disappear, sending alerts that matter most.
  • AI Video Captioning: Automatically converts footage into clear, natural-language summaries, allowing users to grasp what happened at a glance without watching lengthy clips.

Reolink also offers business-focused AI features, such as Customer Flow Analysis, which helps small and medium-size businesses track visitor traffic, generate 24-hour heat maps of busy zones, and receive real-time crowding alerts. These insights support clearer decision-making and more efficient operations.

Reolink is committed to bringing these smart AI features across more of its product lines. ReoNeura™ delivers AI across Reolink security cameras, network video recorders, and the cloud, giving users the flexibility to deploy smart features wherever they need them most.

TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi: Safety in Sight, Moments in Light

Expanding its Floodlight Camera | Reolink Outdoor Cam with Floodlight, Reolink introduced TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi, a dual-lens hardwired PTZ floodlight camera that combines 4K ultra HD resolution, smooth pan-tilt control, and a triple PIR sensor array. TrackFlex delivers full 360° coverage and 270° out-of-field motion detection—even auto-rotating to capture movement before subjects enter the frame. With AI Video Search built in, users can quickly locate key events for smarter, more efficient security management.

When night falls, TrackFlex shines. Its dual adjustable floodlights provide up to 3000 lumens of illumination and support both warm (3000K) and cool (6000K) color temperatures, balancing visibility, aesthetics, and security deterrence. 


Together, ReoNeura™ and TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi showcase Reolink’s commitment to redefining smart security with advanced AI and innovative product design. Please visit https://reolink.com/lp/reolink-at-gitex/ to learn more.

Harnessing AI for Digital Transformation: How NetApp is Powering the Future of Data Management

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George Kurian, CEO of NetApp

By Natasha Dury


In his first-ever visit to the UAE, George Kurian, President and CEO of NetApp, brings fresh perspectives on the company’s expansion and innovation strategies in the Middle East. With the increasing demand for cloud computing, data management, and digital transformation across industries, Kurian’s visit signifies the growing importance of the region to NetApp’s global operations. In this exclusive interview, Kurian shares his vision for the future of data management, the company’s role in cloud transformation, and how NetApp plans to support the UAE and the wider Middle East in their digital journeys.

What are your initial impressions during this first visit to the UAE, and how does it align with NetApp’s broader regional strategy?

The UAE has made a lasting impression on me as an exciting, rapidly evolving market committed to innovation, particularly in digital transformation and cloud computing. The country’s vision for smart cities, AI, and sustainability perfectly aligns with NetApp’s mission to unlock the potential of data for businesses. This visit reinforces the Middle East’s importance in our global strategy. NetApp is deeply involved in the region with strong teams and key partnerships across industries like the public sector, oil and gas, healthcare, and financial services. The region is a significant contributor to our global revenue, and we are committed to supporting its digital future.

What role does NetApp see itself playing in the region’s ongoing digital transformation?

Cloud adoption in the Middle East is accelerating, and NetApp is uniquely positioned to support this transformation. Our role is to help organizations manage data efficiently across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Our advanced cloud solutions enable businesses to optimize operations, increase agility, and drive innovation. We offer seamless data management and storage solutions, allowing enterprises to harness the power of their data—whether on-premises, in the cloud, or across multiple clouds. As companies move toward digitized operations, NetApp will remain a key partner in building scalable, secure, and robust data infrastructures.

How is NetApp innovating to stay ahead in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics?

The future relies on AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics, and NetApp is innovating by developing intelligent data solutions that simplify storing, managing, and analyzing vast amounts of data. Our intelligent data infrastructure allows businesses to access and use their data seamlessly, no matter where it’s stored. Our recent advancements in data services enable AI and machine learning workloads to operate at scale, empowering businesses to make faster data-driven decisions.

How does NetApp differentiate itself in a crowded cloud solutions market, particularly in the Middle East?

NetApp stands out by providing integrated data management solutions that work across multiple cloud environments. We offer flexibility, allowing businesses to manage data in public, private, and hybrid clouds without sacrificing performance or security. Our partnerships with leading cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure enable us to deliver optimized solutions that transform data into a competitive advantage, solidifying our leadership in the cloud market.

Can you share any upcoming initiatives or partnerships that NetApp is planning for the UAE and the wider Middle East?

We are closely collaborating with public and private sector organizations to accelerate digital transformation across industries. For instance, we are partnering with the oil and gas sector to drive efficiencies through better data management. In healthcare, we focus on secure, scalable solutions that enable providers to manage sensitive patient data effectively. We are also exploring partnerships with educational institutions in the UAE to foster talent in AI, data science, and cloud technologies.

With cybersecurity becoming increasingly critical as data grows in complexity and volume, what steps is NetApp taking to ensure data security and compliance for businesses in this region?

NetApp provides advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and stringent data governance frameworks to help businesses safeguard their data. Our cloud services come with built-in security features that ensure compliance with local regulations, including data sovereignty and privacy requirements. We also partner with cybersecurity experts to offer comprehensive protection against emerging threats.

What are the key trends shaping the future of data management and cloud solutions, and how is NetApp preparing to meet these future demands?

We are in the “Third Era” of data, where data is the key driver of innovation and growth. Key trends include the growing reliance on hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the increasing role of AI and machine learning in business decision-making, and the need for intelligent and automated data management solutions. NetApp is at the forefront of these trends, continuously innovating to make data more accessible, manageable, and secure.

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Innovative gadgets from Anker showcase at GITEX 2019

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Anker, Eufy, Nebula, Roav and Soundcore products to take centre stage at the annual Technology Show

 

Anker Innovations’ will be showcasing their new products at Gitex 2019 in Sheikh Maktoum Hall at Booth SM B1 from the 6th to the 10th of October 2019.

Faraz Mehdi, Regional Sales Head at Anker Innovations MEA said, “We are delighted to be at this year’s GITEX with a strong representation from our core brands and our team will be introducing the latest products in chargers, cables, audio, smart home entertainment, smart home appliances, security cameras,”

To meet the growing demand in charging and smart home products and solutions, the brand caters to the needs of discerning consumers in search of fast charging solutions, innovative products and appliances as well as a range of portable entertainment products and technologies.

Anker stand will showcase chargers and cables, Soundcore will feature audio products, Eufy for smart home appliances and security products, Nebula for home entertainment and ROAV will have smart car accessories.

Anker experts will be on hand at Gitex talking about the dynamic approach of the brand in meeting end users’ expectations in Sheikh Maktoum Hall at Booth SM B1.