Google has announced the launch of the AI Opportunity Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), marking its largest regional AI project to date. The initiative aims at providing educational programs targeted at underserved communities, with a special focus on women, youth, migrants, and rural residents in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The initiative includes a comprehensive AI curriculum in Arabic as part of Google's "Maharat min Google" digital skills program, which aims to equip over half a million people in MENA with essential AI skills, research funding, and enhanced access to Google's AI tools within the first two years. Through a commitment of USD 15 million by Google.org until 2027, various organizations in MENA will receive funding to ensure that AI-driven opportunities are available to all individuals and communities in the region.
During the Google AI Connect Event at the Etihad Museum, key figures such as UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, and other regional leaders in business and technology gathered to discuss the significance of AI in driving economic growth in the region. Ruth Porat, President of Alphabet and Google, highlighted that AI is expected to contribute USD 320 billion to MENA's economy by 2030.
Partners involved in the initiative also shared their perspectives - Village Capital focusing on AI training and mentorship for local organizations, Raspberry Pi Foundation partnering with Amideast to empower teachers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in educating students about AI, and startAD working towards leveraging AI for progress in healthcare, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
Moreover, Google has introduced an AI Research Fund to support projects in healthcare, climate change, and education, along with investing in the expansion of cloud infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait in collaboration with local entities like the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Gemini AI, now available in Arabic, supports over 16 dialects and features personalized assistance, teenage-friendly experiences, and image generation using Arabic prompts.
