The Technology Express Magazine

The Enterprise AI Stack: Building the Autonomous Company

AI Security And Digital Resilience

The AI Family Office

The New Arms Race: How Traders Are Fighting AI-Generated Market Noise

June 2026

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EDITOR’S

NOTE

EDITORIAL

Manish Kumar

“AI is no longer a tool. It analyses, decides, executes, and improves

in real time.”

— H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President,

Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai

DESIGN

Hamza Khan

COMMERCIAL (EVENTS & ADVERTISING)

Abhinay Bhartia

+971 58 596 6036, abhinay@mcfillmedia.com

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Something fundamental has shifted. AI is no longer a

productivity layer — it is simultaneously the weapon,

the shield, and the vulnerability at the heart of modern

digital infrastructure. From state-sponsored cyber operations

to AI-generated market noise, the stakes of getting this

wrong are no longer theoretical. They are existential.

Our cover story maps this convergence — where AIdriven

conflict, financial security, and critical infrastructure

protection are no longer separate domains but a single,

interconnected theatre.

Across the edition, we explore how enterprises are

building autonomous companies through AI-native stacks,

how Gulf dynasties are using AI for multigenerational wealth

governance, and how traders are fighting back against AIgenerated

market noise. We examine regulators rethinking

accountability, programmable portfolios on smart contracts,

the end of the password, and AI’s reshaping of global

supply chain finance.

As AI investment enters its maturity phase, the question

is no longer whether to build — it is whether you can defend

what you build. The architecture of intelligence and the

architecture of security have become one and the same.

The Publisher has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of the

content at the time of publication. However, The Publisher accepts no

liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies within this publication.

The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The

Publisher. Readers are encouraged to seek professional advice before acting

on any information provided, as the content is for general reference and may

not apply to individual circumstances. All trademarks, logos, and intellectual

property rights featured in this publication are acknowledged and remain the

property of their respective owners. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without the prior written

consent of The Publisher. All rights reserved.

MCFILL MEDIA &

PUBLISHING GROUP

TECH

8

20

Enterprise Tech:

The Enterprise AI Stack: Building

the Autonomous Company

Interview:

How Technology is Reshaping

Supply Chain Financing

12

24

Drive to the Future:

Audi Q9: China’s Software-Defined

Ev Enters The Premium Race

Cover Story:

AI Security: The Next Digital

Battlefield

30

46

Trading Intelligence:

The New Arms Race: How Traders Are

Fighting AI-Generated Market Noise

Launch Express:

Google Fitbit Air: The Ultimate $99

Screenless AI Fitness Tracker

36 48

AI Ethics & Governance:

The Regulation of Autonomous AI: Who

Is Liable When Algorithms Decide?

Digital Identity:

Beyond Passwords: The Rise of

Biometric Finance

INSIDE

Enterprise Tech

The Enterprise

AI Stack: Building the

Autonomous Company

How organizations are assembling AI agents, copilots, and

workflows into always-on, data-driven operating systems for

the enterprise

Enterprises are moving beyond scattered AI experiments

and assembling integrated stacks of copilots,

workflow automation, private language models, and

orchestration layers to create continuously learning,

semi-autonomous organizations that can sense, decide,

and act at machine speed.

In most organizations, the real AI

revolution is not the chatbot on

the website but the quiet rewiring

of internal processes. AI is moving

from tools into an operating fabric

across finance, operations, risk, and

customer experience. This shift is

creating the enterprise AI stack: a

layered architecture of models, copilots,

automation, and orchestration

that turns fragmented workflows

into coordinated systems.

Analyst firms expect task-specific

AI agents to become a standard

feature of enterprise software, not a

niche add-on. Gartner forecasts that

by 2026, 40 percent of enterprise

applications will embed task-focused

AI agents, up from less than

5 percent in 2025. That signals a

move from assistants to multi-agent

ecosystems. For leaders, the question

has shifted from “Should we use

AI?” to “How do we architect AI as

infrastructure?”

From Pilots To Persistent Systems

Between 2023 and 2024, enterprises

treated generative AI as pilots:

8 \ June 2026


a summarization bot for service

agents, a code assistant for developers,

or a knowledge bot for

policies. These projects delivered

gains but rarely changed how the

organization operated, because

they were disconnected from core

systems.

The new wave focuses on

embedding AI into end-to-end

processes. Instead of asking one

copilot to draft an email, organizations

are designing flows where

AI ingests a request, retrieves

history, proposes options, drafts

a response, triggers tasks, and

logs everything into the system

of record. This requires viewing AI

not as a feature, but as shared services

and agents that applications

call through a control plane.

Inside The Enterprise AI Layers

At the base sit the models: foundation

and domain-specific large

language models hosted on cloud

platforms or in virtual private environments

to meet data residency

and compliance needs. Enterprises

fine-tune open-weight models

such as Llama variants or deploy

managed services like Azure

OpenAI and Vertex AI to control

training data, latency, and integration.

Above this is the copilot layer,

where AI is embedded into tools

such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce,

ServiceNow, and custom portals.

Microsoft has repositioned Copilot

from a sidebar helper into an orchestration

surface that can generate

content, automate workflows,

and coordinate actions across

applications based on natural

language intent. Similar patterns

are emerging elsewhere, turning

employee prompts into triggers for

multi-step operations.

The workflow automation layer

connects copilots to systems

of record and external services.

Platforms combine robotic process

automation with machine learning,

allowing AI agents to read

documents, apply business rules,

handle exceptions, and move data

across ERP, CRM, and business

systems without human intervention

in routine cases. Finally,

an orchestration layer ties the

ecosystem together. Agentic AI

frameworks let enterprises define

specialized agents such as pricing,

compliance, or forecasting agents

that can call models, tools, and

each other to plan and execute

work. This changes how employees

interact with software, shifting

from clicking through screens to

expressing goals that agents fulfil

across systems.

Governance As The Backbone

As AI becomes more autono-

mous and embedded in critical

processes, governance is moving

from an afterthought to a design

constraint. The EU AI Act, which

began phasing in obligations

for general-purpose models and

high-risk AI systems in August

2025, requires risk management,

documentation, transparency, and

human oversight for deployments.

Regulators and standards bodies

also stress model risk management,

audit trails, and accountability.

Forward-leaning organizations

are integrating AI into enterprise

risk and compliance frameworks,

extending controls, security policies,

and audits to cover models,

agents, and data pipelines. Boards

are asking for inventories, impact

assessments, and escalation

paths when automated decisions

affect customers, employees, or

regulated activities.

The strategic prize is significant.

Organizations with coherent

stacks and strong governance

will automate confidently. Those

stuck in isolated pilots risk falling

behind. The autonomous company

won’t be human-free, but

one where routine decisions, data

plumbing, and execution are handled

by AI agents, while humans

set goals, design guardrails, and

handle ambiguity.

AI is going to be the new lifeblood, the new

foundation for most governments – and for

the private sector as well – and we need to

have more focused government positions

that are able to really look at the impact of

the technology and are able to steer it.”

— H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama,

Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work

Applications,

UAE Government

June 2026 / 9

ai News

OpenAI Launches GPT-

5.5 Cybersecurity AI

Amid Competition

OpenAI has launched GPT-5.5-

Cyber, a cybersecurity model

built for digital defense. It will

be offered to governments, infrastructure

operators, security firms,

and financial institutions. The launch

expands its Trusted Access for Cyber

initiative and now pressures rivals

building vulnerability discovery

tools. While benchmarks remain unavailable,

it shows AI’s growing role

in threat detection, coordination, and

cyber resilience.

Microsoft Launches

Agent 365 for Enterprise

AI Governance

Microsoft has launched Agent

365, a centralized platform

for managing and securing

enterprise AI agents. It integrates Defender,

Entra, Purview, and Intune to

provide visibility, identity controls, and

data protection. The platform supports

internal and third-party agents across

AWS and Google Cloud. As EU AI rules

approach, it now helps improve compliance

readiness, governance oversight,

and responsible AI deployment in

Microsoft’s AI ecosystem.

Anthropic Partners

xAI to Expand

Claude AI Computing

Capacity

Anthropic has partnered with xAI

to access the Colossus supercomputer

in Memphis, easing

compute constraints affecting Claude

Pro and Max users. Developers reported

strict usage limits, pushing Anthropic

to expand infrastructure as Claude

demand grows rapidly. Through the

deal, Anthropic gains critical computing

power, while xAI monetizes AI infrastructure.

Colossus reportedly houses over

220,000 Nvidia GPUs for AI workloads.

The partnership supports Anthropic’s

growth plan as larger context windows

and reasoning models need more

capacity. Although both companies

compete in AI the deal shows shared

infrastructure is becoming essential.

Anthropic has secured long-term cloud

and hardware partnerships, proving

compute access is now a key competitive

edge as enterprise demand and

complex models accelerate the race.

Google Lets Job

Candidates Use

Gemini AI in Coding

Interviews

ByteDance Unveils AI-Designed Drug at Immunology

Conference

ByteDance has unveiled an

AI-designed drug candidate

through its Anew Labs unit,

marking its expansion into biomedical

research. The preclinical oral therapy

targets IL-17, a key autoimmune

disease pathway previously considered

difficult to treat. Presented at a

major immunology conference, the

breakthrough highlights ByteDance’s

ambitions in AI drug discovery, competing

with established biotech innovators

in the rapidly growing healthcare

sector.

Google is updating its hiring process

by allowing select candidates

to use Gemini AI during coding

interviews. Starting in late 2026, junior

and mid-level applicants across

selected U.S. teams may use Gemini in

code comprehension rounds focused

on debugging and improving existing

code. The shift reflects how AI tools

are becoming part of engineering

workflows. Google is also redesigning

interviews to emphasize technical

discussion and problem-solving over

memorized answers. The company calls

the model human-led and AI-assisted,

aligning recruitment with workplace

realities. If successful the pilot may

expand global. Unlike traditional AI

hiring systems, this approach gives AI

directly to candidates. The move could

reshape how technology evaluates

engineering talent, coding skills, and

real-world collaboration with AI tools.

10 \ June 2026

Moonshot AI Launches

Privacy-Focused

Browser Tool for

Autonomous AI Agents

Moonshot AI has launched

Kimi WebBridge, a browser

extension that lets AI agents

control Chrome and Edge directly

on users’ devices without routing

activity through cloud servers. It can

click buttons, fill forms, extract data,

and navigate websites while keeping

credentials and browsing information

local. WebBridge supports Claude Code,

Cursor, Codex, and Moonshot tools,

giving developers flexible workflows.

Powered by Moonshot’s Kimi model

family, it strengthens the company’s role

in agentic AI. Unlike cloud automation

tools, WebBridge offers a privacy-focused

option for sensitive tasks involving

banking, email, or internal business

systems. Available through the Chrome

Web Store, the extension appeals to

developers seeking secure, local AI

automation for software interactions.

Google Launches

Gemini Spark Autonomous

Agent for

Business Automation

Meta Develops Autonomous

AI Assistant for

Consumer Tasks

Meta is developing a personalized

autonomous AI assistant to

manage everyday tasks across

its apps for billions of users. Powered

by its Muse Spark model, the system

aims to move beyond chat replies into

independent task execution. Despite

investor concerns over rising AI infrastructure

costs, Meta is still spending

aggressively, positioning agentic AI as

a core pillar of its long-term consumer

strategy and future platform engagement,

and growth.


Anthropic Upgrades

Claude Agents With

Dreaming Feature

Anthropic has introduced a

“dreaming” feature for Claude

Managed Agents, letting AI systems

reorganize and refine long-term

memory between sessions. It removes

outdated, duplicate, and conflicting

information, improving reliability in

persistent workflows. Anthropic also

expanded multi-agent orchestration and

outcome-guided automation, helping

developers build smarter enterprise

AI workflows while tackling memory

decay in autonomous agent system.

Google has unveiled Gemini Spark at

Google I/O 2026, turning Gemini

from a chatbot into a cloud-based

autonomous AI agent. Running on

Google Cloud virtual machines, Spark

manages long-running tasks even

when user devices are offline. Built on

Gemini 3.5 Flash and Google’s Antigravity

platform, it automates financial

reviews, email summaries, and reports

from meeting notes. Spark connects

with Gmail, Google Docs, Slides, and

third-party services such as Canva,

OpenTable, and Instacart. Sensitive

actions require user approval. Google

began limited testing, with beta access

planned for AI Ultra subscribers. The

launch strengthens Google’s agentic

AI strategy as competition grows in

autonomous productivity tools, while

highlighting its expanding AI ecosystem,

infrastructure investment, and

adoption across generative AI service.

Aramco and IBM Partner to Advance Industrial

AI Innovation

Saudi Aramco and IBM are exploring

deeper collaboration in

artificial intelligence, agentic AI,

automation, hybrid cloud, and material

science for industrial applications. The

partnership aims to improve efficiency,

reliability, and smarter decision-making

across energy and industrial operations,

leveraging advanced technologies to

tackle complex operational challenges

across critical infrastructure, manufacturing

facilities, and large-scale

industrial sites worldwide, both today

and in the future.

June 2026 / 11

DRIVE TO THE FUTURE

12 \ June 2026


AUDI Q9

China’s Software-Defined EV Enters

The Premium Race

Audi has not yet published final technical data

for the Q9, so current figures come from informed

industry reporting rather than official

specifications. Most sources expect a 3.0-liter turbocharged

V6 as the core engine, with around 335

hp and about 500 Nm of torque, driving all four

wheels through an automatic transmission. That

places the Q9 neatly above the Q7 in performance

and refinement, without straying into full performance

SUV territory.

The Q9 is conceived as a flagship three-row SUV

that emphasizes long-distance comfort, substantial

rear accommodation and a very quiet cabin. Adaptive

suspension, Audi’s latest driver assistance

suite and a wide, high-resolution digital cockpit are

all expected, following the template set by the Q8

and Q6 e-tron.

What should distinguish the Q9 is its positioning.

It is being developed as a calm, luxurious family

hauler for markets that demand space and presence,

rather than a track day vehicle in disguise. If

Audi follows its usual pattern, buyers can expect

meticulous interior quality, restrained exterior styling,

and a choice of mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid

variants in time, each tuned for smooth power delivery

and discreet efficiency.

5.3 s

0–100 km/h

335 hp

Horsepower

500 Nm

Torque

June 2026 / 13

Cybersecurity

AI Security And Digital

Resilience

How enterprises rebuild defenses against AI-generated malware,

phishing, fake identities, and machine-speed attacks.

As AI-powered attackers deploy

deepfakes, autonomous malware

and real time phishing at machine

speed, enterprises are redesigning

security architectures around AI driven

detection, zero trust, and national

cyber resilience strategies to stay

ahead of evolving threats.

The next wave of cyber risk is

being written not by human

hackers alone, but by machines.

AI systems can generate

phishing emails in seconds, craft

identities, and probe networks for

weaknesses, collapsing the time

between reconnaissance and breach.

CrowdStrike’s 2025 data shows

average breakout time, the window

an attacker needs to move laterally

after compromise, has dropped to

around 48 minutes, with the fastest

intrusion spreading in 51 seconds.

In this environment, security mod-

14 \ June 2026


els designed for human speed are

inadequate.

AI is amplifying both sides of the

security equation. Threat actors are

using generative models to write

self-mutating malware, automate

credential stuffing, and produce

deepfake voice and video that tricks

finance teams into authorizing

transfers. At the same time, security

operations centers are deploying AI

agents that triage alerts, correlate

signals, and trigger containment actions

faster than analysts. The race is

to ensure defensive AI evolves faster

than offensive tools.

How AI-Powered Threats Are

Reshaping the Enterprise Attack

Surface

AI-enabled cyberattacks rose by

nearly 50 percent globally in 2025,

with financial services, manufacturing,

and energy among targeted

sectors. Phishing campaigns generated

with large language models are

harder to detect, with around 68 percent

of analysts noting that AI-crafted

messages were more convincing

than before. Synthetic media attacks,

including deepfakes deployed in

fraud and impersonation, grew more

than 60 percent year over year, often

targeting payment approval and

identity flows.

Attackers are abandoning traditional

malware. Nearly 80 percent

of observed intrusions in 2024 were

classed as malware-free, exploiting

remote access tools and credentials

rather than triggering signature-based

defenses. Voice phishing

surged by over 400 percent in late

2024 as AI-generated voices impersonated

IT teams and executives. For

organizations across the Gulf, this

threat evolution coincides with rapid

digitization of government services,

finance, and energy systems, creating

a landscape where resilience

depends on matching attackers at

machine speed.

Rebuilding Security Architecture

With AI-Native Detection and Zero

Trust

To counter AI-driven threats, enterprise

security architectures are being

rebuilt around continuous verification

and intelligent analytics. Zero

trust models, which treat every user,

Integrate AI across

every touchpoint to

make ADGM more

efficient, more responsive,

and more

forward-looking.

We’re not waiting

for the future to arrive;

through our

Emerging Technologies

and internal

pilots, we’re building

it today.”

— Salem Mohammed Al Darei,

CEO, ADGM Authority (Abu Dhabi

Global Market)

device, and workload as untrusted

until verified, are being extended to

cover AI agents, data pipelines, and

machine identities as first-class entities

in access control frameworks.

Behavioral analytics platforms monitor

activity across users and systems,

using machine learning to flag

anomalies such as unusual logins,

atypical data movement, or irregular

requests.

Security operations centers are

deploying AI SOC agents capable of

ingesting large telemetry volumes,

auto-investigating low-priority alerts,

and escalating incidents that require

human judgment. This reduces

noise, allowing analysts to focus

on high-impact threats rather than

manually reviewing routine events.

The shift is not simply a tooling

upgrade but a workflow transformation:

humans move into supervisory

and validation roles while AI handles

triage, enrichment, and response.

National strategies in the Gulf

reflect the same approach. The UAE’s

National Cybersecurity Strategy is

structured around five pillars: governance,

protection, innovation, robust

systems, and partnership, with AI

and cloud identified as risk factors

and defensive assets. Initiatives such

as the Crystal Ball cyber threat intelligence

system aim to deliver predictive

warning on threats targeting

national infrastructure. Partnerships,

including the UAE Cyber Security

Council’s agreement with Siemens

on operational technology resilience,

show how government and industry

are co-developing detection and

response capabilities for sectors.

Why Governance and Human

Oversight Remain Central to Digital

Resilience

AI security is ultimately about

resilience, not invincibility. At an

enterprise level, resilience means

investing in AI-aware detection tools,

securing the model lifecycle from

training data to deployment endpoints,

and preparing for attacks that

target AI systems. Prompt injection,

data poisoning, and model inversion

are no longer theoretical; they

are practical risks for organizations

exposing AI interfaces.

Human capital remains the binding

constraint. Even as AI agents handle

triage, organizations need analysts

who understand both security operations

and machine learning well

enough to challenge model outputs.

Governments across the region

have responded with youth cyber

training initiatives and national drills

designed to build a culture where AI

is recognized as both an opportunity

and a managed attack surface.

For enterprises, the path forward

is combining AI-powered defense,

governance, and collaboration with

national cyber authorities, treating AI

security not as a point solution, but

as the foundation of digital resilience

strategy.

June 2026 / 15

International News

Netflix Launches Clips

Feed to Simplify Content

Discovery

Netflix has launched Clips, a Tik-

Tok-style vertical video feed

made to improve mobile content

discovery. It offers personalized

short previews from films, series, and

specials, helping users find content

faster through quick scrolling. Users

can save titles to watchlists, share

clips, and keep browsing smoothly.

Initially launched in select markets,

Clips reflects Netflix’s push for a faster,

immersive, and personalized mobile

viewing experience.

ASUS Tests Expert-

Book Ultra Above

Mount Everest

ASUS tested its ExpertBook Ultra

in extreme conditions by sending

the laptop above Mount Everest,

reaching 8,856 meters as temperatures

dropped to -42.5°C. The device

stayed operational through ascent,

descent, and impact landing. Built

with a magnesium-aluminum chassis,

it targets demanding work settings. It

also features Intel Core Ultra processors,

AI-ready performance, advanced

cooling, long battery life, and reliability

under heavy workload.

Kidana Expands

SCADA System Ahead

of Hajj 2026

Operations

Kidana Development Company

has expanded its SCADA system

across the Holy Sites for Hajj

2026 to strengthen infrastructure

management and support pilgrims. The

platform enables real-time monitoring

and control through a unified command

center overseeing critical services. It

tracks 400 backup water tanks, 300

cooling systems, 800 electrical panels,

500 misting fans, and nearly 1,000

restroom complexes across pilgrimage

sites. By detecting faults and disruptions

early, teams can respond faster and

keep public services running during

peak periods. The initiative improves

asset management, cuts operational

waste, and enhances infrastructure

reliability through automated sensing.

Kidana’s digital expansion aligns with

Saudi Arabia’s modernization plans,

aiming to improve service efficiency

and the pilgrim experience during Hajj.

Instagram Launches

Instants to Challenge

Snapchat’s Disappearing

Photo Feature

KACST Launches Chipathon to Advance AI Semiconductor

Innovation

KACST has launched the second

Chipathon hackathon to

strengthen Saudi semiconductor

talent and AI chip innovation. Fifty

university students, selected from

over 1,000 applicants, are developing

advanced semiconductor designs

for artificial intelligence applications.

Participants received intensive training

in chip design and semiconductor

engineering. The winning project

could advance to production through

a leading global semiconductor manufacturing

facility.

Instagram has launched Instants globally,

a disappearing photo feature for

casual sharing with close friends and

mutual followers, challenging Snapchat’s

core offering. Users can capture and

send unedited photos through direct

messages, with images disappearing

after viewing or within 24 hours. The

feature blocks camera roll uploads and

editing, encouraging spontaneous,

authentic interactions. Recipients can

react, reply, or send their own Instants,

while senders retain private archived

access for up to a year. Meta is also

testing a standalone Instants app in

select countries, expanding its push into

casual sharing. By targeting younger

users drawn to Snapchat, BeReal, and

Locket, Instagram aims to strengthen

private engagement and bring spontaneous,

low-pressure communication

back into its social ecosystem.

16 \ June 2026

Malta Offers Free

ChatGPT Plus Access

Through National AI

Programme

Malta has become the first country

to offer free ChatGPT Plus

access to residents through

a national AI literacy program. Residents

who complete a free AI training

course will receive one year of premium

ChatGPT access, with Maltese citizens

abroad also eligible. The initiative aims

to improve digital skills, encourage

responsible AI use, and make artificial

intelligence practical for students,

workers, and families. The program

fulfills a 2026 government budget

pledge and reflects Malta’s strong AI

adoption, with about one-third of the

population already using AI tools. The

agreement aligns with OpenAI’s strategy

of partnering with governments

through national AI initiatives. As AI

competition intensifies, Malta’s move

positions the country as an early leader

in large-scale public AI education and

accessibility nationwide.

Nvidia RTX 5090

Price May Rise $300

Amid GDDR7

Shortage

Savvy and Roblox

Partner to Grow Saudi

Gaming Ecosystem

Savvy Games Group and Roblox

have partnered to expand game

development opportunities and

strengthen Saudi Arabia’s gaming ecosystem.

The collaboration offers local

creators training, technical support,

educational resources, and new developer

tools through Roblox’s platform.

It also promotes digital safety, youth

engagement, and innovation while

supporting Saudi talent development

and aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision

2030 digital economy goals.


Google Launches

Fitbit Air to Rival

Whoop’s Tracker

Google has launched Fitbit Air, a

$99 screenless fitness tracker

built to compete with Whoop.

The wearable tracks heart rate, SpO2,

skin temperature, sleep, and activity

with seven day battery life. Unlike

subscription rivals, it includes core

features without required fees, while

optional AI coaching through Google

Health Premium adds personalized

fitness, wellness, and recovery insights

for everyday health users seeking

simple daily guidance.

Nvidia has reportedly warned board

partners about a possible $300

price increase for GeForce RTX

5090 and RTX 5090D V2 as GDDR7

memory costs rise and semiconductor

supply tightens. Strong demand from

gaming makers and AI infrastructure

providers has intensified shortages,

extending delivery timelines and lifting

memory prices. Originally launched at

$1,999, the RTX 5090 already sells

above $3,000. If partners pass costs to

consumers, some models could exceed

$4,000 or approach $5,000. The situation

highlights growing competition

between AI infrastructure expansion

and consumer hardware availability, as

both sectors rely on advanced memory

resources. Continued shortages could

push premium gaming GPUs into

ultra-luxury territory while affecting

prices across Nvidia’s broader RTX 50

series lineup.

Apple Reportedly Developing Spatial iPhone

With Holographic 3D Display

Apple is reportedly developing a

future spatial iPhone featuring

a holographic, glasses-free 3D

display, though launch is unlikely

before 2030. The rumored technology

may combine eye-tracking and

beam-steering for immersive visuals

and realistic depth effects. The move

aligns with Apple’s broader spatial computing

strategy, which includes Vision

Pro, AI-powered Spatial Scenes, and

reported smart glasses development

for next-generation immersive digital

experiences.

June 2026 / 17

Sovereign Wealth

The AI Family Office

How Gulf dynasties are building multigenerational wealth infrastructure

with AI native investment and governance

Gulf family offices controlling trillions in regional and

global assets are turning to AI copilots, predictive

analytics, and automated governance platforms to

professionalize decision-making, manage risk, and

preserve dynastic wealth across generations.

18 \ June 2026

In the Gulf, the quiet revolution in

wealth management is happening

inside family offices rather

than on trading floors. Single and

multi-family offices in the GCC oversee

an estimated USD 1.2 trillion in

mandates, as high net worth families

formalize structures that were once

informal. Global family offices control

more than USD 12 trillion and are

preparing for roughly USD 16 trillion

in transfers over 15 years, with the

UAE and GCC emerging as hubs.

Against this backdrop, AI is moving

from a portfolio theme to an operating

system inside the family office.

The new generation of Gulf

principals and heirs expect wealth

infrastructure to feel as modern

as their businesses. Surveys from

private wealth managers show that

while around 80 percent of family

office portfolios include AI as an

investment theme, only one fifth use

AI for analysis or operations. For GCC

dynasties facing cross-border portfolios,

succession, and scrutiny, the

incentive to close that gap has never

been stronger.


The world is undergoing a comprehensive

transformation phase scientifically, economically,

and socially. Our goal is to prepare

today for the coming decades, to ensure

continued prosperity and dignified life

for future generations.”

– HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE,

Ruler of Dubai

How Gulf Family Offices Are

Scaling Across Borders and Asset

Classes

Over the past decade, formal

family offices in the GCC have

multiplied as business families

create vehicles for wealth preservation,

investment management,

and governance. Historically, much

of this capital sat in regional real

estate, local equities, and closely

held companies. Today, allocations

to private equity, venture capital,

private credit, infrastructure, and

global markets are rising as families

seek diversification.

The geography of Gulf wealth

has globalized. Many GCC family

offices maintain entities or

partnerships in London, New York,

Singapore, and Zurich to access

deal flow and managers, increasing

tax, regulatory, and reporting

complexity. This expansion has

sharpened demand for institutional-grade

tools: performance

reporting, risk analytics, and scenario

modeling that can cope with

multi-asset portfolios rather than

spreadsheets.

AI Moving Into Investment Decisions,

Operations, and Governance

AI is entering three functions of

the Gulf family office: investment

support, operational efficiency,

and governance. On the investment

side, family offices are

deploying AI-driven research

platforms and predictive analytics

to screen deal flow, assess managers,

and stress-test portfolios.

Industry reports note that roughly

22 percent of surveyed family offices

already use AI for investment

analysis or forecasting, a figure

likely to rise as vendors embed AI

into portfolio systems.

Operationally, AI agents are being

used to reconcile data, generate

reports, draft investment committee

packs, and monitor cash,

FX, and liquidity positions across

banks and custodians. As families

add entities and jurisdictions, the

back-office burden scales faster

than headcount. AI tools that

ingest documents, extract key

terms, and populate systems are

attractive. Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala

has emphasized the potential and

disruptive risk of AI, underlining

why Gulf institutions are investing

in data infrastructure that family

offices can emulate.

The third frontier is governance.

AI-enabled platforms can

map shareholding structures,

track adherence to investment

policy statements, and simulate

how succession scenarios affect

control and cash flow across

family branches. For dynasties

where constitutions, charters, and

councils are becoming as important

as balance sheets, digital tools

encoding voting rules and dispute

resolution mechanisms are a natural

evolution.

Why Regional Financial Hubs Are

Becoming the Home of AI-Enabled

Wealth

Next-generation family members

favor transparency, real-time

information, and impact-aligned

portfolios, pushing offices toward

digital platforms that provide

visibility without surrendering

control. Dubai International

Financial Centre hosts more than

400 wealth and asset managers

and has launched an AI Campus

and Native AI initiatives aimed at

embedding AI into the legal, regulatory,

and operational fabric of

financial services. These programs

turn AI from a bolt-on tool into a

foundational layer for onboarding,

compliance, reporting, and

support.

For Gulf dynasties, adopting AI

in the family office is less about

chasing a trend and more about

designing a system that can protect

and grow a lasting legacy for

decades to come.

June 2026 / 19

Interview

MANOJ SUREKA

CEO & Managing Partner,

Synergy Fin. Consulting

20 \ June 2026


How Technology is

Reshaping Supply Chain

Financing

Exclusive Interview

Manoj Sureka is CEO & the Managing Partner of Synergy Fin. Consulting and a seasoned expert in banking,

trade finance, and business funding advisory. With extensive experience across corporate banking, structured

finance, and SME funding, he advises businesses on raising capital through debt, private credit, trade finance, and

working capital solutions. Based in Dubai, Manoj actively works with corporates, SMEs, fintech platforms, and investors

across the UAE and international markets, with a strong focus on innovation and technology-driven financial solutions.

Supply Chain Financing is transforming supplier relationships from transactional partnerships into growth ecosystems.

Q: Why is Supply Chain Financing

becoming increasingly important in

today’s business environment?

Businesses today operate in a fast-moving

global economy where cash flow

efficiency is just as important as revenue

growth. Suppliers require faster payments

to manage operations smoothly,

while buyers often seek longer payment

cycles to preserve liquidity. Supply Chain

Financing helps balance both requirements

while improving overall financial

efficiency across the supply chain.

Q: How has technology changed traditional

Supply Chain Financing?

Earlier, the process relied heavily on

paperwork, manual verification, emails,

and lengthy approvals. Today, modern

platforms have streamlined the entire

journey from invoice uploads and approvals

to settlements and reporting.

This has significantly reduced turnaround

times, operational bottlenecks,

and administrative workload.

Businesses are increasingly looking for

flexible financing ecosystems rather than

traditional banking-only solutions.”

Q: What role are fintech companies

and modern banking platforms playing

in SCF?

Fintechs and new-age banking platforms

are simplifying access to working capital

solutions. Faster onboarding, automated

workflows, real-time tracking, and

integrated payment systems are making

the experience smoother for both

buyers and suppliers. Businesses are

increasingly looking for flexible financing

ecosystems rather than traditional

banking-only solutions.

Q: How does a modern Supply Chain

Financing process typically work?

The process is quite structured and

efficient:

— Supplier delivers goods or services

— Approved invoices are uploaded onto

a financing platform

— Buyer confirms the invoices

— Early payment is released to the

supplier

— Buyer settles the payment on the

agreed future due date

The entire process is now faster, more

transparent, and easier to manage compared

to traditional methods.

Q: What are the biggest advantages

for buyers?

Buyers benefit through:

— Better working capital management

— Improved liquidity planning

— Extended payment flexibility

— Stronger supplier relationships

— Improved operational efficiency

— Better visibility over payment cycles

and vendor exposure

Q: How do suppliers benefit from these

financing solutions?

Suppliers gain faster access to cash

without waiting for long payment cycles.

This helps them:

— Manage inventory efficiently

— Support day-to-day operations

— Fulfill larger orders

— Handle payroll and operational costs

— Expand business activities

Q: How are automation and data analytics

improving the SCF ecosystem?

Automation is helping financial institutions

process transactions more

efficiently while reducing errors and

delays. Data analytics allows better

assessment of payment behavior,

transaction patterns, and operational

risks. This enables quicker financing

decisions and improved risk management

across supply chains.

June 2026 / 21

Fintech News

VaultsPay Partners

Mastercard to Expand

UAE Payment Services

VaultsPay has partnered with

Mastercard to expand digital

payment services in the UAE,

supporting financial inclusion and

cashless economy goals. Through

Mastercard’s global network, VaultsPay

will issue virtual and physical

cards while improving secure payment

processing and consumer financial

products. The collaboration

aims to deliver seamless transactions,

widen access to financial tools,

and support users.

Telr Integrates Google

Pay for Faster Digital

Payments

Telr has integrated Google Pay

across its regional platform,

enabling businesses to offer

faster and safe digital payments.

Customers can pay using cards stored

in Google Wallet, reducing data entry

and improving checkout convenience.

The integration uses authentication,

encryption, and tokenization to protect

payment data. Telr’s ecosystem gives

businesses access to digital wallets,

QR payments, invoicing, financing, and

flexible commerce tools.

du Launches

Sovereign Hypercloud

for Chinese

Businesses in UAE

du has launched the National

Hypercloud – Huawei Edition, a

sovereign cloud platform supporting

Chinese enterprises and small

businesses entering the UAE and Middle

East. It provides local data hosting,

compliance, secure connectivity, and

scalable infrastructure through one

integrated model. Built with Huawei

technology, it helps firms avoid multiple

providers while keeping proprietary

data within UAE borders. The infrastructure

supports Chinese EV makers

and technology firms needing secure

handling of vehicle software, customer

information, and operational data. By

offering a compliant cloud environment,

du aims to simplify market entry and

strengthen digital operations. The

initiative reflects rising demand for

localized cloud services that balance

performance, security, and regulatory

needs in the UAE’s digital economy.

Mal Wins UAE

Approval for AI-Native

Islamic Digital

Bank

Visa Launches AI Payment Testing Programme

Across CEMEA Region

Visa has launched the Agentic

Ready program across CEMEA,

enabling issuers to safely test

AI agent-initiated consumer payments

in a controlled environment.

The platform combines tokens, identity,

risk management, and payment

controls for secure transaction testing.

Regional banks and fintechs have

joined the first phase, helping institutions

prepare for scalable AI-driven

commerce while leveraging Visa’s

trusted network infrastructure, security,

and compliance frameworks.

Mal has received in-principle

approval from the UAE Central

Bank to establish an AI-native

Islamic digital bank in Abu Dhabi. Backed

by $230 million in seed funding, the

startup plans to launch a Shariah-compliant

platform offering digital banking,

payments, wealth management, and

embedded finance. The company

targets the $7 trillion Islamic finance

market, focusing on underserved Muslim

communities seeking modern financial

solutions. Founded in 2025, Mal aims

to combine AI-driven personalisation

with compliance to improve efficiency

and customer experience. The approval

supports UAE’s ambition to strengthen

its position as a global fintech and

digital finance hub. Mal will build its

technology infrastructure and regulatory

foundation in the UAE before

expanding internationally.

22 \ June 2026

Deem Finance and

Yusr Launch

Automotive BNPL

in UAE

Deem Finance and Yusr have

partnered to launch embedded

financial services in the UAE,

with buy now, pay later solutions for

autos. Yusr will provide the technology

platform and customer interface, while

Deem Finance delivers regulated financial

infrastructure and governance for

compliant operations. The collaboration

aims to help fintech solutions scale

responsibly while expanding finance

access for underserved customers. Yusr

plans to extend embedded finance into

more UAE sectors over time. The partnership

reflects demand for accessible,

technology-driven financial services

combining innovation with oversight.

By combining fintech agility with established

financial infrastructure, the

initiative seeks to create secure, scalable

financing solutions while supporting

the ecosystem.

CBUAE Launches

$1.69 Billion Relief

Package for UAE

Businesses

UAE Startup Programme

Offers AED

15,000 Support

Creative Zone, RAKEZ, and Mashreq

NEO BIZ have launched a UAE

startup programme supporting

aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage

founders. The initiative offers over AED

15,000 in set-up benefits, including

banking, logistics, tax support, virtual

office services, web hosting, and legal

help. It aims to simplify business

formation, reduce startup barriers,

and strengthen the UAE’s growing

entrepreneurship ecosystem for new

businesses in the UAE.


Emirates Islamic

Launches FC Barcelona

Cashback Card

Emirates Islamic has partnered

with FC Barcelona to launch a

co-branded cashback credit card

in the UAE. The card offers up to 4%

cashback on everyday spending, along

with exclusive fan benefits such as

match tickets, merchandise discounts,

and special experiences. The initiative

combines financial rewards with sports

engagement, giving UAE customers a

new way to connect with FC Barcelona

through everyday payments and

fan-focused privileges now.

The Central Bank of the UAE has

launched a $1.69 billion financial

relief package to support individuals,

SMEs, and large corporates facing

economic pressures. The initiative has

already reached over 60,000 individuals,

4,335 SMEs, and 485 companies,

including businesses in transport,

hospitality, and entertainment. Eligible

borrowers can defer loan repayments

for up to six months without default

classification, while interest and fee

payments on affected facilities will

also be suspended. Businesses and

individuals can access support directly

through banks, with no minimum

loan size requirement. Alongside the

relief programme, the CBUAE reported

banking sector growth, with assets

rising 2.1%, loans increasing 3.2%, and

deposits up 1.9% between March and

May 2026, reflecting strong financial

stability across the UAE banking system.

Lianlian Secures DFSA License to Expand Middle

East Payments

Lianlian DigiTech has secured a

DFSA payment services license,

strengthening its presence in Dubai

and expanding cross-border payment

operations from DIFC. The approval

allows the company to offer regulated

payment and settlement services across

the Middle East and global markets.

Working with local banks, Lianlian aims

to improve international fund flows,

build a stronger regional payment network,

and support safe, efficient global

commerce for businesses worldwide.

June 2026 / 23

COVER STORY

COVER

24 \ June 2026


Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for productivity or automation,

it is now the defining force reshaping digital conflict. From

state-sponsored cyber warfare to financial fraud and critical infrastructure

protection, AI is simultaneously the weapon, the shield, and the

vulnerability at the heart of modern security. Understanding this shift

is not optional for governments, enterprises, or financial institutions; it

is existential.

June 2026 / 25

COVER STORY

The New Face of Cyber

Warfare

26 \ June 2026


The nature of cyberattacks has changed

dramatically. Where attackers once relied on

manual effort or crude automated scripts, they

now deploy AI to conduct reconnaissance, discover

vulnerabilities, and launch exploitation campaigns

at machine speed and scale. Threat intelligence reports

from 2025 describe a surge in AI-driven malware

that dynamically modifies its own behavior

during execution, allowing it to bypass traditional

signature-based defenses that most organizations

still rely on.

Generative AI has supercharged social engineering

to a dangerous degree. Deepfake audio and

video, synthetic identities, and hyper-personalized

phishing content can now convincingly impersonate

executives, government officials, or trusted

vendors. Reports from cybersecurity firms note

that fraud involving advanced deepfake techniques

more than doubled year-on-year in recent years,

signaling how rapidly adversaries are operationalizing

these tools.

At a strategic level, governments now treat AI-enabled

cyber operations as part of hybrid conflict.

State-sponsored campaigns increasingly combine

digital attacks on infrastructure with AI-assisted

disinformation operations automating propaganda,

The UAE has firmly established

its leadership among

the world’s most future-focused

nations, securing a

prominent position at the

forefront of Artificial

Intelligence advancements

that will transform all

sectors.”

— Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Al Maktoum,

Vice President and Prime Minister

of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai

amplifying divisive narratives, and manipulating

public opinion during elections and national crises.

The kinetic and the digital have merged, and AI is

the bridge between them.

Enterprise Defense: From Reactive to Proactive

For enterprises, the old model of detecting threats

after they occur is no longer viable. The speed

and sophistication of AI-powered attacks demand

AI-powered defenses. Modern security platforms

now use machine learning, behavioral analytics,

and natural language processing to ingest vast

streams of telemetry from endpoints, email systems,

cloud environments, and identity platforms,

correlating signals in real time to detect and contain

threats before they escalate.

Leading vendors describe these platforms as

a continuous “cyber brain” that recalculates an

organization’s risk posture against millions of

known vulnerabilities and real-world threat intelligence.

Independent evaluations, including MITRE

ATT&CK enterprise testing, have demonstrated

that well-configured AI-driven tools can achieve

near-perfect detection across complex, multi-stage

attack scenarios that would overwhelm purely rulebased

systems.

One of the most impactful shifts is in Security

Operations Centers (SOCs). Alert fatigue, where

analysts are buried under thousands of low-priority

notifications, has been a longstanding crisis in

enterprise security. AI addresses this by clustering

related alerts into unified incident narratives and

surfacing only what requires urgent human attention.

Embedded generative AI assistants can then

explain incidents in plain language, suggest remediation

steps, and automate repetitive investigation

tasks, enabling even less-experienced analysts to

handle complex cases effectively.

However, enterprises must also reckon with a

new challenge: securing AI itself. As organizations

embed AI models into products, workflows, and

decision processes, those models become targets.

Attacks such as data poisoning, prompt injection,

model theft, and adversarial manipulation of AI

outputs represent a new and evolving class of risk.

The U.S. NIST AI Risk Management Framework

and Department of Homeland Security guidelines

both stress that AI security must be integrated into

existing enterprise risk management processes,

not treated as an afterthought.

AI and Financial Fraud Prevention

No sector illustrates the dual-edged nature of AI

more sharply than finance. Criminals are using AI

to scale fraud operations at unprecedented levels,

generating synthetic identities, creating deepfake

KYC video calls, automating phishing campaigns,

and bypassing multi-factor authentication. Global

financial fraud losses have climbed into the tens

of billions of dollars annually, rising in lockstep

with the digitalization of payments and financial

services.

June 2026 / 27

Cover story

Artificial intelligence will

replace people if they don’t

adopt AI technologies.”

— H E Omar Sultan Al Olama,

Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence,

Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications,

Government of United Arab Emirates

The good news is that financial institutions are

fighting back aggressively with the same tools.

Industry surveys indicate that approximately nine

out of ten banks now use AI for fraud detection,

analyzing transaction patterns, device fingerprints,

behavioral signals, and geolocation data in real

time. Institutions deploying AI-driven fraud prevention

platforms report reductions in fraud losses of

tens of millions of dollars and cuts in mean dete

ction and response time of up to 99%

compared to legacy systems.

Beyond fraud detection, AI is transforming compliance

functions including Anti-Money Laundering

(AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and sanctions

screening. Traditional rule-based compliance systems

are notorious for generating large volumes

of false positives, requiring costly manual review.

Machine learning models can distinguish between

genuine anomalies and suspicious activity with

far greater precision, automating large portions of

compliance workflows while maintaining or improving

regulatory standards.

Regulators are watching closely. As financial

institutions automate more of their risk and compliance

functions through AI, supervisory authorities

are demanding explainability, auditability,

and robust governance over AI decision-making.

The balance between automation efficiency and

accountability will define how financial AI security

matures over the next decade.

National Digital Resilience and Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure energy grids, water systems,

transportation networks, telecommunications, and

healthcare represent the highest-stakes arena for

AI security. These sectors have long used AI for

operational efficiency and anomaly detection. But

as generative AI and autonomous AI agents are

adopted more broadly for control processes and

incident analysis, the dependence on AI becomes a

double-edged resilience concern.

On the defensive side, AI enables faster detection

of anomalies in industrial control systems, predicts

equipment failures before they cause outages, and

helps coordinate response across complex, inter-

connected networks. On the offensive side, compromised

AI pipelines, poisoned training data, or

manipulated AI-driven automation could cause cascading

physical failures, a scenario that state-sponsored

actors are actively researching and, in some

cases, already exploiting.

Policy responses are gaining momentum. In the

United States, Executive Order 14110 on AI directed

the Department of Homeland Security and CISA to

publish cross-sector guidance that categorizes AI

risks for critical infrastructure operators and recommends

concrete mitigations. These frameworks

emphasize integrating AI risk into established

cybersecurity and operational risk management

processes, establishing clear internal ownership of

AI risk, and building incident reporting mechanisms

for AI-related failures and attacks.

Research institutions, however, note a serious

equity problem: large infrastructure operators have

the resources to adopt and secure AI responsibly,

while smaller operators, municipal utilities, regional

hospitals, community transport networks, often

do not. Without targeted funding, shared expertise

programs, and workforce development, the

weakest links in national infrastructure will remain

dangerously exposed.

What This Means Going Forward

The AI security arms race is structural, not cyclical.

Because both attackers and defenders benefit from

advances in AI, improvements in model capability

will simultaneously make attacks more dangerous

and defenses more effective. The outcome for

any given organization or nation depends on who

adopts AI faster, more securely, and with better

governance.

Three priorities stand out for organizations navigating

this landscape:

• Secure AI by design: Integrate AI threat modeling

into system development from the start. Protect

training data, model artifacts, and inference

pipelines as rigorously as any other critical asset.

• Use AI across the defense stack: Deploy AI-driven

detection and response across endpoints,

identities, networks, cloud environments, and

business processes creating an adaptive, layered

defense that can keep pace with AI-powered

attacks.

• Invest in governance and people: Technology

alone is insufficient. Clear accountability for AI

risk, cross-trained security and AI talent, transparent

regulatory engagement, and robust information-sharing

with industry peers are all essential

components of durable digital resilience.

AI has made the digital battlefield faster, more

complex, and more consequential than ever before.

The organizations and nations that treat AI security

as a strategic priority, not a technical footnote, will

define who wins and who loses in the conflicts of

the coming decade.

28 \ June 2026


June 2026 / 29

Trading Intelligence

The New Arms Race: How

Traders Are Fighting

AI-Generated Market Noise

As AI-generated narratives flood global markets, UAE desks

scramble to separate authentic price signals from engineered

noise

As generative AI begins to manufacture convincing

market narratives at scale, trading desks in the UAE

and globally are racing to filter synthetic noise, harden

data pipelines, and confront unresolved questions of

liability and governance.

30 \ June 2026

The portfolio manager first

noticed the voice, not the numbers.

The earnings call transcript

read cleanly, but the cadence

felt wrong, the quotes too symmetrical,

the timing too perfect. Later, his

team confirmed the transcript had

been synthetically generated and

pushed through a data feed seconds

after the filing, fast enough for

algorithms to trade before humans

questioned the source.

When Synthetic Narratives Become

Market Signals

This is no longer speculative. Large

language models can produce earnings

commentary, analyst notes, and

call transcripts that are grammatically

flawless, sector-specific, and

statistically plausible, mimicking sellside

research and corporate communications.

The real target is not

the analyst, but the algorithms that

scrape transcripts, headlines, filings,

and alternative data in real time, converting

language into trading signals

before context is verified.

The noise enters through familiar


channels: coordinated social accounts,

data providers with weak

provenance checks, and headline

aggregators competing on speed. As

the UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 deepens

automation in financial infrastructure,

that exposure grows. The 2013

AP Twitter hack erased more than

$100 billion in US equity value from

one false headline. Generative models

make that mechanic reproducible

at scale, no media compromise

required, and no obvious human

author to question.

Building Detection Layers

In response, institutions are beginning

to treat narrative data as an exposure

that must be risk-managed.

Asset managers route transcripts,

headlines, filings, broker notes, and

social feeds through classifiers that

assign a provenance and authenticity

score before information reaches

a trading model. Others purchase

synthetic signal audit capabilities

from platforms that distinguish

AI-generated content from human

reporting.

These audits combine three

techniques. Linguistic fingerprinting

examines word distributions, sentence

length, idiom choice, punctuation,

and rhythm, identifying prose

that is too regular or stylistically

inconsistent with a known author,

issuer, or outlet. Timing anomaly

detection checks whether a narrative

appears before the underlying filing,

or implausibly soon after it, compared

with historical patterns for the

issuer or venue. Cross-source checks

compare the item against exchange

releases, regulator feeds, company

pages, and newswires, downgrading

signals that lack corroboration.

Global vendors are moving quickly

into this space. Palantir provides

anomaly detection and fraud monitoring

platforms that scan transactional

records for behavioral outliers,

and has worked with institutions

and regulators on financial crime

and market abuse contexts. On the

front end, TradingView and related

ecosystems are weaving sentiment

and text analytics into charting tools,

allowing traders to visualize crowd

emotion at scale, even as they confront

the risk that some emotion may

be synthetic.

Closer to home, the Dubai Financial

Services Authority has reported that

AI adoption among authorized firms

in the DIFC has nearly tripled within

a year, prompting surveys on governance,

oversight, and generative

models. This creates an opportunity

to embed detection in new architectures

and a danger that untested

tools will be bolted onto legacy

systems without control.

Even the strongest countermeasures

remain reactive. Detection

Whoever is going to

lead in the Artificial

Intelligence race

will lead the future.

This technology will

change the world. If

we just look at the

economic gain, we

will fail.”



Digital Economy and Remote

Work Applications,

UAE Government

models are trained on yesterday’s

generator architectures and tricks,

while attackers refresh models to

evade those fingerprints. The result

is a moving equilibrium in which

both sides improve, but the window

during which a synthetic narrative

can distort order flow before being

neutralized never disappears.

Liability, Governance, And Survival

The legal framework has not kept

pace. A synthetic narrative can travel

in seconds from an offshore model

operator to a social platform, into

an alternative data set, and onto a

trading desk in Dubai, yet no existing

rule assigns responsibility for losses

triggered along that chain. Traditional

manipulation statutes require

proving intent and identifying an

actor, both difficult when originators

hide behind layered infrastructure,

automated accounts, or jurisdictions

beyond domestic reach.

International bodies are signaling

concern. An IMF paper on AI in securities

markets calls for new supervisory

tools and disclosure doctrines.

The UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 emphasizes

responsible deployment, but

detailed liability guidance for firms

trading on AI-generated narratives

still lags, even as the DFSA and

Securities and Commodities Authority

confront digital impersonation

targeting investors.

The practical burden falls on trading

desks. Cautious firms treat narrative

inputs as suspect until verified,

subjecting transcripts and sentiment

feeds to provenance checks before

they enter signal libraries or execution

models. Many mid-sized Gulf

managers cannot yet afford that

infrastructure, relying instead on

third-party feeds whose defenses

against synthetic content are only

now being tested.

Instead of third-party feeds still

being tested, resilient firms will verify

smarter, treating every narrative

as a financial exposure that must

be questioned, traced, and ignored

before it becomes a trade.

June 2026 / 31

Crypto News

MoonPay Launches

Stablecoin Debit Card

for AI Agent Payments

MoonPay has launched the

MoonAgents Card, a virtual

Mastercard debit card that

allows individuals and AI agents

to spend stablecoins directly from

self-custodial wallets. The system instantly

converts stablecoins into fiat

at checkout, eliminating preloading

requirements. Designed for automated

payments and enterprise workflows,

the card supports programmable

spending through developer

tools.

Binance Launches

SpaceX Pre-IPO Futures

for Retail Traders

Binance has launched SpaceXlinked

pre-IPO perpetual futures,

allowing retail traders to speculate

on the private company’s valuation

before its expected public listing. The

derivatives product expands access to

a market traditionally reserved for institutional

investors. As SpaceX valuation

bets approach $2 trillion, the launch

increases competition among crypto

platforms offering pre-IPO exposure,

raising concerns about shifting capital

and investor attention.

Securitize Reports

Record Revenue as

Tokenized Assets Hit

$3.4 Billion

Securitize reported record first-quarter

revenue of $19.5 million,

up 39% year over year, as its

tokenized assets under management

reached $3.4 billion. The company also

processed $1.9 billion in transaction

volume and services approximately 650

active funds. Growth was supported by

partnerships with the New York Stock

Exchange and Uniswap, expanding

access to tokenized securities and

blockchain-based fund products. Recent

regulatory approvals from FINRA

and growing SEC openness toward

tokenized stocks are strengthening

Securitize’s expansion in digital securities

infrastructure. The firm continues

preparing for a public listing through its

planned SPAC merger in the first half of

2026. The results point to accelerating

institutional interest in tokenization as

financial products near mainstream

adoption.

MoonPay Acquires

DFlow in $100 Million

Solana Infrastructure

Deal

SpaceX IPO Filing Reveals $1.29 Billion Bitcoin

Holdings

SpaceX’s IPO filing revealed the

company held 18,712 bitcoin

worth $1.29 billion at the end

of the first quarter. Elon Musk’s aerospace

giant is targeting a valuation

above $1.5 trillion, potentially making

it one of the largest public listings in

modern financial history. The filing

also highlights SpaceX’s continued

global dominance in reusable rockets,

Starlink satellite internet services,

and its rapidly expanding artificial

intelligence and robotics ambitions.

MoonPay has acquired Solana-based

trading infrastructure

provider DFlow in an all-stock

deal valued at approximately $100

million, expanding its presence in

decentralized trading infrastructure.

DFlow specializes in trade routing and

decentralized exchange aggregation,

optimizing execution across fragmented

liquidity sources. Since April 2025, the

platform has processed over $50 billion

in trading volume, serving more than

one million active users across 500

applications. DFlow reportedly handles

5% to 10% of Solana trading activity and

has strengthened its position through

integration with Coinbase’s trading stack.

The acquisition supports MoonPay’s

strategy to expand beyond payments

into infrastructure and trading services,

adding a high-performance execution

layer as competition intensifies.

32 \ June 2026

Ripple Secures $200

Million to Expand

Prime Brokerage

Operations

Ripple has secured a $200 million

debt facility from Neuberger

Specialty Finance to accelerate

Ripple Prime expansion, its multi-asset

prime brokerage platform. The funding

will strengthen Ripple’s lending

capacity and enhance services for

institutional clients seeking digital

asset trading and financing solutions.

Ripple Prime bridges traditional finance

with blockchain markets through prime

brokerage, and liquidity services. The

deal signals increasing institutional

confidence in Ripple’s infrastructure

strategy and broader digital finance

ambitions. Ripple continues integrating

XRP and its RLUSD stablecoin into enterprise

financial solutions, reinforcing

its position in cross-border payments

and institutional crypto services. As

demand for regulated digital asset

infrastructure grows, the financing

gives Ripple room to scale.

BlackRock Expands

Tokenized Fund

Through Standard

Chartered, OKX

Polymarket Opens Private

Startup Markets

to Crypto Traders

Polymarket has partnered with

Nasdaq Private Market to launch

prediction markets tied to private-company

milestones, giving retail

traders access to a market previously

dominated by institutional investors.

Users can speculate on startup valuations,

IPO timing, and secondary

share activity without owning equity.

The move opens exposure to a private

market worth over $5 trillion while

improving price discovery for major

startups.


Revolut Launches

Dogecoin Debit Card

for Crypto Payments

RRevolut has launched a Dogecoin-themed

physical debit card,

allowing users to spend the

meme cryptocurrency wherever Visa

and Mastercard are accepted. Initially

available in the UK and most EU markets,

the card enables crypto payments

without extra exchange fees, though

real-time rates still apply. The launch

highlights Revolut’s broader push to

bring digital assets into mainstream,

everyday payments and banking services

worldwide.

BlackRock is expanding its tokenized

money-market fund, BUIDL,

through a partnership with Standard

Chartered and crypto exchange

OKX, highlighting growing institutional

interest in blockchain-based financial

products. The collaboration introduces a

collateral framework allowing investors

to use BUIDL tokens as trading margin

on OKX while continuing to earn yield.

Standard Chartered will act as custodian,

keeping assets securely held without

transfers between accounts and trading

platforms. The structure addresses a

longstanding inefficiency where collateral

posted for trading generates little

or no return. BlackRock’s move reflects

broader momentum in tokenized finance

as institutions explore blockchain capital

efficiency. As the world’s largest asset

manager, BlackRock’s expansion signals

mainstream crypto adoption.

SpaceX Bitcoin Holdings Reach $1.45 Billion

After Historic IPO

Elon Musk’s SpaceX holds 18,712

bitcoin worth approximately $1.45

billion, disclosed in SEC filings following

its record-breaking public listing.

The holdings rank SpaceX among the

largest corporate bitcoin owners globally,

surpassing companies like Coinbase.

Acquired at roughly $35,000 per coin,

the stockpile highlights SpaceX’s longterm

digital asset exposure, even as

its overall valuation soared past $1.7

trillion in its historic, record-setting

Nasdaq market debut.

June 2026 / 33

STARTUP Spotlight

YUZE DIGITAL

Yuze Digital is a UAE-based fintech

building a fully digital business

banking experience for startups,

micro, and small businesses, e-traders,

and freelancers that struggle to access

traditional banking. Founded in 2022

by Rabih Sfeir, with Amin Hashmi and

Shumaiz Abdulsalam as co-founders,

the company focuses on financial inclusion

for underbanked enterprises in

emerging markets. Through Yuze Digital

Payment Service Provider LLC, it offers

business IBAN accounts, payment cards,

invoicing, payment links, and other tools

that help customers run the financial

side of their operations from a single

app. Banking services themselves are

provided via regulated partners, so Yuze

acts as a technology layer rather than

a bank in its own right.

In 2024, Yuze secured a 30 million-dollar

investment led by Osten

Investments to accelerate regional and

international expansion. The funding

is earmarked for growth beyond the

UAE and for reaching up to one million

SME and professional customers over

the next five years. To deepen its offer

at home, Yuze has formed a strategic

alliance with digital bank Zand, giving

eligible SMEs and startups fast digital

onboarding, IBAN business accounts,

and advanced banking tools delivered

through the Yuze interface. In parallel,

the company is extending its model to

India through a creator and freelancer

finance platform built in partnership

with Transcorp International, offering

wallets and RuPay cards along with

income and expense tracking.

Positioning itself as a fintech platform

as much as a business account, Yuze

combines banking access with features

such as invoicing, analytics, expense

controls, and multi-user permissions. Its

infrastructure is designed so that services

can be adapted market by market,

while keeping a consistent experience for

customers, whether opening their first

account or scaling across borders. For

banks, Yuze also acts as a technology

and advisory partner, providing modern

integration rails and white-label capabilities

that help them bring new SME

products to market faster.

CO-FOUNDERS:

RABIH SFEIR, AMIN

HASHMI, SHUMAIZ

ABDULSALAM

STAGE:

GROWTH STAGE, LAT-

EST 30 MILLION DOL-

LAR FUNDING ROUND

(2024)

FOUNDED:

2022

INDUSTRY:

FINTECH, DIGITAL

BUSINESS BANKING

FOR SMES AND FREE-

LANCERS

34 \ June 2026


CERCLI

CO-FOUNDERS:

AKEED AZMI, DAVID

RECHE

STAGE:

SERIES A

FOUNDED:

2023

INDUSTRY:

HR TECH, GLOBAL HR

AND PAYROLL PLAT-

FORM

Cercli is a Dubai-based HR tech

startup building a unified platform

designed to replace the fragmented

mix of spreadsheets, local payroll tools,

and legacy HR systems still used by

many companies across the MENA region.

The company enables businesses

to hire, pay, and manage employees

and contractors across multiple countries

while staying aligned with regional

compliance and reporting requirements.

It positions itself as a modern workforce

infrastructure layer for organizations in

the Middle East and North Africa that are

increasingly operating with distributed

and global teams.

Founded in 2023 by former Careem

and Kitopi operators Akeed Azmi and David

Reche, Cercli emerged from firsthand

experience of the operational challenges

involved in managing payroll and HR at

fast-scaling companies. The founders

identified how fragmented systems can

lead to inefficiencies, compliance risks,

and slow decision-making, and set out

to build a single system of record for

people and payroll data. The platform

is aimed at mid-sized and enterprise

customers that require a more robust

structure than basic HR tools, but prefer

faster implementation and flexibility

compared to traditional enterprise HR

systems.

On the product side, Cercli combines

core HRIS functionality, onboarding, and

leave management with multi-country

payroll, expense management, and employer

of record capabilities for remote

and distributed teams. It is designed

to support localization requirements

across the region, including frameworks

such as WPS, GOSI, DEWS, and

MUDAD, helping finance and HR teams

run compliant payroll operations across

multiple jurisdictions from a centralized

dashboard. The platform also includes a

mobile application that allows employees

to submit expenses with automated

receipt processing, request leave, and

access payslips, while enabling HR and

finance teams to manage approvals and

workforce data in real time.

Cercli, backed by Afore and Picus,

streamlines payroll and HR for

multi-country firms across MENA.

June 2026 / 35

AI Ethics & Governance

Regulating Autonomous

AI: Who Is Liable?

As AI systems act with growing autonomy, regulators rethink accountability,

audit trails, and human control in financial markets

From Brussels to Abu Dhabi, regulators

are drafting rules for autonomous

AI that insist on human

oversight, clear responsibility, and

explainable decision chains, reshaping

how banks, asset managers, and

fintech firms build and deploy algorithms

in practice.

The risk officer does not see a

trader shouting across a desk.

She sees a credit limit cut on a

corporate client, triggered overnight

by a self-learning risk model. The

decision is consistent and within

tolerance metrics, yet no individual

can say why this client received that

downgrade. When the manager

calls from Abu Dhabi asking who

is accountable, the uncomfortable

answer is that the algorithm decided

and humans observed.

36 \ June 2026


When Decisions Go Dark

Financial institutions are handing

discretion to AI systems that optimize

portfolios, adjust prices, monitor

transactions, and allocate credit in

real time. The EU’s AI Act recognizes

that some systems qualify as high

risk because their outputs can affect

people’s rights, access to finance,

and financial stability, and subjects

them to requirements on design,

monitoring, documentation, and

control.

Article 14 of the EU AI Act sets a

clear principle. High-risk AI must

remain open to human oversight,

including the power to understand

limitations, detect anomalies, and

override or stop the system. Human

operators are expected to resist

automation bias, interpret outputs

correctly, and retain final say where

harm could occur. The message is

simple: autonomy in execution does

not remove human agency at the

point of responsibility.

International standard setters

echo this concern. Work by the IMF

and IOSCO warns that delegation to

opaque models can amplify operational

and market risk if supervisors

and boards lack visibility into

decisions. Studies of AI use in trading

and surveillance describe a machine-learning

role across the order

life cycle, from signal generation to

post-trade monitoring, often with

limited explainability.

The guidance note

aims to establish a

clear framework for

the responsible use

of artificial intelligence

and machine

learning in the financial

sector.”

— H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama,

Governor of the Central Bank of the

UAE

Redrawing Lines Of Accountability

For UAE regulators, the question is

no longer whether AI will be used in

finance, but under what conditions

and safeguards. The UAE’s National

Strategy for Artificial Intelligence

2031 frames AI as a national priority

and calls for responsible deployment

across banking, capital markets, and

government services. That backing

has been followed by financial sector

guidance.

In 2021, the Central Bank of the

UAE, the Securities and Commodities

Authority, the Dubai Financial

Services Authority, and the Financial

Services Regulatory Authority

of Abu Dhabi Global Market issued

guidelines for financial institutions

adopting technologies, covering

artificial intelligence and big data

analytics. These guidelines set governance,

risk management, and due

diligence principles, and clarify that

licensed firms remain responsible

for outcomes even when relying on

providers.

More recently, the Central Bank

has published responsible AI guidance

for licensed financial institutions,

emphasizing governance,

transparency, oversight, and consumer

protection. Boards and senior

management are accountable for AI

systems and must maintain model

inventories, document behavior,

and integrate AI risks into the risk

framework. Vendors are expected

to meet comparable standards, reinforcing

that responsibility cannot be

outsourced because code is written

elsewhere.

This framework addresses liability

pragmatically. Rather than treating

autonomous AI as a new legal person,

regulators anchor responsibility

in familiar institutions and roles. If an

autonomous engine triggers unfair

outcomes or breaches risk appetite,

supervisors will look to the firm’s

governance, not the algorithm itself.

The accountability chain may stretch

through procurement, validation, and

vendor management, but it does not

break.

Designing Oversight Into Code

The challenge for UAE banks and

asset managers is turning expectations

into design choices. The EU AI

Act and local guidance stress that

human oversight must be built into

system architecture, not added as

a cosmetic approval screen. That

means interfaces, alerts, and authority

to halt or reverse decisions when

needed.

Supervisors distinguish between

human in the loop, where people approve

outcomes; human on the loop,

where people monitor autonomous

processes; and human out of the

loop, reserved only for low-risk activities.

Central Bank guidance cautions

that unattended AI decision-making

should be limited and supported by

controls, with customers informed

when AI drives outcomes and able

to request human review. This links

configuration to consumer protection.

Auditability As The Bridge

For firms, auditability becomes the

bridge between autonomy and accountability.

Regulators and internal

auditors expect traceable decision

logs, version control for models, documented

training data, and testing

for bias or unintended effects. Without

this evidence, it becomes difficult

to defend an AI-driven decision to a

client, court, or supervisor, especially

when that decision harmed a customer

or contributed to instability.

The result is a redesign of operating

models. Product teams in Dubai

and Abu Dhabi now sit with compliance

and risk specialists earlier in

AI projects, mapping where human

judgment must remain and how

responsibility is assigned if something

fails. Institutions are reconsidering

whether autonomy is needed

everywhere, or whether rule-based

systems work better in high-impact

settings. Now: who decides?

June 2026 / 37

Investment News

Meta Raises $25 Billion

as AI Funding

Costs Climb

Meta has raised $25 billion

through a bond offering that

attracted $96 billion in investor

demand, lower than its previous

debt sale. The offering highlights investor

caution around AI-driven borrowing

as technology firms increase

infrastructure spending. Meta raised

its 2026 capital expenditure forecast

to $145 billion, while higher yield

spreads suggest financing AI expansion

is becoming more expensive despite

continued market support.

OpenAI Launches $10

Billion AI Venture for

Enterprise Growth

OpenAI has launched The Deployment

Company, a $10 billion joint

venture aimed at accelerating AI

adoption across enterprises. Backed

by $4 billion from 19 investors, the

initiative will embed engineers inside

businesses to redesign workflows

around AI agents. OpenAI’s strategy

expands beyond software licensing into

enterprise transformation, strengthening

its position against rivals while building

revenue ahead of a public listing across

healthcare, finance, and logistics.

Meta Acquires Robotics

Startup to Advance

Humanoid Robot

Development

Meta has acquired robotics startup

Assured Robot Intelligence to

strengthen its humanoid robotics

ambitions and expand embodied AI

capabilities. The startup specializes in

scalable robot learning and real-world

manipulation, supporting Meta’s push

into physical AI. The acquisition aligns

with Meta’s robotics expansion under

Reality Labs, investing in AI-driven

hardware and software. Rather than

manufacturing robots directly, Meta

aims to develop software platforms for

third-party robot makers, positioning

itself as a key enabler. Competition is

intensifying with Tesla, Boston Dynamics,

Figure AI, and others. Analysts

expect the humanoid robotics market to

grow significantly next decade, driven

by rising demand for automation. Meta’s

acquisition highlights its focus on

combining AI, sensors, and robotics to

shape future automation ecosystems.

Samsung Nears AMD

2nm AI Chip

Manufacturing

Partnership

Anthropic Forms $1.5 Billion AI Venture With

Wall Street Firms

Anthropic is forming a $1.5 billion

joint venture with Blackstone,

Goldman Sachs, and

Hellman & Friedman to expand enterprise

AI adoption globally. The

initiative will help private equity portfolio

companies deploy Anthropic’s

Claude AI tools through consulting,

training, and operational integration

support. The move strengthens

Anthropic’s enterprise presence as

competition with OpenAI intensifies

in large-scale corporate AI deployments.

Samsung is reportedly nearing

a major semiconductor agreement

with AMD to manufacture

next-generation AI processors using its

2nm process technology. The partnership

includes supplying HBM4 memory

and DDR5 solutions for AMD’s upcoming

AI GPUs and EPYC server processors.

Discussions have continued since late

2025, with Samsung carefully evaluating

production for future AMD chips. If

finalized, the deal would significantly

strengthen Samsung’s position in AI

semiconductor and high-bandwidth

memory markets, where competition

remains intense. The agreement could

also support AMD’s dual-foundry strategy

alongside TSMC for next-generation

chips. As AI infrastructure demand

accelerates, partnerships combining

advanced chip manufacturing and

memory technologies are increasingly

important.

38 \ June 2026

Mercedes-Benz

Expands AI Automation

Through n8n

Enterprise Partnership

Mercedes-Benz has partnered

with Berlin-based n8n to expand

AI-powered workflow

automation across its global operations,

covering research, production, sales,

financial services, human resources,

and IT. The initiative aims to move AI

automation beyond pilot projects into

everyday enterprise use for its 164,000

employees worldwide. Using n8n’s

low-code platform, teams can build

production-ready workflows without

advanced development expertise.

Existing use cases include AI-driven

customer support triage, automated

IT log analysis, and multi-agent sales

advisory systems. Mercedes-Benz selected

n8n for its self-hosted, cloud-agnostic

infrastructure, supporting GDPR

compliance and digital sovereignty. A

company-wide hackathon involving

1,500 employees helped identify automation

ideas now entering production.

Anthropic and Gates

Foundation Launch

$200 Million Global AI

Initiative

Sony Acquires $4

Billion Recognition

Music Song Catalog

Sony Music Publishing is acquiring

Recognition Music Group’s

45,000-song catalog in a deal

valued at roughly $4 billion, marking

its single largest catalog acquisition

ever recorded. The portfolio includes

iconic works linked to Beyoncé, Rihanna,

Fleetwood Mac, and Justin Bieber. The

acquisition significantly strengthens

Sony’s music publishing position as

proven song catalogs continue attracting

major investment for stable long-term

royalty income.


Anthropic Eyes $900

Billion Valuation in

New AI Funding Round

Anthropic is reportedly seeking at

least $30 billion in new funding

that could push its valuation beyond

$900 billion. The potential round

follows major backing from Amazon and

Google alongside massive infrastructure

commitments. Rapid expansion in AI

computing partnerships and investor

demand has accelerated Anthropic’s

growth, intensifying competition with

rivals while raising questions about

the sustainability of soaring private

AI valuations.

Anthropic and the Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation have launched

a $200 million four-year partnership

to develop AI tools across

healthcare, education, agriculture, and

economic mobility. The initiative combines

grant funding, Claude AI credits,

and technical support for nonprofits,

researchers, and public agencies in the

United States and low- and middle-income

countries. Healthcare projects

will focus on vaccine research, disease

modeling, and treatment forecasting

for underserved regions. In education,

the collaboration will support AI-driven

tutoring, curriculum planning, and

college advising. The partnership will

also develop agriculture tools for smallholder

farmers and workforce solutions

for skills development. As the largest

philanthropic AI collaboration, the initiative

aims to accelerate responsible

AI adoption globally.

SpaceX IPO Attracts Massive BlackRock Interest

Ahead of Historic Listing

Sony Music Publishing is acquiring

Recognition Music Group’s

45,000-song catalog in a deal

valued at roughly $4 billion, marking

its single largest catalog acquisition

ever recorded. The portfolio includes

iconic works linked to Beyoncé, Rihanna,

Fleetwood Mac, and Justin Bieber. The

acquisition significantly strengthens

Sony’s global music publishing position

as proven song catalogs continue

attracting major investment for stable

and predictable long-term royalty

income streams.

June 2026 / 39

DRIVE TO THE FUTURE

PORSCHE MACAN ELECTRIC

Performance EV engineering meets next-generation luxury mobility

3.3 s

0-100 km/h

650 hp

Horsepower

1130 Nm

Torque

40 \ June 2026


In Turbo form, the fully electric Porsche Macan translates

the brand’s sports car heritage into a compact

SUV body with striking simplicity. Official data show

a dual motor, all wheel drive powertrain delivering up

to 470 kW and 1130 Nm in overboost, with a 0 to 100

km/h time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h.

A 100 kWh battery, of which about 95 kWh is usable,

supports a WLTP range of up to 591 km and 270 kW DC

charging that can take the pack from 10 to 80 percent

in roughly 21 minutes under ideal conditions.

The cabin continues Porsche’s recent design language,

with a broad digital instrument panel, a central

touchscreen and careful attention to seating position

and visibility. The driving experience is shaped by rear

axle steering, adaptive air suspension and a very low

battery installation, which together keep body movements

controlled while preserving comfort on poor surfaces.

What sets the Macan Electric apart is how closely

it matches the responses of a traditional Porsche, despite

its mass and height. Instant torque, precise steering

and consistent braking feel give it a very familiar

character for existing owners and enthusiasts, while

the long range and rapid charging make it significantly

easier to live with every day than many earlier performance

EVs on the market.

June 2026 / 41

Generational Wealth

The Programmable Portfolio:

Smart Contracts and the Future

of Wealth Preservation

How tokenization and smart contracts are reshaping long-term

wealth preservation strategies for Gulf family offices

As digital asset regulation matures in the UAE, tokenized

holdings, automated allocation rules, and institutional

digital custody are giving Gulf families new

tools to preserve, divide and govern wealth across

borders and generations.

42 \ June 2026

On a quiet floor, a third-generation

family office principal

studies binders resembling

his grandfather’s ledgers. Assets

span towers in Dubai, warehouses

in Riyadh, and portfolios in London.

Each transition triggers legal memoranda

and uncertainty over whether

allocations are honored.

Why Programmable Portfolios

Matter

For Gulf families whose wealth spans

real estate, companies, and securities,

the more complex the map, the

more fragile it becomes when heirs

disagree or records are incomplete.

Private bankers design structures,

but discipline still depends on

memory. A programmable portfolio,

whose rules live in code and execute

automatically, feels less like novelty

and more like self-defense.

From Trusts To Code

Traditional structures have carried

Gulf wealth through oil shocks and

generational change, but weaknesses

surface in estates. Probate slows


Not being afraid of advanced technologies

and applying them across society and the

economy is the first step in national development.”



UAE Government

when assets sit under multiple legal

systems, and courts may take

divergent views on wills, trusts, or

shareholder agreements. Where

heirs live abroad, jurisdiction itself

can become an argument.

Maintaining allocation discipline

across branches is difficult. One

line may prefer income, while

another pushes for direct deals. In

a portfolio spanning land, businesses,

and securities, it is not always

obvious whether the profile

reflects the founder’s intent or has

drifted toward the loudest voice.

Opacity compounds the problem.

Banks and property managers

across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and

offshore centers produce reports,

but consolidated balance sheets

arrive weeks after quarter end. No

mechanism forces behavior back

to agreed allocation bands.

Smart contracts offer a different

principle. Families can encode waterfalls,

borrowing limits, and consent

thresholds into instruments

holding tokenized assets, with

movements recorded on a ledger.

Serious structures still pair code

with trusts, and legal enforceability

must come first.

Tokenization Reshapes Portfolios

Tokenization bridges traditional

wealth and programmable logic.

In Abu Dhabi Global Market, the

FSRA’s framework allows regulated

firms to tokenize securities

and fund units with custody. In

the DIFC, the 2024 Digital Assets

Law treats digital assets as

property and defines ownership

and transfer under common law.

Dubai’s VARA regulates exchanges,

custody, and portfolio services,

while Cabinet Resolution No. 111 of

2022 aligns licensing across the

UAE. Together, these frameworks

give families confidence that

tokenized holdings can sit within a

supervised environment.

For Gulf families, the immediate

use case lies in property and

closely held assets. Towers in

Dubai, villas on Saadiyat Island, or

logistics parks near Jeddah can be

represented as tokens that divide

economic rights without altering

land registries, making it easier

to allocate value between heirs,

create income and control classes,

or raise liquidity by selling partial

stakes.

Within UAE financial centers,

family offices can combine vehicles,

trusts, and foundations with

tokenized instruments, preserving

governance while adding

programmable features. Wealth

managers are experimenting with

tokenized fund units that give

clients digital representations of

traditional exposures while retain-

ing familiar regulatory plumbing.

Custody, Law And Risk

As more wealth moves on-chain,

custody becomes central. Families

can hold private keys themselves,

entrust them to regulated custodians

in ADGM or DIFC, or adopt

multi-signature arrangements

that distribute control. Each model

carries trade-offs between resilience,

privacy, and simplicity, and

must be planned with succession

in mind.

Legal characterization is evolving.

DIFC’s Digital Assets Law and

ADGM’s common law framework

give courts clearer tools to recognize

rights in tokenized assets and

enforce security interests. Less

settled are questions about how

on-chain arrangements interact

with inheritance rules, especially

where Sharia principles apply.

Bugs in smart contracts, flawed

oracle data, or poorly tested triggers

can lock wealth or misdirect

value, and blockchain transactions

are hard to reverse. Regulatory

frameworks are still being refined,

so arrangements may need redesign.

Technical expertise is concentrated

among providers, creating

dependence unless advisors build

understanding. Advisors favor

hybrid designs pairing legal structures

with scoped smart contracts.

June 2026 / 43

UAE News

Core42 and Data Dynamics

Boost Enterprise AI

Data Governance

Core42 has partnered with Data

Dynamics to strengthen enterprise

data governance, compliance,

and AI readiness. The collaboration

combines Core42’s cloud

infrastructure with Data Dynamics’

AI-powered data management platform.

The solution helps organizations

classify, secure, and optimize

data across hybrid environments. It

supports compliance, privacy, and

secure AI deployment, enabling businesses

to scale AI confidently.

ADNOC Commits $55

Billion to Accelerate

UAE Energy Expansion

ADNOC plans to award $55 billion

in contracts between 2026 and

2028 as the UAE accelerates

energy expansion after leaving OPEC.

The investment aims to raise production

capacity to five million barrels daily

by 2027. ADNOC seeks to strengthen

industrial growth, meet rising global

energy demand, and expand international

investments. The strategy gives

the UAE greater production flexibility

while aligning with broader national

economic ambitions.

Dubai Opens

AI-Powered Al Shera’a

Smart Sustainable

Headquarters

Dubai has inaugurated Al Shera’a,

the new Dubai Electricity and

Water Authority headquarters,

described as the world’s tallest, largest,

and smartest net-positive government

building. Spanning over two million

square feet, the facility integrates AI,

IoT, and big data to optimize operations

in real time. More than 110,000

sensors and 3,200 network devices

manage parking, lighting, air quality,

and maintenance through a centralized

smart platform. The building generates

up to 5MW of solar energy through

photovoltaic systems, supporting its

net-positive sustainability model. Al

Shera’a includes innovation hubs,

training centers, sports facilities, and

childcare spaces. Direct metro connectivity

promotes greener commuting. The

project reinforces Dubai’s commitment to

smart infrastructure, renewable energy,

and future-ready urban development.

Dubai Launches

Middle East’s First

Museum of Digital Art

in DIFC

botim money Expands Mastercard Deal to

Strengthen UAE Digital Payments

botim money has expanded its

partnership with Mastercard

to accelerate digital payments

and card issuance across the UAE.

The long-term agreement aims to

improve payment reliability, user

experience, and financial accessibility.

With no minimum salary requirement,

botim money cards remain

accessible to more residents. The collaboration

also supports future payment

innovations and broader financial

services for the UAE’s growing

digital economy.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority

has expanded its Seasonal

Network marine transport initiative

using AI, predictive analytics, and

big data to improve efficiency during

peak travel periods. The AI-powered

system analyzes passenger volumes,

revenue trends, and behavioral patterns

to forecast demand and enable faster

operational decisions. RTA will activate

its summer operating plan in July

through a digital platform supporting

flexible scheduling based on real-time

needs. The initiative optimizes marine

transport during holidays, major events,

and seasonal traffic fluctuations.

Customer feedback ensures services

align with passenger expectations. The

enhanced framework strengthens reliability,

maintains international service

standards, and supports Dubai’s smart

mobility vision through data-driven

public transport management.

44 \ June 2026

Saudi Arabia Launches

First Quantum

Computer, QCaaS Platform

Saudi Arabia has launched its first

quantum computer and the Middle

East’s first commercial Quantum

Computing as a Service (QCaaS) platform

through a partnership between

Saudi Aramco and Pasqal. Installed

at Aramco’s Dhahran data center, the

system provides secure cloud access

to quantum hardware for businesses,

researchers, and institutions.

Powered by Pasqal’s neutral-atom

Quantum Processing Unit with 200

programmable qubits, the platform

supports optimization, simulation, AI,

and complex industrial applications.

Aramco will develop a detailed roadmap

for industrial use cases using the

production-ready system. The initiative

strengthens Saudi Arabia’s technology

ambitions, expands regional access to

quantum computing, and reinforces the

Kingdom’s leadership in innovation and

digital infrastructure globally.

Dubai RTA

Expands AI-Powered

Marine Transport

Network

Dubai Launches

Waterway Mapping to

Transform Planning

Dubai Municipality has completed

the Middle East’s first pilot waterway

survey using advanced

mobile mapping technology. The project

captured precise geospatial data and

built detailed 3D models across Dubai

Water Canal. This initiative supports

Dubai’s Digital Twin ambitions, smarter

infrastructure planning, improved asset

management, and sustainable urban

development, while strengthening the

emirate’s digital governance and future-ready

city management capabilities.


Parkin Launches AI

Smart Parking Cameras

Across Dubai

Parkin has launched the first phase

of its AI-powered smart parking

camera system across Dubai,

deploying over 500 solar-powered

cameras in key areas. The technology

automates number plate recognition,

payment processing, occupancy

monitoring, and violation detection.

Integrated with the Parkin App, the

system aims to reduce congestion,

improve parking efficiency, and support

Dubai’s smarter, more connected urban

mobility vision.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority

has expanded its Seasonal

Network marine transport initiative

using AI, predictive analytics, and big

data to improve service efficiency during

peak travel periods. The AI-powered

system analyzes passenger volumes,

occupancy rates, revenue trends, and

behavioral patterns to forecast demand

and enable faster operational decisions.

RTA will activate its summer operating

plan in July through a digital platform

supporting flexible scheduling based

on real-time travel needs. The initiative

optimizes marine transport during

holidays, major events, and seasonal

fluctuations. Customer feedback ensures

services align with expectations. The

enhanced framework strengthens reliability,

maintains international service

standards, and supports Dubai’s smart

mobility vision through data-driven

public transport management.

Presight Partners Montenegro to Build AI-Powered

Smart Nation Platform

Presight has partnered with Montenegro’s

Ministry of the Interior

to develop an AI-powered Smart

Nation platform supporting national

digital transformation. The system will

integrate traffic, public safety, environmental,

and emergency response data

for real-time decision-making. Built on

sovereign AI infrastructure, the platform

aims to improve road safety, operational

coordination, public services, and

national resilience through a phased

long-term implementation strategy

across key sectors.

June 2026 / 45

Launch express

Google Fitbit Air: The

Ultimate $99 Screenless

AI Fitness Tracker

Google’s Fitbit Air revolutionizes fitness tracking with a discreet, 12-gram screenless design.

Boasting a seven-day battery, deep Gemini AI integration via the Google Health app, and comprehensive

metrics, it delivers powerful 24/7 health monitoring without digital distractions.

Starting at $99.99.

46 \ June 2026


Key Specifications & Tech Specs

+ +

Google Health App (Featuring

Design

Screenless pebble (width:

17mm, 12g with band),

50m water-resistant, interchangeable

bands

Main Display

N/A (Screenless, relies on

smartphone interface)

Processor

N/A

RAM

N/A

Battery

Up to 7 days, 5-minute quick

charge for 24 hours of use

Software

Gemini AI Health Coach)

Storage

7 days of detailed motion

and biometric memory

Cameras

N/A

Pros

Minimalist, Screenless Comfort: Weighing

just 12 grams with a slim profile, it

eliminates digital distractions and is

incredibly comfortable for 24/7 wear,

including sleep tracking.

Excellent Battery & Quick Charge: Delivers

up to a full week of battery life,

while a brief 5-minute charge provides

an entire day’s worth of power, minimizing

downtime.

Advanced AI Coaching: Integrates directly

with the new Google Health App,

utilizing Gemini AI for deeply personalized,

conversational fitness planning

and insights.and AI tasks.

Cons

No Built-In GPS: Relies completely on

a connected smartphone for outdoor

workout mapping, which can be inconvenient

for runners who want to leave

their phones at home.

Premium Subscription Paywall: While

basic tracking is free, gaining access to

the deepest AI features and advanced

insights requires a $10/month Google

Health Premium subscription.

No Display for Quick Stats: The total

reliance on a smartphone app means

users cannot view real-time workout

metrics, their current heart rate, or the

time directly on their wrist.

The Verdict

The Google Fitbit Air redefines the entry-level fitness tracker by stripping away the screen and prioritizing lightweight,

distraction-free health monitoring. Launched in May 2026 at $99.99, it goes after the Whoop-style wellness band market

but at a much more approachable price. Its featherlight 12-gram design makes it easy to forget you’re wearing it, which

is ideal for 24/7 sleep and recovery tracking. The Google Health app, with Gemini-powered coaching, delivers conversational

insights and personalized guidance based on your daily metrics. The absence of built-in GPS and the premium

subscription required for advanced features are real limitations, but the Fitbit Air still stands out as a strong option for

users who want useful health tracking without a distracting display. Rating: 8.8/10.

June 2026 / 47

Digital Identity

Beyond Passwords: The

Rise of Biometric Finance

Biometric, behavioral and device-bound authentication are quietly

reshaping how UAE customers log in and transact

As the Central Bank of the UAE phases out SMS onetime

passwords, banks are turning to biometrics,

passkeys, and continuous risk monitoring to cut fraud

while keeping digital payments fast and familiar for

customers.

48 \ June 2026

The customer thinks it is another

routine transfer. She keys

in an amount on her phone

and waits for the six-digit SMS code.

Nothing arrives. Instead, the app

asks for a fingerprint and a glance at

the camera. In the background, the

device, location, and behavior are

checked before payment is released.

From OTPs To Passkeys

Scenes like this are spreading across

the UAE. A Central Bank directive

bans SMS and email one-time passwords

as standalone authentication

for digital banking and card transactions,

after SIM swapping and

phishing made those codes weak.

Banks are pushed toward passkeys,

biometrics, and behavioral analytics.

The password era is ending, and layered

identity is taking its place.

The turning point is regulatory as

much as technological. The directive

requires licensed financial institutions

to move beyond SMS and

email passwords, adopting biometrics,

soft tokens, and in-app authentication

by March 2026. Institutions


The introduction of biometric payment solutions

represents a strategic step to delivering

more secure and seamless payment

experiences, setting new benchmarks for

trust and convenience in financial transactions.”

— H.E. Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri,

Assistant Governor for

Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE

relying on weak authentication for

card payments will carry liability

for fraud losses, a signal outdated

login habits carry risk.

The new baseline includes

facial recognition, FIDO2-compliant

passkeys, and cryptographic

tokens stored on trusted devices.

Rather than typing a password

into a cloned form, customers confirm

identity by proving possession

of a device and biometric. The

result is phishing-resistant and

simpler.

Global trends support the shift.

FIDO-based authentication was

valued at roughly 2.8 billion

dollars in 2025 and is forecast to

grow at more than 20 per cent annually

through 2034. In the UAE,

biometrics are expected to grow

from 225 million dollars in 2024 to

800 million dollars by 2033.

Behavior Becomes A Credential

Replacing passwords with fingerprints

and face scans solves

only part of the problem. Fraudsters

target customers after login,

through social engineering, remote

control software, and device theft.

UAE rules and industry practice

now emphasize continuous

behavior monitoring as much as

initial authentication.

Behavioral biometrics systems

build profiles based on typing

rhythm, screen navigation, usual

devices, time of day, and geolocation.

When a high-value transfer is

initiated from an unfamiliar device

in an unusual pattern, the system

can pause, escalate to biometric

checks, or block the transaction.

The Central Bank’s directive calls

for round-the-clock fraud monitoring

integrating device, location,

and behavior rather than static

credentials.

The pressure to adopt these

tools reflects a harsh threat environment.

Reporting suggests UAE

financial institutions face around

14,000 cyberattacks per day,

with losses since 2020 estimated

above 2.5 billion dollars. A survey

of Emirati banking executives

found that roughly two-thirds

reported rising fraud attempts,

and many estimated annual fraud

losses above 5 million dollars.

Static passwords and codes are

inadequate.

Behavioral and device-bound

checks add lenses. A criminal

might steal a phone and force a

biometric, but reproducing months

of behavior and trusted device

history is far harder. This does not

remove customer education, but

changes the balance of power by

making identity a moving target.

Designing Trust In The UAE

The UAE has invested heavily in

digital identity as public infrastructure.

UAE Pass and the unified

digital identity framework allow

residents to authenticate across

government and private services

with one credential, including

document signing. Banks plug

into this ecosystem, layering risk

checks on top of a common identity

foundation.

Biometrics are moving beyond

login and into payments. In early

2026, the Central Bank launched

a proof of concept allowing users

to pay with a facial or palm scan

at selected locations, with no card

or phone required. Developed

with fintech partners, the system

encrypts biometric data and stores

it onshore.

These advances raise questions

about privacy, error rates, and

inclusion. Regulators respond

by insisting on local hosting of

biometric information and governance

for artificial intelligence

in fraud scoring. For banks and

fintechs, the task is turning expectations

into journeys, consent

mechanisms, and explanations.

Passwords and one-time codes

are giving way to device possession,

biometrics, and behavior

confirming identity, where security

and convenience become one

design problem.

June 2026 / 49

Trend Line

The AI Investment Landscape Enters

Its Maturity Phase

After two years of rewarding AI exposure at any cost, investors are

shifting their focus to profitability, execution, and sustainable growth.

The AI boom is entering a new phase

where investor expectations are

becoming more selective and performance-driven.

In recent years, companies benefited

mainly from their association with

AI, with investors focusing on future

potential over current profits. However,

the focus has now shifted toward

tangible results such as sustainable

revenue, recurring income, and longterm

profitability.

Technology firms are increasingly

expected to prove that their AI investments

translate into measurable financial

performance. This includes efficient

scaling, stable margins, and predictable

growth rather than just strong top-line

expansion.

The same trend is visible across AI

infrastructure providers and cybersecurity

companies. While demand remains

strong, investors are prioritizing recurring

revenue models and disciplined financial

execution.

Overall, the AI sector is moving from

hype-driven growth to a more mature

and results-focused phase defined by

real business outcomes and measurable

impact. Future leaders will be those

that successfully combine innovation

with profitability, scale and operational

efficiency.

50 \ June 2026


AI Growth Is Still Accelerating

Metric

Broadcom Revenue Growth

Broadcom AI Semiconductor Revenue Growth

Broadcom AI Semiconductor Revenue

Next Quarter AI Revenue Guidance

Value

+48%

+143%

$10.8B

$16B

Key Message

AI spending continues to expand rapidly across enterprise technology markets.

What Investors Care About Now

Then (2024-2025)

AI Exposure

Revenue Growth

Market Share

AI Narrative

Now (2026)

Profitability

Recurring Revenue

Cash Flow

Margin Expansion

Execution Quality

Key Message

Investor focus has shifted from AI potential to AI performance.

The Rise of Recurring Revenue

Company

Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

CrowdStrike

Metric

$8.1B Next-Gen Security ARR

+60% ARR Growth

$5.51B ARR

June 2026 / 51

GADGET REVIEWs

HONOR 600

AI-POWERED MID-RANGE POWERHOUSE

The Honor 600 is a sleek mid-range smartphone that

combines a premium design with strong AI imaging

and dependable everyday performance. It is built

around a 6.57-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh

rate and up to 8,000 nits of peak brightness, giving it a

vivid, high-end viewing experience. The phone is powered

by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor and is available with

up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.

Design and build

The Honor 600 has a slim 7.8mm profile and weighs about

185-190 grams, depending on the source and regional configuration.

It features a precision-carved unibody design

with a matte metal frame, slim bezels, and rounded corners

that give it a premium in-hand feel. Honor’s official material

also lists IP68, IP69, and IP69K water and dust resistance,

making the device unusually durable for its class.

Camera and performance

Photography is a major highlight, with a 200MP main camera

featuring OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP front

camera. Honor also includes AI Image to Video 2.0, adding

creative editing and generative features to the camera experience.

On the performance side, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

and MagicOS 10 on Android 16 provide smooth multitasking

and a current software platform.

Battery and software

The Honor 600 comes with a 7,000mAh battery in most

global listings, though the EU version is reported with a

smaller 6,400mAh cell. It supports 80W wired charging, and

some reports also mention reverse wired charging. Honor

promises six years of software updates, which strengthens

its long-term value proposition.

52 \ June 2026


OURA RING 5

WORLD’S SMALLEST SMART HEALTH RING

The Oura Ring 5 is a next‐generation health and fitness

smart ring that focuses on continuous sleep, recovery,

and activity tracking in an ultra‐discreet form factor.

The ring combines upgraded optical sensors, temperature

sensing, and motion tracking to deliver over 50 health metrics,

including sleep stages, readiness, activity, heart health, and

metabolic indicators. Oura quotes a battery life of 6–9 days

on a single charge, depending on size and usage, maintaining

week‐long tracking despite the smaller hardware.

Design and build

The Oura Ring 5 features a slimmed‐down titanium design

with 40% less volume than the previous generation, weighing

roughly 2–2.7 grams depending on size. It is available in sizes

6–13 and comes in six finishes: Silver, Brushed Silver, Black,

Stealth, Gold, and Deep Rose, all with a hard PVD coating for

improved scratch resistance. The ring is water‐resistant up

to 100 meters and rated for use in saunas and water sports

(though not diving), with operating temperatures from −10

to 54 °C to handle everyday and workout environments.

Sensors and performance

Inside, the Oura Ring 5 uses two tri‐LED emitters, two photodetectors,

a digital temperature sensor, and a 3D accelerometer

to continuously track heart rate, HRV, temperature

trends, movement, and breathing‐related metrics. Oura has

redesigned the sensor domes, LED positioning, and signal

pathways to improve accuracy across more finger types and

skin tones, while still delivering around 23.5 hours of data

capture per day on average. New software features include

Health Radar for proactive alerts, sleep‐based blood pressure

trend signals, nighttime breathing disturbance tracking, and

live activity tracking with real‐time pace, distance, and heart

metrics via the phone app.

Battery and software

The Oura Ring 5 typically lasts 6–9 days on a full charge,

with an 80‐minute charging time via an updated charger or

optional charging case that can store multiple extra charges.

Oura redesigned the battery system both chemically and

mechanically so that, despite the ring being smaller, it still

achieves week‐long battery life and improved long‐term

durability. On the software side, the ring pairs with the Oura

app to provide detailed sleep analysis, 24/7 heart‐rate tracking,

temperature trends, blood oxygen sensing, stress and

resilience insights, cardiovascular age and VO2 Max estimates,

automatic activity detection, and women’s health

features such as cycle and pregnancy insights, with many

advanced insights delivered through an Oura Membership

subscription.

Price and availability

The Oura Ring 5 was announced globally at the end of May

2026, with preorders opening immediately and shipments

beginning around June 4, 2026, in key markets. Pricing starts

at 399 USD for the standard Black and Silver finishes, while

premium Stealth, Gold, Brushed Silver, and Deep Rose variants

are priced at 499 USD, marking a price increase over

the previous generation. The ring is being rolled out across

North America and Europe first, with additional regions expected

to follow as Oura expands distribution through its

online store and selected retail partners.

June 2026 / 53

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The Technology Express Magazine | Edition: June 2026

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