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35th World AI Show ends with achievers honoured in Dubai

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4 years ago

May 29, 2022

Staff Reporter

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Dubai, May 26, 2022:
The two-day 35th global edition of World AI Show & Awards, the longest running AI series, organized by Trecon, closed on a high note with the inaugural World AI Awards to recognise contributions in various fields on Thursday.

Held under the patronage of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, a member of the royal family of Dubai, the World AI Show and Awards brought together the most powerful voices in the global AI and RPA space.

The second day of the World AI Show kick-started with a panel discussion on Women in AI. The confluence of global AI women leaders equivocally stressed the significance for women to prove their worth and get recognition on merit. There was a broader representation of views with panelists from the UAE, Germany, and Oman on stage.

James Connolly, the regional director of DarkTrace, spoke about using artificial intelligence to surgically respond to fast and furious attacks and the threat landscape in 2022.

Padam Kafle, the Aster Hospitals head of IT and Automation, touched on the growth in enterprise adoption of the 5G network. Kafle took the award for best project implementation under the best AI use-case award in the private sector on behalf of Aster.

Other sessions included topics such as ethical uses of AI, ways for successful rapid implementation, trends, and scaling the adoption of AI to deliver business outcomes.

A special award was handed out to Eng Fahad A Alhamed, the Founder and Chairman of the Saudi Cloud Computing Association, who was given the AI Visionary of the Year award.

Emirates NBD Bank had three innovations shortlisted in the banking category and the team representing faced some nervous moments before knowing that it was the model they created for ensuring compliance with financial regulations using a quantitative scoring system with scorecards to identify bottlenecks.

In addition, they have created a call center analytics that uses AI to predict consumer behavior, as well as a Multiplier effect that gives the next-best action and personalization for a better banking experience.

With his ENBD colleagues, Sachin Chandna received the best AI use case award private sector in the banking segment along with his head of customer intelligence who received the AI proponent of the year award in the private sector as well.

The inaugural World AI Awards winners pose with the jury members at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai. Photo by Trescon

Startup World Cup

The opening day saw the UAE finalist being spotted for the Startup World Cup. Affinsys, a startup running AI solutions for banks, telecom and insurance companies, won after the jury took a live decision based on final pitches from the top contenders and voted for UAE’s representation among 60-plus countries from where the World Cup winner will receive $1 million funding.

The inaugural edition of the World AI Awards was hosted in top glory with many AI visionaries and true flag bearers of the MENA region receiving the award for their contribution in the field of artificial intelligence.

“Dubai has always welcomed talent and we always looking to create a better future, so it was only natural for us to be associated with this event,” said Hisham Al Gurg, CEO at the Private Office. “AI is the future and it is nice to see so many experts and leading companies at World AI Show & Awards.”

Winners of World AI Awards:

Best AI use-case in Private Sector:
Healthcare – Aliasgar Bohari, Zulekha Hospital
Education – Shameed Sait, GEMS Education
Banking – Sachin Chandna, Emirates NBD
Financial Services – Saurav Suman, The Family Office
Manufacturing – Wissam Al Adany, ADES Arabia Holding
Retail – Mustafa Hussein, IKEA, Saudi Arabia
Best Project Implementation – Padam Kafle, Aster Hospitals

Best AI use-case in Public Sector:
Healthcare – Dr Maryam Alsharaf, Emirates Health Services
Best Project Implementation – Dr Maryam Alsharaf, Emirates Health Services
Education – Saud Aldajah, Higher Colleges of Technology
Energy & Utilities – Awad El-Sidiq, Adnoc Distribution

Others
Best Young Role Model – Maya Hiba, Al Ramz Corporation
Best Value Chain – Raman Nathani, Rafed Pure Health
Most Popular Proponent of the Year – Sachin Chandna, Emirates NBD Bank
Visionary of the Year – Fahad Alhamed, Saudi Cloud Computing Association chairman

Staff Reporter

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Visiting Wafi Mall? Your parking can now be paid through Salik

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Parking at Wafi Mall has gone fully digital.

Parkonic has introduced its ticketless parking system at the popular Dubai mall, allowing motorists to pay parking fees automatically through their Salik accounts or by scanning a QR code before leaving.

When drivers enter the car park, their vehicle’s number plate is automatically scanned, creating a digital parking ticket without the need for paper tickets or parking machines.

Parking charges

First 3 hours: Free
3–4 hours: Dh15
Each additional hour (or part): Dh10

Parking charges apply Monday to Friday, while parking remains free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers who leave and return after using their three free hours will be treated as a new entry. However, to receive another three hours of free parking on the same day, there must be a two-hour gap between visits.

There are no cash payment options or parking machines at the site. Visitors without a Salik account, or those with insufficient balance, must pay using an alternative payment method before exiting.

Loading bay vehicles are eligible for one extra hour of free parking once validated.

Parkonic warned that motorists who fail to pay the required parking fees could face fines, blacklisting or legal action.

The operator has been expanding its ticketless parking network across the UAE, with recent rollouts at West Yas Plaza, Yas Bay, Yas Marina, selected Choithrams stores, Discovery Gardens and Palm Jumeirah Crescent.

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Four-day deadline for Sharjah motorists to claim impounded vehicles

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9 hours ago

August 4, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If your vehicle has been impounded in Sharjah, now is the time to check.

Sharjah City Municipality has given owners of impounded vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles four days to complete the necessary release procedures or risk having their property sold at a public auction.

The warning applies to vehicles and equipment that have remained impounded for more than six months.

Owners are required to visit the Control and Inspection Department in Industrial Area 5 to resolve the reason for the impoundment and complete the legal procedures needed to recover their property.

After the deadline, any unclaimed vehicles or equipment will be put up for public auction.

To help owners, the municipality has published a list of all affected vehicles on its official website, allowing residents to check whether their vehicle is included before visiting the department.

The move is part of Sharjah Municipality’s ongoing efforts to regulate impounded assets and encourage owners to complete the required procedures within the specified timeframe.

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UAE motorists face Dh500 fine for carrying extra passengers

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi Police are reminding motorists not to carry more passengers than their vehicle is designed for, warning that overcrowded cars significantly increase the risk of serious injuries and fatal crashes.

Officials said exceeding a vehicle’s approved passenger capacity can leave some occupants without seat belts, reduce the driver’s control of the vehicle and make accidents more likely.

Drivers have been urged to ensure every passenger is seated in a designated seat and wearing a seat belt before setting off.

Motorists caught carrying more passengers than permitted face a Dh500 fine, four black points on their driving licence and seven days of vehicle impoundment.

Abu Dhabi Police stressed that following passenger limits is a basic road safety requirement and reminded drivers that protecting everyone inside the vehicle is a shared responsibility.

The number of passengers per car:

Most private cars and sedans allow up to 4 passengers plus the driver. Larger SUVs or vans can seat up to 6 to 7 passengers or more, depending on their registered design.