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Former Dubai banker is UAE nominee for $1m Startup World Cup final prize
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The two-day 35th World AI Show, the longest running event in artificial intelligence kicked off in style and ended with the UAE finalist chosen for the Startup World Cup in Dubai on Wednesday.
Affinsys, a startup running AI solutions for banks, telecom and insurance companies, won out of a shortlist of six yesterday after the jury took a live decision based on final pitches and voted for UAE’s representation among 60-plus countries from where the World Cup winner will receive $1 million funding.
Making the presentation and receiving the award was Aditya Bhagat, who co-founded the company three years back with friend and fellow banker Surya Prasad. “I am extremely honoured to get this reward,” said a beaming Bhagat immediately after. “We have been associated with the Dubai Future Program and also received many accolades and awards, so we are on the right track.
“We need 3-4 million of funding for our expansion programme and if all goes well in September (for the Startup World Cup final round), this will be a big help.”
Meanwhile, the day featured a lot of brainstorming on problems, solutions and what the future holds in various aspects of artificial intelligence. With delegates being served tea and refreshments by robotic machines doubling up as hostesses at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, attendees had a field day imbibing the latest trends and exploring future opportunities to collaborate.
The event started smoothly with the focus on AI in transport where speakers discussed ‘transforming cities to autonomous mode’ and everyone agreed that the challenges remain on ground outside of driverless cars or semi-automatic modes, than the vehicles themselves.
“Planes have been using auto-pilot technology for something like 70 years so we have come a long way,” said Seham El Behissy, former Renault general manager, digital and connected cars. “But on the road there are other elements and each one brings with it its own challenges. Then it is also about the data in real time, it has to be good, it depends on how the user is trained to use it and the user himself and then his interaction with other users.”
Aditya Bhagat is a former banker and co-founder of Affinsys. Trescon Global
Author of research papers and an expert, El Behissy shared the dias with Dr Jassim Haji, president of International Group of Artificial Intelligence and who is working with road authorities in Bahrain and Angad Singh, the global director for innovation at Aramex.
AI with human touch
Noor Alnahhas, the CEO of nybl, another alumni of the Dubai Future Accelerators programme, gave the keynote speech and took the conversation beyond the day’s agenda on a thoughtful note.
“In the past, more was key to everything. If you wanted more oil, drill more. If you are hungry, produce more food … but now, it is less. If you want to save the climate, consume less of many things, we are trying to towards zero carbon footprints.
“If we can tie the development to betterment of human life, investment is not a question. Everyone here will talk about technology and their USPs. But it is important for all to think how to come together to make lives better. Like six weeks ago, we have collaborated with the International Humanitarian City how to deliver aid and relief items faster and better.”
Saeed Alhebsi, the advisor in the AI ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation spoke about the UAE’s Fourth Industrial Revolution strategy framework.
CNN global director Rachele Peterson moderated a panel of experts on the use cases of AI, future implementation strategies of digital transformation, challenges in current practices and real-life examples on how the experts are solving them.
All had various focus areas to approach but many agreed that unless the masses do not buy-in on the prospects, the growth rate will be hampered. Yet, Wees Abraham of Elekron Ventures warned against jumping on to the AI bandwagon because others are. “Get a consultant, but you need to have someone in the team to own it otherwise you will be sold something you never need. Technology has to be your slave, not the other way around.”
Many speakers across different sessions touched on the positive impact of AI in the times of Covid-19. “Pandemic has changed how we look at productivity, no doubt,” said Amina Abdul Rahim, head of IT in the engineering office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Day Two of the WAIS will feature an awards ceremony to celebrate some of the achievers in the field. Those wishing to attend can walk in or register here.
The 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial will open on October 7 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, bringing together 272 Arab and international artists and featuring 681 artworks across a programme of 93 events.
Running through November 15, the Biennial will transform venues across Sharjah into spaces dedicated to Arabic calligraphy, contemporary art and cultural dialogue. Locations include Calligraphy Square, Sharjah Art Museum, House of Wisdom, University of the Arts Sharjah and 1971 – Design Space.
The programme was announced by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Director of the Biennial, during a press conference attended by Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Culture, participating artists and media representatives.
(Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Director of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, speaks during the press conference announcing the 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. Photos by Muhammad Sajjad)
Balance takes centre stage
Held under the theme Balance, the 12th edition explores one of the fundamental principles of Arabic calligraphy: harmony between proportion, precision, letters and space.
Al Qaseer said the Biennial’s continued development has helped strengthen the international presence of Arabic calligraphy, while creating new opportunities for artists to connect the traditional art form with contemporary artistic practices.
The Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial was established in 2004 under the patronage and support of the Ruler of Sharjah and has since developed into an international platform for calligraphers, artists and researchers. Sharjah’s Department of Culture says the 12th edition will feature local, Arab and international participation.
26 exhibitions, 61 workshops
The Biennial programme includes 26 exhibitions and 61 art workshops, alongside lectures, seminars and visual presentations.
The participating artists represent countries across the Arab world, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Libya, Yemen and Tunisia. International participation includes artists from Italy, Sweden, China, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Germany, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries.
The 681 works span traditional calligraphy, modern and contemporary lettering, installations, murals and Islamic ornamentation.
Major exhibitions include Hilya Sharifa, Balance and Pioneers at Sharjah Art Museum. The museum will also host photography exhibitions exploring the relationship between the Arabic letter, visual culture and photography.
At House of Wisdom, Bymizan: From the Dot to the Meaning will examine the journey of the Arabic letter from its foundational dot to its completed visual and semantic form.
Other exhibitions will be presented at Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation, Emirates Fine Arts Society, 1971 – Design Space and University of the Arts Sharjah.
International seminar on Arabic calligraphy
House of Wisdom will also host an international seminar titled Arabic Calligraphy Between Authenticity and Global Pioneering. The programme will bring together researchers, academics and artists to discuss the evolution of Arabic calligraphy and its place within contemporary global art.
The Biennial is expected to welcome around 100 guests, including media professionals, lecturers, calligraphers and workshop facilitators.
Three calligraphers to be honoured
The 12th edition will honour three prominent figures in Arabic calligraphy: Khalifa Elshimy of Egypt, Belaid Hamidi of Morocco and Ali Al Hammadi of the UAE. The three artists were previously announced among the honourees for the 2026 edition.
The Biennial will also present awards for outstanding works in its General Exhibition, including the Grand Prize, awards for traditional calligraphy, modern and contemporary calligraphic arts, and a special jury award for an Emirati calligrapher.
The General Exhibition itself reflects the Biennial’s focus on both heritage and innovation, bringing together traditional approaches alongside modern lettering and installation-based works.
With its international participation and extensive exhibition and educational programme, the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2026 aims to reaffirm Arabic calligraphy as a living art form—rooted in heritage while continuing to evolve within the global contemporary art scene.
Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2026 opens October 7 with 681 artworks by 272 artists
