Daniel Shepherd
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Articles by Daniel Shepherd
مؤتمر رابطة GSMA – MWC 26 الدوحة: الكشف عن نخبة جديدة من المتحدثين والعارضين المؤثرين في توجهات القطاع
14 أكتوبر 2026 – لندن: أعلنت رابطة GSMA عن مشاركة نخبة من المتحدثين والعارضين في مؤتمر MWC26الدوحة، الحدث الأبرز في قطاع الاتصالات في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا، والذي يعود إلى مركز الدوحة للمعارض والمؤتمرات (DECC) خلال الفترة من 8 إلى 10 نوفمبر 2026، وذلك بالتزامن مع افتتاح مؤتمر المندوبين المفوضين للاتحاد الدولي للاتصالات (PP-26).
Relive the top moments for our momentous CISO50 & Future Security Awards 2026
The CISO50 & Future Security Awards 2026 recognised the organisations and individuals advancing cybersecurity as a foundation for business confidence and the UAE’s digital ambitions. tahawultech.com Intro
GSMA MWC26 Doha: New agenda-setting speaker and exhibitor line-up revealed
The GSMA has announced an agenda-setting speaker and exhibitor line-up for MWC26 Doha, MENA’s premier connectivity event, which returns to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) on 8-10 November 2026, co-located with the opening days of ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26). The second edition of MWC26 Doha will bring together leaders in 5G, AI, digital infrastructure and policy to define the region’s next phase of connectivity and digital transformation.
AI, security and technology sovereignty reshape enterprise priorities across the UAE
Walid Yehia, Managing Director – South Gulf, Dell Technologies. Dell Technologies recently released findings from its Modern Enterprise Readiness Study 2026, conducted with independent research firm Vanson Bourne. The study surveyed 1,500 business and IT decision-makers across EMEA, including the UAE, as part of a global survey of 2,950 respondents in 35 countries.
The intelligent meeting room – How AI is redefining the modern meeting room
Manish Bakshi, Managing Director of BenQ Middle East, explores how AI-powered interactive displays are transforming enterprise collaboration through intelligent conferencing, enhanced security and smarter workplace experiences. The modern meeting room is being asked to do far more than display a presentation.
ASUS unveils the Ultraslim ExpertBook A7 built for modern mobility
ASUS unveiled the ExpertBook A7 (14″ Intel), designed to set the new measure for the modern workday through refined aesthetics, effortless agility, and everyday assurance. Its seamless all-metal construction, clean lines, beautiful finish, and precision details create a sophisticated look that feels polished from every angle.
The Bay recognises Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a renewed focus on overall wellness
This October, The Bay Health Club joins the global Pinktober movement, inviting women to embrace a month dedicated to health, awareness and self-care. Located within Al Barari, the club provides a serene sanctuary away from the city’s busy pace, where movement, mindfulness and wellbeing come together in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A frightfully fun Halloween brunch awaits at The Market, Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
The Market at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City invites guests to celebrate Halloween with a family brunch filled with festive flavours, themed décor and entertainment. Taking place on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the celebration promises an afternoon of delicious dining and Halloween fun for all ages. Guests can get into the spirit of the occasion as The Market transforms with Halloween decorations, setting the scene for a lively gathering with family and friends.
Building the foundations of an intelligent economy
Fayez Abu Awad, Policy Director MENA at GSMA, discusses how AI, advanced connectivity and strategic digital infrastructure investments can accelerate economic transformation across Qatar and the wider Middle East. 1. What role do you expect AI to play in accelerating Qatar’s and the wider region’s shift towards intelligent economies over the next five years?
Anthropic and HCLTech enter into AI enterprise agreement
HCLTech, an Indian IT firm, recently entered into an agreement with Anthropic to establish a separate business unit designed to accelerate enterprise adoption of agentic AI. This new unit will also have a strong focus on safety, cybersecurity and governance. HCLTech stated its services team will build industry solutions and offerings powered by Anthropic’s Claude, Cowork and Claude Code, while its HCLSoftware business unit will embed these capabilities into select enterprise products.
Nvidia shows interest in start-up Reflection AI
Nvidia is reportedly in talks to either acquire or increase its investment in the open-source start-up Reflection AI. This news arrives as the organisation seeks to strengthen its position in open-weight AI models and challenge the lower costs of Chinese rivals. Sources told the Financial Times (FT) discussions remain at an early stage and could lead to a full acquisition, further equity investment or a deal covering chips and computing capacity.
Microsoft showcases new Maia 300 custom AI chip
Microsoft recently showcased the third-generation of its custom in-house AI chip, as part of the organisation’s plan to reduce reliance on purchasing processors from Nvidia. The Maia 300 chip will be used for the tech giant’s multi-gigawatt deployments in 2027, making it the primary inference system for Microsoft products and services. Reuters reported it plans to potentially deploy more than 1 million of the chips next year.
F5 appoints Mohammed Al Tamimi to bolster sales team in the Gulf region
F5 has recently appointed Mohammed Al Tamimi as Senior Director, Field Sales Management for the Gulf region. Al Tamimi will strengthen the local team as it continues to help organisations deliver and secure every application and API, wherever they run. Throughout his 20-plus-year career, Al Tamimi has built high-performing teams, established sustainable partner ecosystems, and successfully scaled businesses across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META).
Rubrik unveils Rubrik Code Guardian, harnessing Anthropic’s Claude Mythos 5 to prioritise cyber risks
As autonomous agents make the digital world more dangerous, Rubrik, the Security and AI Operations Company, unveils Rubrik Code Guardian, a custom Claude Mythos 5 harness that red-teams customers’ code based on an air-gapped copy of their repository. “Rubrik is one of the partners we are working with to put Claude Mythos 5’s cyber capabilities in defenders’ hands, so they can find and validate attack paths before attackers do”, said Michael Moore, Cybersecurity lead at Anthropic.
Rubrik launches lakehouse protection with Apache Iceberg data on AWS
Rubrik, the security and AI operations company, recently announced Rubrik Apache Iceberg Protection, the company’s enterprise data protection capability for Apache Iceberg on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The new solution expands Rubrik’s cloud data security and AI governance portfolio on AWS. It provides customers running Apache Iceberg the ability to recover complete, queryable tables following a cyber incident, so they respond and recover with greater ease.
Rubrik adds new MCP support to expand access to agentic cyber resilience
Arvind Nithrakashyap, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Rubrik. Rubrik, the Security and AI Operations Company, recently announced Rubrik MCP (Model Context Protocol), giving an organisation’s AI agents a secure, programmable path to Rubrik’s data, identity, and application intelligence.
VAD Technologies named WEKA distributor in the Middle East
VAD Technologies, a value-added distributor of enterprise technologies headquartered in Dubai, recently announced it has signed a distribution agreement with WEKA, the AI data and memory infrastructure company, to bring WEKA® NeuralMesh™ software and solutions to channel partners across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other markets in the region.
Cisco highlights how AI tokenomics can help organisations manage AI costs at scale
Ahmed El Saadi, Vice President MEA & TRC at Splunk, a Cisco Company. Cisco is introducing a dedicated Tokenomics capability within Splunk Agent Observability, helping organisations track and attribute AI token expenditure in real time as they look to optimise AI at scale. AI Tokenomics focuses on understanding and optimising token consumption while connecting AI spend to business outcomes.
Beyond Pinktober: The health checks we shouldn’t leave too late
Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings renewed attention to the importance of breast health, early awareness and timely screening. While the month is largely centred around women, Sequoia Clinic notes that breast cancer can affect both women and men, making it important for everyone to recognise unusual changes and understand when medical advice or further assessment may be needed.
Mannai explores sports tech and the Gulf’s connected future
Sumanta Roy, Group ICT President, Mannai Corporation, discusses the evolution of connected stadiums, technology’s role in athlete performance and fan engagement, and the Gulf’s opportunity to build secure, scalable digital infrastructure. Previous ArticleRiverbed study finds 90% of organisations in Saudi Arabia meet or exceed AI ROI goalsNext ArticleCisco highlights how AI tokenomics can help organisations manage AI costs at scale tahawultech.com Intro
The White Company introduces timeless baby gifts for winter new arrivals
As the season of gifting approaches, The White Company offers a considered collection of baby gifts designed to celebrate one of life’s most special milestones. From beautifully soft organic cotton essentials to cosy knitted pieces and timeless keepsakes, the British lifestyle brand brings its signature focus on quality, comfort and understated design to its baby collection.
Nespresso in UAE reintroduces gingerbread and peppermint pinwheel
Nespresso in the UAE welcomes back two highly anticipated limited-edition coffees this month: Gingerbread and Peppermint Pinwheel. Inspired by classic holiday flavours, the returning favourites join Nespresso’s seasonal collection for Vertuo systems. From a quiet morning at home to an afternoon break at work or a cup shared with family and friends, both bring a festive touch to everyday coffee moments.
A little boo with your brunch: Halloween takes over Nalu
This Halloween, Nalu is adding a spooky twist to its award-winning Saturday brunch with Boo & Brunch, a family- and pet-friendly afternoon filled with delicious food, lively entertainment and just the right amount of mischief! Taking place on Saturday 31 October from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the waterfront venue will be transformed with Halloween décor and playful touches for the occasion.
SoftBank Group looks to target $100 billion in Gulf funding
SoftBank Group is reportedly targeting up to $100 billion in funding to scale up the company’s AI ambitions. Apparently there are a number of investors in the Gulf in line to strike partnerships. The Financial Times (FT) reported that founder and CEO Masayoshi Son has been in discussions with senior figures across the Middle East including in the UAE over possible fundraising, although the outlet added there is no guarantee talks with the investors will amount to anything.
Google Cloud partners with CaixaBank on AI push
Google Cloud and CaixaBank recently extended their existing partnership to the year 2033. This news arrives as the bank looks to expand its use of AI and cloud technologies to serve 13 million customers. Under the agreement, CaixaBank will deploy Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise platform to develop and manage AI agents. The bank expects the agents to help employees analyse complex financial information, automate repetitive tasks and streamline everyday workflows.
SpaceX to acquire additional low-band spectrum
SpaceX recently entered into a deal to buy a low-band spectrum portfolio from Grain Management, this is part of the company’s increasing ambition to compete with U.S. carriers for mobile customers. The transaction for all of Grain Management’s nationwide portfolio of up to 14MHz of paired spectrum in the 800MHz band is subject to regulatory approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Financial terms are not available.
Circus SE brings its autonomous AI food production robot system to the UAE
Circus SE has unveiled its CA-1 AI-powered autonomous food production system in Abu Dhabi. The launch marks the company’s first deployment outside of Europe, bringing this first of its kind technology to the UAE. CA-1 is being deployed with Royal Prestige Food Contracts, one of the UAE’s leading contract caterers.
Exelixi AI appoints TechBridge Distribution MEA as authorised distributor for UAE
(L-R) Suren Vedantham, CEO, Exelixi AI & Steve Lockie, Managing Director of TechBridge MEA. Exelixi AI, an enterprise Agentic AI products company, recently announced the appointment of TechBridge Distribution MEA as its authorised distributor for the United Arab Emirates.
Sovereignty in the AI age: A foundation for the Gulf’s next phase of innovation
Abdelilah Nejjari, Managing Director, Gulf, Levant, Türkiye, Caucasus and Central Asia, Cisco, outlines how the value AI can deliver for the region depends on the security, privacy and control of data in this exclusive op-ed. For years, discussions surrounding digital infrastructure in the Gulf have largely focused on pace: how quickly services could be digitised, networks expanded and new technologies adopted. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the nature of that discussion.
School holidays at Mina Seyahi: Three resorts, one family escape
From waterpark adventures to beachfront downtime, Destination Mina Seyahi brings families together for a holiday escape. With three resorts to choose from, a lively Kids Club programme and unlimited access to Jungle Bay Waterpark, the staycation offers plenty to keep young guests entertained while parents enjoy a holiday of their own.
DAS Club launches its first sport abaya, DAS SPORT, with The Walking Club
This October, DAS Club is taking a new step towards women’s wellbeing with the launch of The Walking Club, a community initiative bringing women together through movement, connection and breast cancer awareness. After a year of development, DAS Club is proud to introduce its first Sport Abaya, thoughtfully designed with breathable fabric to make walking and everyday movement more comfortable while maintaining modesty.
Welcome to Gemini at Work 2026: Introducing the Gemini agent
Recently at Gemini at Work 2026, Google Cloud CEO, Thomas Kurian made a number of announcements including: The new Gemini agent, an always-on digital assistant that answers your questions, handles your knowledge work, creates your images and media, and writes and runs code. Inline in Workspace, Gemini works directly inside Gmail, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Chat, and Calendar, carrying the same memory, skills, and controls it has everywhere else.
Dell Technologies Forum UAE to explore how businesses can scale AI, modernise infrastructure and build progress
Walid Yehia, Managing Director, South Gulf, Dell Technologies. Dell Technologies Forum 2026 is coming to Dubai, UAE on 15 October 2026. The event will convene business and technology leaders to discuss how organisations can scale AI, modernise infrastructure and build more resilient digital environments. Attendees will hear from Dell Technologies executives and specialists, experience live demonstrations and connect with peers.
The WBA makes a case for Wi-Fi inclusion in 6G
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) recently advocated for the inclusion of Wi-Fi technology in future 6G standards, citing the widespread availability as a factor. The specialist Wi-Fi industry body believes the next connectivity shift will fall short without the technology and called on the wider telecoms industry to look at ways it can work alongside mobile networks to deliver ubiquitous coverage.
Samsung Electronics forecasts a record Q3
Samsung Electronics recently forecast an operating profit of KRW107.4 trillion ($80.2 billion) in its preliminary Q3 figures. If attained this would be the first time the company would surpass the KRW100 trillion milestone. With its chip business continuing to thrive, Samsung’s projected quarterly operating profit figure is a 782% increase year-on-year. Revenue is expected to hit around KRW195 trillion, up almost 127%.
Grab a spoon: Mama Crumble arrives at Ripe Market for the season
Some desserts are simply memories you can eat. A warm crumble, golden on top, with custard poured generously over it, is one of them. It is this feeling that sits at the heart of Mama Crumble, the mother-and-daughter dessert brand now making itself at home at Ripe Market, Academy Park. From 10 October, its outlet will serve every day of the week for an eight-month residency, bringing a little comfort to Dubai’s cooler months.
X Distrikt brings four worlds of interactive entertainment under one roof at Dubai Festival City Mall
As entertainment continues to move beyond passive experiences, X Distrikt is bringing together four distinct worlds of interactive play, technology, adventure and discovery under one roof at Dubai Festival City Mall.
Nextgen relocates global headquarters to the UAE
Nextgen, a UK-founded AI transformation firm combining strategy, transformation and AI engineering, has relocated its global headquarters to the United Arab Emirates, placing the company at the centre of one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for business AI adoption. Founded in 2012, Nextgen brings together more than 75 specialists across five offices supporting over 50 enterprise clients.
The region’s biggest winter festival is coming to Dubai
DXB Winter Festival will take over the waterfront beside Dubai Festival City Mall from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, bringing together festive food, independent makers and live entertainment across an 20,000 square meter outdoor destination with over 150 vendors. Designed as a new seasonal experience for residents and visitors, the festival will run throughout December and into the New Year, with programming built around some of the season’s biggest occasions.
Stretch, reset and recharge at Nalu every Saturday
Nalu, the laid-back dining destination at Surf Abu Dhabi, is inviting guests to embrace a more mindful start to the weekend with a series of wellness mornings combining outdoor yoga, sound healing and a specially curated breakfast. Presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Networking (ADSN), the experience begins at 8am with a 60-minute outdoor yoga and sound healing session, offering an opportunity to unwind, reconnect and ease into the day against the tranquil surroundings of Al Hudayriyat Island.
Nvidia highlights open-source AI findings
Nvidia recently highlighted work to help operators rethink dependence on closed AI systems. The company went on to promote open-source models to give carriers direct control over network automation and customer workflows.
Apple collaborates with LG on security accessories
Apple is reportedly partnering up with the South Korean giant LG Electronics to develop a range of security accessories. This move is seen as part of the iPhone maker’s upcoming push into smart home devices. According to Bloomberg, Apple will introduce a smart deadbolt lock, an indoor and outdoor security camera, a floodlight camera and a thermostat, all co-developed with LG. The products will carry LG’s brand, with the electronics giant handling manufacturing and product support.
Seclore targets regional growth through AI-ready data protection
Uraz Farukh, Senior Vice President – META, Seclore, discusses evolving data governance requirements, AI-related security challenges and expansion across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa at GISEC Global 2026. Previous ArticleSeclore champions persistent data protection for secure AI adoptionNext ArticleApple collaborates with LG on security accessories tahawultech.com Intro
Seclore champions persistent data protection for secure AI adoption
Justin Endres, Chief Revenue Officer, Seclore, discusses cyber resilience, regulatory compliance and partner-led growth at GISEC Global 2026, highlighting the need to protect sensitive data wherever employees and AI applications use it. Previous ArticleSeclore puts intelligent data protection at the heart of enterprise AINext ArticleSeclore targets regional growth through AI-ready data protection tahawultech.com Intro
Seclore puts intelligent data protection at the heart of enterprise AI
Speaking at GISEC Global 2026, Dr. Vishal Gauri, CEO, Seclore, discusses unified data discovery, classification and persistent protection, and why AI adoption demands smarter security controls. Previous ArticleHoneywell strengthens cybersecurity foundations for industrial autonomyNext ArticleSeclore champions persistent data protection for secure AI adoption tahawultech.com Intro
CYBERAIQ AG establishes advanced agentic security center of excellence build on Microsoft tech stack
(L-R) Stephan Berner, Founder and CEO, CYBERAIQ AG & Ahmed Hamzawy, Chief Partner Officer, Microsoft. CYBERAIQ AG recently announced the establishment of an Advanced Agentic Security Center of Excellence, delivered on Microsoft’s stack, to help government, regulated industry and enterprise customers across EMEA adopt AI securely and modernise security operations for the agentic era.
Business context holds key to autonomous enterprise AI
Amir Shodiev, Owner & CEO, Nazemius LTD – MARK AI, outlines how the company is developing technology to connect organisational memory, evidence and governance in this exclusive opinion piece. Artificial intelligence has moved rapidly from experimentation into everyday business. The next challenge is enabling AI systems to understand the organisations in which they operate, including the history, assumptions and constraints behind business decisions.
Business context holds key to autonomous enterprise AI
Amir Shodiev, Owner & CEO, Nazemius LTD – MARK AI, outlines how the company is developing technology to connect organisational memory, evidence and governance in this exclusive opinion piece. Artificial intelligence has moved rapidly from experimentation into everyday business. The next challenge is enabling AI systems to understand the organisations in which they operate, including the history, assumptions and constraints behind business decisions.
A season of festive delights awaits at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai
This festive season, The St. Regis Downtown Dubai invites guests to embrace the spirit of celebration through a series of enchanting experiences at the heart of Downtown Dubai. Set against panoramic views of the Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa, the season brings together indulgent Christmas feasts, from elegant afternoon teas, curated menus, festive soireés, and bespoke gifting collections.
Dyson launches four new Airwrap Co-anda2x™ attachments
Dyson introduces four new and improved attachments to the Dyson Airwrap Co‑anda2x™ multi‑styler and dryer, giving Airwrap lovers new styling options with enhanced airflow engineering and improved ergonomic design. Engineered to deliver superior performance with no heat damage, the new attachments harness the power of the Dyson Gen 2™ motor and its 2x air pressure to shape, smooth and define hair with greater ease and precision.
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