A&S Middle East Magazine

Photo: AJ Ahamad / Pexels The BCG Intelligent Cities Index 2026 assesses how effectively cities use artificial intelligence, digital capabilities, and governance to improve outcomes for residents. The study covers 61 cities across 39 countries. The index evaluates cities across five domains: resident outcomes, intelligent city strategy, adoption, ways of working, and enablers. While London ranked first overall, no single city led across all five areas.

Photo: Hanwha Vision According to Hanwha Vision, the new cameras combine ultra-sensitive thermal imaging with AI-based detection and classification of people, vehicles and vessels, enabling surveillance in darkness and difficult weather conditions. The series offers thermal sensitivity below 16mK NETD, allowing the cameras to capture small temperature differences and improve object classification in low-visibility environments.

ASSA ABLOY announced the acquisition of Classic Brass Inc., a manufacturer of premium architectural hardware based in Jamestown, New York. Founded in 1996, Classic Brass produces handcrafted cabinet and door hardware, with a focus on customizable products for architects, designers, builders and homeowners. The company employs around 80 people and operates its main office and manufacturing facility in Jamestown. Classic Brass recorded sales of approximately USD 17 million in 2025.

South Korean biometric technology company Xperix has entered into a strategic partnership with Alyam Technical Trading to pursue opportunities involving Saudi government agencies and public institutions. Alyam selected Xperix as its only official Korean biometric partner after evaluating the company’s business track record, technology capabilities, product competitiveness and international experience for potential Saudi public-sector projects.

Shaffra said the new operation will serve the Caspian region and introduce three of its enterprise AI workforce solutions: AI Call Center, AI Sales Center and AI Project Manager. Shaffra develops autonomous AI workforce systems for enterprises and governments, with deployments across public-sector organizations in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Photo: Emirates The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) recently showcased its smart travel ecosystem, which uses artificial intelligence and digital technologies to strengthen border security while accelerating passenger processing. A key part of the ecosystem is the Red Carpet biometric corridor at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3.

e& UAE said it is the first telecom provider in the region to embed Agentic AI directly into its core connectivity services, making the technology available through products already used by businesses. The capability will be included in Business Pro fixed internet services and enterprise fixed-connectivity offerings, including Digital Internet and Digital Premium Internet. Mobile customers will be able to add the AI services to their existing packages.

The partnership will introduce BIO-key’s PortalGuard Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform to educational institutions in the Kingdom, combining BIO-key’s authentication technology with Maktabi Tech’s regional customer network, cybersecurity expertise, and implementation capabilities. Maktabi Tech specializes in education-sector digital transformation and cybersecurity across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE.

The company’s current access control portfolio is structured around both centralized enterprise deployments and cloud-first environments, allowing organizations to select architectures based on site complexity, infrastructure and operational requirements. For larger enterprise environments, BioStar X serves as Suprema’s unified security platform, bringing biometric access control and security monitoring into a centralized management environment.

Photo: HID The solution integrates HID’s ATOM document reader and U.ARE.U facial recognition module with Soloinsight’s CloudGate visitor management and physical identity and access management (PIAM) platform and a kiosk developed by Connected Technology Solutions (CTS), according to an HID announcement.