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UAE small businesses embrace ChatGPT as tech allows productivity boost


Small companies across the United Arab Emirates are embracing ChatGPT to free up their time from doing mundane tasks which allows them to spend more time on creativity, business leaders told Al Arabiya English.

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ChatGPT is a piece of artificial intelligence that can converse with users and answer questions when asked. It can also help people with tasks such as writing copy using the supplied prompts.

Large companies including Meta and Shopify already use the technology, and Buzzfeed said in January it would begin using it to enhance quizzes on its website and personalize some content for audiences, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time. Such announcements by large companies have led to speculation that the technology could put people in certain jobs, such as content creation, out of work.

But for startups who don’t have access to the large resources of a multinational company, the technology could revolutionize the way they work.

“Rather than seeing those jobs eliminated, companies might be looking to [use ChatGPT to] make them more efficient, and essentially to free up their time.” Kurt Muehmel, AI strategic advisor at Paris-based Dataiku told Al Arabiya English.

One company using ChatGPT is Shaffra, a Dubai-based firm that uses the Metaverse, a virtual reality space that simulates scenes, to help companies plan business strategies such as construction projects.

“As a startup, our resources are kind of scarce,” said COO Alfred Manassah Shaffra, explaining that his time is now “significantly more efficient” because the technology does laborious content-based tasks for the company, thereby freeing his team to focus on jobs like product development.

“It pushes us to become more creative,” Shaffra added. “In our team we are [now] focused on developing our technology and getting more clients.”

Another UAE company looking to leverage the technology is Growdash. The startup works with restaurants on their advertising campaigns for platforms such as Deliveroo and Careem.

The company is hoping to use the AI tool to, for example, provide insight on why a particular marketing campaign has not performed well and how it can then be improved, as well as with manual tasks such as creating combo menus for restaurants.

“I see it [the technology] as an opportunity instead of competition because it’s so versatile,” said Makrukh Mir, cofounder.

Al Arabiya English spoke to several other UAE startups already using ChatGPT including EpicJam, CloudSource and GrubTech.

Head of EpicJam Hassan Sarwar told Al Arabiya English that it helps him with written tasks and creating more targeted content, while managing director of recruitment firm CloudSource said ChatGPT helps the company do things such as build job descriptions.

But ChatGPT is far from perfect, and flaws of the technology include it giving inaccurate responses at times and it being unclear on its information sources, Muehmel said.

It could be sourcing material from websites such as Wikipedia, which might not necessarily be accurate, he added.

“These technologies have a propensity to provide inaccurate responses. The challenge is when it responds confidently in the tone of an expert,” Muehmel said, adding that he once asked ChatGPT what date French scientist Louis Pasteur was born, and it gave him the wrong answer.

“Sometimes it just imagines responses because it’s not actually querying its database of information. What it’s doing is trying to create a sentence that sounds right,” he added.

AI regulation

Muehmel, alongside others, said more regulation is needed to deal with such problems arising from tech such as ChatGPT.

The EU is currently proposing legislation to further regulate the technology, which means, AI like ChatGPT could be rated from “minimal risk” to “unacceptable risk.”

EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Reuters in February that new proposed artificial intelligence rules will aim to tackle concerns about the risks around the ChatGPT chatbot and AI technology.

Under the EU draft rules, ChatGPT is considered a general-purpose AI system which can be used for multiple purposes including high-risk ones such as the selection of candidates for jobs and credit scoring.

And in a sign that smaller companies in the UAE may not become fully reliant on the tool soon, most are using it as a base for their work.

“We never take it as it is,” said Shaffra adding that he always proof-reads and rewrites the content.

“We don’t totally copy it, but it’s a great base,” added CloudSource’s Toffrey. “We can tailor things how we see fit.”

Read more:

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Saudi Fund for Development Celebrates 50 Years of Global Impact with Over $20 Billion in Development Contributions

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) celebrated its 50th anniversary in Riyadh today, under
the theme “50 Years of Global Impact.”The event brought together key development partners to
reflect on the SFD’s significant contributions to sustainable development worldwide. Over the
past five decades, the SFD has allocated over $20 billion, financing more than 800 development
projects and programs in vital sectors, including social infrastructure (education, healthcare,
water and sewage, and housing and urban development), communication and transportation
(roads, railways, airports and seaports), energy, agriculture, mining and industry, and others.
Since its inception in 1974, the SFD has been the international development arm of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and has provided critical support to over 100 developing nations around the
world. With a strong focus on supporting countries to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), the SFD has played a pivotal role in driving sustainable development in Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
During the event, SFD Chairman H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized the importance of
collaboration in driving global development. He highlighted that SFD’s success is deeply rooted
in its partnerships, with 27 development projects and programs in 23 developing countries in
2023 co-financed with other funders. He also underscored the need to forge new partnerships and
strengthen existing ones to create a world where every individual has the opportunity to reach
their full potential.
Reflecting on this significant milestone, the SFD CEO , Mr. Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-
Marshad, stated: “As we celebrate five decades of impactful work, we are committed, now more
than ever, to supporting developing countries on their journey to economic self-reliance and
resilience. Our goal is to ensure that all children can go to school, that education is not a
privilege but something every child should have access to, and that families have access to
healthcare and basic vital services. Equally, we focus on critical infrastructure development, like
building roads and enhancing airports and sea ports, so that countries can thrive and engage in
economic activities and trade. This work is not just about financing; it’s about tangibly
improving lives, creating opportunities, empowering communities, and building a more
prosperous future.”
On the sidelines of the 50 th Anniversary Gala, the SFD and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
signed a new $25 million agreement to co-finance a renewable energy development project in the
Solomon Islands. This marks the first project for SFD in the Solomon Islands. The primary aim

of the project is to develop renewable energy infrastructure, reduce dependency on fossil fuels,
and promote sustainable development in the region.
This agreement builds on SFD’50 years of transformative impact through development projects
that have spanned Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern
Europe.
This includes key projects such as the Metolong Dam in Lesotho, which received $25 million in
funding and now provides potable water to 280,000 people, enhancing water security and public
hygiene and health in the region. This is just one of the 433 projects across Africa, with a total
funding of $11.5 billion, which focuses on critical areas such as infrastructure and water security.
In Asia, the SFD has funded 271 projects with a total funding of $7.8 billion. One notable
example is the SFD’s contribution to the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project in Pakistan, which
has an overall project cost of $240 million. The projects contributes to the country’s energy
security and flood resilience by generating 800 megawatts of renewable energy and storing 1.6
million cubic meters of water.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the SFD has financed 21 projects, totaling $951 million
USD. This includes rehabilitating the Water and Sewage System in Havana, Cuba, where the
SFD has allocated $35 million to enhance public infrastructure. Another significant initiative is
the rebuilding of St. Jude Hospital in Saint Lucia, supported by $75 million funding, which will
contribute to providing high-quality health services to citizens in a modern and sophisticated
facility and providing sufficient medical supplies and equipment to support the effective
operation of the hospital.
In Eastern Europe, the SFD has contributed to 14 projects with a total investment of $303
million. A key initiative is the construction of the Tirana-Elbasan-Chokos-Chalf-Ploce Road,
where the SFD provided $73.8 million to rebuild essential roads and bridges, thereby boosting
regional economic activities.
During the celebration, esteemed speakers shared insights on the SFD’s pivotal role in global
development, and in championing critical partnerships and collective action and response.
Keynote speakers included:

 HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal
Foundation
 H.E. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SFD
 H.E. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group
 H.E. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank

These global development leaders emphasized the SFD’s commitment to fostering sustainable
growth in countries and communities with the most pressing developmental needs. The gala was attended by more than 500 people, including ministers, heads of regional and international organizations, ambassadors, representatives of the United and other distinguished
guests. As the SFD looks to the future, it reaffirms its mission and pledge to drive international
development efforts, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to contribute to global
stability, social progress, and economic prosperity for future generations.

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Jordan warns of escalation in southern Lebanon

Jordan warned on Sunday of the increasing escalation in southern Lebanon and a potential regional war in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah discussed supporting Lebanon, its security, stability and the safety of its people and institutions, noting the need to adhere to Security Council Resolution 1701 to reduce and prevent further escalation and protect the region from the risk of slipping into a regional war.

Qudah added that the Israeli war on Gaza and the failure to reach an exchange agreement that leads to an immediate and permanent ceasefire puts the entire region at risk of the conflict expanding.

He discussed launching an effective international movement that imposes an immediate cessation of the aggression on Gaza.

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China issues guidelines for coordinated digital, green transformation

China’s Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and nine central departments have issued new guidelines for the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Published on Saturday, the guidelines focus on two main areas: promoting the green, low-carbon development of digital industries and accelerating the green transformation of various sectors through digital technology.

They aim to accelerate the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, promote the integration of emerging technologies with green, low-carbon industries, and enhance traditional industries using digital and green technologies.

Outlining fundamental principles, the guidelines specify the roles of authorities, industry associations, universities, research institutes and businesses in driving this transition.

They provide a three-part framework covering the basic capacity, technological systems and industrial systems for digital-green integration.

Regions are encouraged to focus on high-quality development, develop new quality productive forces, leverage local resources and create specialized industries and functional advantages to accelerate coordinated digital and green development.

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