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Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed HUMAIN has made an undisclosed strategic investment in Arabic.AI and Tarjama, bringing Nour Al Hassan’s Arabic-language technology business into its growing enterprise AI ecosystem. In Dubai, Keeta Drone has resumed operations, telling Smashi Business exclusively that it is working in line with the latest government regulations and requirements, with deliveries now available in Dubai Silicon Oasis. And in Gaza, farmers are rebuilding a destroyed seed bank, recovering dozens of local crop varieties as they work to preserve agricultural heritage and maintain food production despite devastating conditions.

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EXCLUSIVE: Keeta Drone Says Innovation Must “Move Hand In Hand” With Regulation

🔹 What Is It About

Keeta Drone has resumed its drone delivery operations in Dubai, with General Manager Junwei Yang telling Smashi Business exclusively that the company is operating in line with the latest government regulations and requirements. The service is now available through the Keeta app in Dubai Silicon Oasis, offering drone delivery from more than 20 food and beverage brands.

🔹 Why It Matters

The restart brings autonomous drone delivery back into a live consumer environment in Dubai. Yang said, “innovation must move hand in hand with the regulatory framework,” highlighting Keeta’s collaboration with authorities and its focus on safe operations. The company sees the service as a step toward making drone delivery a practical part of everyday life, rather than simply a technology demonstration.

🔹 What’s Next

Keeta Drone says it plans to expand its network to more communities across Dubai. The company will continue working with regulators, government entities, technology operators and local partners as it develops its autonomous delivery network.

HUMAIN Invests In Arabic.AI And Tarjama To Expand Saudi Enterprise AI

🔹 What Is It About

Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed AI group HUMAIN has made an undisclosed strategic investment in Arabic.AI and Tarjama, founded by Nour Al Hassan. The partnership will combine HUMAIN’s infrastructure, computing and AI models with Tarjama’s Arabic-language expertise and software. The companies will initially target Saudi enterprises with AI-powered translation, document digitisation and tools capable of reading, reviewing and drafting contracts, tenders and regulatory filings.

🔹 Why It Matters

The investment gives HUMAIN an established Arabic-language AI business at the application layer, while giving Arabic.AI and Tarjama access to HUMAIN’s infrastructure and reach across major Saudi organisations. The partnership also reflects Saudi Arabia’s push to build locally relevant AI capabilities. For Al Hassan, it marks another step in Tarjama’s evolution from a translation company into an enterprise-focused Arabic AI business.

🔹 What’s Next

The companies will initially focus on three areas: an Arabic-first translation management system, digitising archives and legacy documents including handwritten material, and AI agents for enterprise paperwork. HUMAIN and Arabic.AI aim to deploy these tools across Saudi organisations, with the broader goal of moving Arabic AI from pilots into production. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Gaza Farmers Rebuild Seed Bank To Preserve Crops Amid Devastation

🔹 What Is It About

Farmers in Gaza are rebuilding a local seed bank destroyed during the war, seeking to preserve Palestinian agricultural heritage and support cultivation on the limited farmland still accessible, a Reuters feature revealed. The seed bank once held about 70 tonnes of seeds covering 42 crops. Farmers have now recovered around 32 local varieties, including watermelon, black-eyed peas and sage, storing them in a makeshift facility in Deir Al-Balah.

🔹 Why It Matters

The effort offers Gaza farmers a way to grow crops without relying entirely on imported seeds and disrupted supply chains. Local heirloom varieties can be saved and replanted, making them particularly valuable amid restrictions and shortages. But farmers and agricultural experts say the initiative remains tiny compared with the destruction of Gaza’s agricultural sector and the loss of viable farmland.

🔹 What’s Next

Farmers plan to expand the seed collection and continue cultivating seedlings despite the risks of working near restricted areas. The future of Gaza’s agricultural sector will depend heavily on access to farmland, seeds, water, supplies and security. Farmers say preserving local seeds is not only about food production, but also about protecting agricultural traditions and maintaining a connection to their land.

👨‍💻From Smashi Business’ Desk

• Huda Kattan and Dubai’s DIME burger teamed up to launch the “Huda Meal”

• Dubai's Original Ravi Restaurant has Distanced Itself From Other "Ravi" Eateries

• A commercial tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the Red Sea, 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

• Dubai-born premium activewear brand SQUATWOLF has officially entered the Saudi Arabian retail market

• Ryanair had something to say about Emirates’ new headrests… and the internet was ready

🔍In other news…

• Abu Dhabi’s G42 Weighs US Ownership to Safeguard AI Chip Access

• China’s WeRide plans 10,000 robotaxis in Saudi Arabia by 2030

• As Wynn in RAK nears opening, a Bulgaria-based supplier of slot machines and electronic table games, has been granted a gaming-related vendor licence in the UAE, the firm said in a Wednesday press release.

• Middle East’s Data Center Push Endures Under the Cloud of War

• US-Israel-Iran War insurance adds $8 to a barrel of oil

• Saudi Grain Giant Shifts Away From Black Sea as War Roils Supply

🦄 World of Startups

• ChatFeatured, Canada-based AI startup, raised $2M in a pre-seed funding round from BY Venture Partners (UAE/Lebanon) and other global investors

• Doctorbook, Syria-based healthtech platform, raised $16K in a pre-seed funding round from a group of angel investors, valuing the startup at $200K

• Carbar, Australia-based car subscription platform, is merging with Carasti, UAE-based car subscription business operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Singapore, at a combined pre-raise valuation of $74M

• Fincart, Egypt-based eCommerce enablement platform, raised $2.8M in a seed funding round

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