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Alibaba Cloud opens second data centre in Dubai to expand AI and cloud services

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Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and artificial intelligence arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has launched its second data centre in Dubai, nine years after opening its first in the region. The expansion reflects Alibaba’s ambition to strengthen its global cloud computing footprint and support rising demand across the Middle East.

The launch is part of Alibaba’s broader commitment to invest 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) over three years in cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities. Although the company did not disclose specific financial details for the Dubai facility, it said the move aims to empower both public and private sectors in adopting artificial intelligence technologies more rapidly.

“The Middle East’s advantageous position in fast-tracking AI adoption and its collaborative ecosystem are crucial enablers for companies to thrive,” said Eric Wan, vice president of Alibaba Cloud International and regional general manager of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a regional leader in AI development, investing billions to diversify its economy beyond oil. In May, the UAE announced plans to build the largest AI campus outside the United States through partnerships with Nvidia, OpenAI, and other global tech firms.

At the GITEX Global technology exhibition in Dubai, Alibaba Cloud also revealed new partnerships with companies such as Abu Dhabi-backed Wio Bank, aiming to use its local data infrastructure to accelerate AI and fintech deployment across the region.

Dubai to Launch WOOHOO, a Restaurant Featuring an AI Chef

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Dubai is set to introduce WOOHOO, a restaurant promising a futuristic dining experience, opening in September near the iconic Burj Khalifa. While human cooks will prepare the dishes for now, the restaurant’s menu, ambiance, and service will be orchestrated by “Chef Aiman,” an AI culinary model.

Chef Aiman—named by combining “AI” and “man”—has been trained on decades of food science, molecular data, and over a thousand recipes from global cuisines, explained Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO’s founders. Although Aiman cannot taste or smell dishes like a traditional chef, it analyzes key culinary elements such as texture, acidity, and umami to create innovative flavor and ingredient combinations.

Human chefs, led by acclaimed Dubai-based chef Reif Othman, then refine these AI-generated recipes by tasting and providing feedback. This collaboration helps improve Aiman’s understanding beyond data alone. Aiman stated in an interview that its role is to complement, not replace, human creativity in cooking.

The AI is also programmed to develop recipes that make use of ingredients often discarded in kitchens, like meat trimmings and fats, aiming to reduce food waste. The founders hope that in the future, Aiman’s technology could be licensed worldwide to help restaurants boost sustainability and creativity.

Dubai’s Emirates Signs Preliminary Deal to Add Crypto Payments via Crypto.com

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Emirates airline has signed a preliminary agreement with Crypto.com to enable customers to pay for flights using the crypto trading platform’s payment service, the carrier’s parent company announced on Wednesday. The partnership is expected to launch next year and aims to attract younger, tech-savvy travelers who prefer using digital currencies, said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rapidly positioned itself as a global hub for cryptocurrency businesses, with numerous firms establishing operations or expanding in the region. The country already permits cryptocurrency payments in sectors such as real estate, education fees, and transportation.

Dubai, in particular, has been proactive in regulating the virtual asset industry, establishing the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in 2022. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), one of the city’s largest free zones, currently hosts over 650 crypto companies.

Other Gulf-based airlines have also embraced cryptocurrencies recently. For example, Dubai-listed Air Arabia announced in May that it would accept AE Coin, a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin, for flight bookings.

The Emirates-Crypto.com deal marks a significant step toward integrating cryptocurrencies into mainstream airline payments and reflects the broader trend of digital currencies gaining traction in the Gulf region.