Saudi Arabia: SDAIA, NTDP Launch Groundbreaking AI Accelerator

GAIA 10-week accelerator program at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh seeks to enhance the Kingdom’s scientific status and pioneering position in AI. SPA
GAIA 10-week accelerator program at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh seeks to enhance the Kingdom’s scientific status and pioneering position in AI. SPA
TT
20

Saudi Arabia: SDAIA, NTDP Launch Groundbreaking AI Accelerator

GAIA 10-week accelerator program at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh seeks to enhance the Kingdom’s scientific status and pioneering position in AI. SPA
GAIA 10-week accelerator program at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh seeks to enhance the Kingdom’s scientific status and pioneering position in AI. SPA

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), in cooperation with New Native Inc., launched Tuesday GAIA, the world’s first generative artificial-intelligence (AI) early-stage accelerator program in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

GAIA 10-week accelerator program at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh seeks to enhance the Kingdom’s scientific status and pioneering position in AI and targets the entrepreneurship sector and technology startups with coaching sessions and training on mechanisms to transform innovative ideas into successful Al-driven businesses.

GAIA accelerator program aims to shed light on the Kingdom’s pioneering AI roles and creating 300 new Al companies within 36 months. It also will work to create a community for local and international AI start-ups, where they can exchange expertise and enhance cooperation.



Huawei’s Tri-Foldable Phone Hits Global Markets in a Show of Defiance Amid US Curbs 

Visitors stand in front of a giant billboard displaying the Huawei's first tri-foldable Mate XT smartphone during an event for its global launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors stand in front of a giant billboard displaying the Huawei's first tri-foldable Mate XT smartphone during an event for its global launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20

Huawei’s Tri-Foldable Phone Hits Global Markets in a Show of Defiance Amid US Curbs 

Visitors stand in front of a giant billboard displaying the Huawei's first tri-foldable Mate XT smartphone during an event for its global launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors stand in front of a giant billboard displaying the Huawei's first tri-foldable Mate XT smartphone during an event for its global launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

Huawei on Tuesday held a global launch for the industry’s first tri-foldable phone, which analysts said marked a symbolic victory for the Chinese tech giant amid US technology curbs. But challenges over pricing, longevity, supply and app constraints may limit its success.

Huawei said at a launch event in Kuala Lumpur that the Huawei Mate XT, first unveiled in China five months ago, will be priced at 3,499 euros ($3,662). Although dubbed a trifold, the phone has three mini-panels and folds only twice. The company says it's the thinnest foldable phone at 3.6 millimeters (0.14 inches), with a 10.2-inch screen similar to an Apple iPad.

“Right now, Huawei kind of stands alone as an innovator” with the trifold design, said Bryan Ma, vice president of device research with the market intelligence firm International Data Corporation.

Huawei reached the position despite “not getting access to chips, to Google services. All these things basically have been huge roadblocks in front of Huawei,” Ma said, adding that the “resurgence we're seeing from them over the past year has been quite a bit of a victory."

Huawei, China’s first global tech brand, is at the center of a US-China battle over trade and technology. Washington in 2019 severed Huawei’s access to US components and technology, including Google’s music and other smartphone services, making Huawei's phone less appealing to users. It has also barred global vendors from using US technology to produce components for Huawei.

American officials say Huawei is a security risk, which the company denies. China’s government has accused Washington of misusing security warnings to contain a rising competitor to US technology companies.

Huawei launched the Mate XT in China on Sept. 20 last year, the same day Apple launched its iPhone 16 series in global markets. But with its steep price tag, the Mate XT “is not a mainstream product that people are going to jump for,” Ma said.

At the Kuala Lumpur event, Huawei also unveiled its MatePad Pro tablet and Free Arc, its first open-ear earbuds with ear hooks and other wearable devices.

While Huawei’s cutting-edge devices showcase its technological prowess, its long-term success remains uncertain given ongoing challenges over global supply chain constraints, chip availability and limitations on the software ecosystem, said Ruby Lu, an analyst with the research firm TrendForce.

“System limitations, particularly the lack of Google Mobile Services, means its international market potential remains constrained,” Lu said.

IDC's Ma said Huawei dominated the foldable phone market in China with 49% market share last year. In the global market, it had 23% market share, trailing behind Samsung's 33% share in 2024, he said. IDC predicted that total foldable phone shipments worldwide could surge to 45.7 million units by 2028, from over 20 million last year.

While most major brands have entered the foldable segments, Lu said Apple has yet to release a competing product.

“Once Apple enters the market, it is expected to significantly influence and stimulate further growth in the foldable phone sector,” Lu added.