Dubai AI Week interviews - we were there!
Omi Oyama (AVA AI) from Nigerian delegation, and Ritesh Kanjee (Augmented AI) from SA delegation tell us what they saw
Omi Iyamu, CTO at AVA AI
1. How worthwhile was AI Week to attend?
I found AI Week to be an incredible experience. I immersed myself in some of the more than 250 sessions featuring over 700 speakers, and I came away inspired by cutting-edge announcements, such as the AED 2 billion du and Microsoft data centre partnership and the launch of Dubai’s first AI PhD program. The energy in the halls and the chance to connect with innovators from around the world made every moment count.
2. Did you close any good new business, or promising opportunities?
While I didn’t close any deals, I did kick off deep discussions about our AI product offerings and AI strategy consulting.
3. Is there significant scope for technology trade between Middle East customers and Nigerian tech developers?
Absolutely. As the UAE and its neighbours integrate AI into energy, healthcare, finance, and public services, there is strong demand for cost effective, skilled development teams. Nigerian tech professionals bring proven expertise and competitive pricing that align perfectly with this surge in need, making them ideal partners for Middle East customers.
4. What is your biggest take home in terms of insights or meetings you’ve had?
My most standout insight was that acceleration has become the central paradigm of the UAE’s AI strategy. They are moving beyond innovation and policy into rapid, large-scale deployment of AI solutions. Seeing how government backed initiatives can launch at breakneck speed taught me that quick time to market will be the ultimate game changer in this space.
Ritesh Kanjee, Augmented AI
1. How worthwhile was AI Week to attend?
Definitely worthwhile to attend Dubai AI Week. Dubai is trying to foster a hub of innovation, a new Silicon Valley. It's getting talent from not only Dubai but from all around the world, and enabling startups and companies to grow, and to nurture them and accelerate them.
In people's own countries they are not able to get that.
There were German guys doing skyscraper cleaning with drones, but couldn't pass local regulations. Another from Australia didn't work out because they couldn’t get regulatory approvals.
Dubai is very open minded at every level. Many other countries have a lot to learn in terms of fostering innovation.
2. Did you close any good new business, or promising opportunities?
I did close a few new business (deals), and there were some promising opportunities. Can't mention who right now.
At Augmented AI we do video generation from end to end, voiceover, background music, so you can go from a topic to uploading your video to Social Media in under ten minutes. A lot of people were interested, coming by our stand to see our offering.
4. What is your biggest take-home in terms of insights or meetings you’ve had?
Dubai is the place to be, it's a big hub for innovators. It's where feel wanted (as a startup). In SA you feel alone. There are accelerators here, but in Dubai it's ingrained into every level of governance.
It makes you feel wanted, makes you feel like you want to build applications.
In Dubai itself there is interest from the tourism authority {which generates a vast amount of video content).
The Dubai Chamber of Digital Technology set up meetings, made introductions to local customer prospects.
(Note: Both interviews lightly edited for clarity and length)