Fast Company Middle East

10/10/2025

Launched in November 2023, Pika is known for its Pikaffects app, which offers users a library of viral AI video effects. They include the straightforwardly named “Squish It,” which turns the subject of a video or photo into a squishy toy manipulated by a pair of AI-generated hands, and “Cake-ify It,” which slices up a subject and gives it the innards of cake.

The company is so committed to its vision of letting users insert themselves into shareable scenarios that it launched its own social video creation app, Pika: AI Video & Trend Maker, at the end of the summer.

“We really believe AI will be the next way for people to express themselves and will define the next social platform,” Demi Guo, the 26-year-old founder said the day after Sora launched. “That’s the reason we launched our app two months ago.”

With a $470 million valuation, Pika is a smaller, but prophetic player in AI video. Guo’s next move could offer another glimpse at the future of the fast-moving industry.

Read more:

Demi Guo has repeatedly been a first mover in creating viral AI video tools. Now she has to outrace the AI giants.

10/10/2025

:Mental health continues to be a challenging and often misunderstood topic in the region. Cultural taboos, social stigma, and the high cost of treatment mean that many individuals neglect their mental well-being, even when they are struggling.

A UNICEF report sheds light on the scale of the issue, estimating that one in six adolescents in the region is living with a mental disorder. Yet, mental health services remain largely confined to specialized care, with little integration into everyday healthcare or schools. This gap leaves many without timely support and early intervention.

The emergence of mental health and wellness platforms is helping bridge these gaps, offering more accessible and flexible options for care. These platforms allow individuals to seek support discreetly, often through remote or digital channels, making mental health care more approachable than ever before.

As awareness grows and digital tools evolve, these platforms play a vital role in addressing mental health challenges in the region. Here are five apps making a tangible difference for young people and families alike.

Tuhoon | O7 Therapy | لبيه | Labayh | Shezlong | Nafsi Health

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Five platforms offering therapy sessions, mood trackers, meditation and exercises more

10/10/2025

Despite GCC governments investing billions in education, digital literacy, and AI-skilling, many Gen Z employees hit a wall the moment they enter the workforce. Their first jobs are too often reduced to administrative, low-value “filler” work, leaving them disengaged, underdeveloped, and quick to quit.

“The Gulf has invested heavily in preparing young people with advanced skills, but the design of entry-level roles has not evolved at the same pace. Companies often treat juniors as additional capacity rather than future contributors,” says Dmitry Zaytsev, founder of Dubai-based HR tech startup Dandelion Civilization.

“Historic labor models in the region were designed to scale operational functions quickly,” Mahesh Shahdadpuri, founder and CEO of TASC Outsourcing Middle East, says. “This led organisations to allocate repetitive administrative tasks to junior hires while higher-value, strategic work stayed with experienced staff. This legacy design persists even as economies diversify.”

Many companies still believe that young professionals must “start at the bottom” to gain experience, says Jacob Jacob, group chief human resources officer at Aster DM Healthcare, whose workforce spans the GCC and India.

But that traditional approach risks underutilizing a more educated, tech-savvy generation ready to contribute strategically from day one.

To break the cycle, entry-level jobs need a fundamental redesign.

Instead of years of passive observation and repetitive work, Gen Z needs rotational projects, peer-led learning, continuous feedback, and early responsibility.

Read more: https://fastcompanyme.com/work-life/gen-z-is-ready-to-work-but-is-the-gulfs-job-market-ready-for-them/

09/10/2025

In a move to strengthen inclusion and enhance services for People of Determination in Abu Dhabi, the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination has launched its 2026 strategy.

The announcement was made during an extended staff meeting and aligns with the overarching vision of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi. The strategy aims to improve quality of life, support independence, and foster community integration for People of Determination through a multi-sectoral approach.

Abdullah Al Humaidan, Director-General of the Authority, described the strategy as a major milestone that reflects the organization’s evolving role. “The strategy marks a milestone in the Authority’s work, focusing on empowering People of Determination through social, educational and professional integration, and by fostering partnerships to sustain services and advance Abu Dhabi’s goal of an inclusive society,” he said.

Read more: https://fastcompanyme.com/news/zayed-authority-unveils-2026-strategy-to-empower-people-of-determination

The authority also plans to invest in human capital and innovative solutions to ensure long-term service sustainability.

09/10/2025

Technology is no longer a single vertical, it is the connective force driving global transformation. Through the usage of AI, data, cloud, quantum computing, robotics, and cybersecurity, innovation today defines competitiveness and resilience across every sector.

At GITEX GLOBAL 2025, the world’s leading AI and tech enterprises, startups, investors, along with policymakers and business leaders, will come together to showcase how frontier technologies are enabling meaningful and sustainable progress.

Over 6,500+ companies and 200,000+ tech executives from 180+ countries are expected to attend to help shape the next wave of digital transformation and the future of global tech infrastructure.

View Event Preview: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ecetg/hdkg/ =2

🗓️ 13-17 October 2025
📍 Dubai World Trade Centre

09/10/2025

Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, in partnership with the Dubai Free Zone Council, has launched the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit, allowing free zone companies to operate on Dubai’s mainland through a structured system.

The permit offers a cost-efficient, low-risk pathway for cross-jurisdictional business, enabling participation in domestic trade and government contracts.

Ahmad Khalifa Al Qaizi Al Falasi, CEO of DBLC, said the framework underscores Dubai’s commitment to regulatory modernization and investor-friendly reforms. He noted that easing cross-jurisdictional operations would improve efficiency and open new opportunities in trade and government tenders, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation for regulatory innovation.

Dr. Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Dubai Free Zones Council, said the permit strengthens Dubai’s business ecosystem and investment appeal, complementing free zones’ competitive advantages while advancing the D33 agenda’s goal of simplifying operations and driving expansion.

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The initiative could boost cross-jurisdictional activity by 15–20% in its first year, benefiting more than 10,000 active free zone firms

09/10/2025

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has partnered with Archer Aviation to develop the UAE’s first hospital-based vertiport, paving the way for advanced electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services for patients and visitors.

The vertiport will provide faster travel between the hospital and nearby destinations, reducing journey times from hours to minutes compared with road transport.

Alongside passenger services, the initiative will explore time-critical applications such as organ transport, using Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft, which carries up to four passengers and produces less noise and emissions than conventional helicopters.

“This partnership showcases the breadth of Archer’s network vision — connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi,” said Bryan Bernhard, Chief Growth and Infrastructure Officer at Archer.

Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said the initiative reflects the hospital’s focus on patient-centered care and sustainability.

Read more:

Alongside passenger services, the initiative will explore time-critical applications such as organ transport

09/10/2025

The Elettrica, the brand’s first all-electric model, marks Ferrari’s most daring leap yet. Fast Company Middle East gained an exclusive look at the EV’s technical aspects, with further design reveals to follow in 2026.

Revealed at Capital Markets Day 2025, it redefines what performance means in Maranello’s new multi-energy era, which now spans combustion, hybrid, and electric powertrains.

For a company that built its legend on the roar of a V12, silence was never the easy option. Yet the Elettrica isn’t about abandoning Ferrari’s soul.

The car is the result of more than a decade of experimentation, from the 2009 Formula 1-inspired hybrid systems to the LaFerrari and SF90 Stradale. Each model nudged the brand closer to an electric reality.

Now, after years of testing and over 60 patented technologies, Ferrari has built an EV that claims to retain the visceral engagement that defines its cars, only quieter, cleaner, and more precise.

Read more:

For Ferrari, going electric isn’t about compliance. It’s about control.

09/10/2025

The literal definition of rust out is to decay and become unusable through the action of rust. Rust out is a type of burnout that comes from not using your unique skills and talents at work, lacking learning opportunities, and ultimately, dreading the repetitive tasks at work that sap your creativity.

Not only is this costly to an employee’s peace and mental health, but it’s costly to employers, too.

According to Gallup’s 2025 engagement report, the global percentage of engaged employees was 21% in 2024. It’s even worse for leadership. For young managers (under 35), engagement dropped by 5%, and female manager engagement dropped by 7%.

Here’s what to do if you suspect you may be experiencing rust out:

What to do if you find yourself experiencing this close cousin of burnout.

09/10/2025

Tesla’s new “cheap” cars, were announced by the company on October 7.

Its highly anticipated “affordable models” are just stripped-down Model 3 and Model Y variants that come in at a more expensive price point than the current 2025 models.

The truth is, these cars are terrible news for the company. With its reputation in tatters and years of quality complaints, technology stagnation, and tired design, Tesla really needed a big bang to counteract its quickly shrinking market share.

The consensus is that these new models are just manufacturing cost-cutting without the price tag cuts. Unsurprisingly, Tesla stock fell 4% yesterday after the announcement.

Read more:

Tesla’s new cars aren’t affordable, but they are cheap. And they’re risking the automaker’s reputation as an innovator.

09/10/2025

The rise of AI is now reshaping the career landscape in the region. What was once considered a “safe job” is being re-evaluated, as industries adapt to significant reinvention.

“Ten years ago, public sector jobs were regarded as the gold standard of stability,” says Ashish Ipe Koshy, CEO of Inception. “But in the AI era, that perception has shifted sharply. Governments are embracing automation and AI to improve efficiency, directly impacting routine public sector roles.”

A McKinsey & Company study estimates that around 45% of jobs in key Middle Eastern countries are susceptible to automation, amounting to over 20 million roles and $366 billion in wages. The most vulnerable are roles centered on routine ex*****on: administration, data entry, basic accounting, and back-office operations.

“In the Gulf, sectors built on repetitive, process-heavy tasks are already being reshaped by AI,” says Rashmi K., Head of HR at PIXL GLOBAL. “But it’s not just about reducing headcount. It’s about redirecting people toward higher-value work that AI can’t replicate.”

“While automation has transformed data processing and reporting, the uniquely human elements remain in professional skepticism, ethical reasoning, and interpreting intent,” says Reefat Maniar, Chief Operating Officer at Baker Tilly. “Trust, central to audit and tax, is built through human relationships, not automation.”

As the region pours billions into AI strategies and digital upskilling, the overwhelming consensus remains that job security is no longer about permanence, but progress.

Read more: https://fastcompanyme.com/work-life/ai-boom-is-changing-what-safe-jobs-look-like-in-the-gulf/

08/10/2025

L'Oréal’s presence in the Kingdom offers a glimpse of this transformation in motion.

According to a 2025 socio-economic impact study by Asterès, the company supports 8,765 jobs across its value chain, generates $864 million in sales, and has engaged more than 35,000 people through programs on education, inclusion, and empowerment.

“Our journey in the Kingdom is grounded in our belief that business performance and positive impact must go hand-in-hand,” says Laurent Duffier, Managing Director of L’Oréal Middle East and L’Oréal Saudi Arabia.

With 31 brands and a consumer reach of 34 million across the Kingdom, L’Oréal is positioned to respond to this demand with approaches that are locally rooted, digitally advanced, and socially conscious.

The L’Oréal Professionnel Hairdressing Academy, developed in collaboration with local universities and training centers, has more than 100 Saudi women graduates, and over 1,000 are planned to be certified by 2029.

In a country moving at an extraordinary pace of change, L’Oréal’s role is both practical and forward-looking. Through beauty, the company is advancing inclusion, sustainability, and innovation while supporting the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification.

Read more:

Beyond the aesthetics and trends, the Kingdom’s beauty industry is creating an impact that breaks barriers.