Yango Partners with Dubai’s Rashid Center to Enhance AI Accessibility for All

As someone who closely follows startups and initiatives that make a real difference, I was genuinely impressed to see tech giant Yango Group linking arms with Dubai's Rashid Center for People of Determination. The two have joined forces in a thoughtful collaboration aimed at boosting accessibility, AI learning, and digital safety.

This partnership couldn't come at a more relevant time. With Dubai—and indeed the wider UAE—keenly pushing artificial intelligence as a foundational part of education, it's crucial that no student is left behind. After all, with PwC recently forecasting AI's potential to pump up to a staggering $96 billion into the UAE economy by 2030, it's vital technology embraces everyone.

What particularly caught my eye was Yango donating their smart speakers to the Rashid Center—devices equipped with Yasmina, their bilingual (Arabic and English) AI assistant. Now, I'm usually a touch sceptical about these so-called "smart" devices (honestly, setting them up can sometimes be a bit of a faff…), but providing children of determination easy voice-based interaction is absolutely spot on.

Adding even more value, Yango Ride is stepping in to smooth the logistical side of things by offering students and families 60 discounted rides per year at 20% off. Transport hurdles can be a real bugbear for parents, so this move seems genuinely practical. And as a cherry on top, Yango Play will give students free annual subscriptions, unlocking carefully selected, educational, Arabic-language streaming content—promoting learning without the worry over inappropriate material lurking about online.

Islam Abdul Karim, who heads up Yango Middle East, put it succinctly, saying this partnership was about dismantling barriers. He emphasised that each child deserves to thrive in our increasingly digital society—and well, I'd say he nailed it with that point.

On the flip side, Mariam Othman, the Director of the Rashid Center for People of Determination, warmly recognised this gesture, noting that Yango’s thoughtful approach inspires genuine confidence and helps create a future where no student is sidelined.

But it doesn't stop there. From September, the alliance will dive deeper, introducing monthly AI lessons specially crafted for the needs of students of determination. There will also be training for drivers to ensure empathy and compassionate interaction when providing transportation for children who experience different challenges, alongside digital safety seminars for teachers, students, and even parents. Better yet, these interactive sessions provide key digital-savvy concepts in bite-sized portions, making tricky technology topics even easier to grasp.

I reckon initiatives like this hit the sweet spot for practical impact. Here at Arageek, we've often emphasised that tech solutions mean little if they're not inclusive and accessible. And believe it or not, sometimes the biggest breakthroughs occur when companies look closer to home, recognising specific community needs.

This thoughtful tie-up marks a hopeful step forward, not just ticking boxes but genuinely paving paths for students of determination within a digitally-driven future. It's initiatives like these that make me feel, well… chuffed to bits about keeping track of the MENA startup space.

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