Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence and cloud company G42 is launching its Hindi large language model, that is expected to boost the growth of India’s artificial intelligence industry and enhance G42's global expansion.
G42 presented its Hindi LLM, called Nanda, during the India-UAE Business Forum in Mumbai attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Tuesday.
Nanda has been developed to “benefit local communities and drive the adoption of advanced technologies and support the growth of India’s AI ecosystem”.
Nanda is a 13-billion parameter model. In the context of AI, a parameter is a variable that can help increase the accuracy of large language model predictions.
Nanda refers to one of India’s highest peaks, and is the result of a collaboration between Inception (a G42 company), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Cerebras Systems.
Nanda’s “release will mark a significant milestone in the realm of AI for India, offering over half a billion Hindi language speakers the opportunity to harness the potential of generative AI,” G42 said in a separate statement.
Sheikh Khaled, also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, arrived in India on Sunday, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials, business leaders and prominent economic partners from the UAE.
During the forum, Sheikh Khaled emphasised the importance of the UAE-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement in driving bilateral economic growth.
He also reiterated the UAE's commitment to strengthening economic relations with India, facilitating cross-border trade, and improving access to key markets through a conducive and business-friendly environment.
The forum was held as part of a diverse and comprehensive agenda during the official visit of Sheikh Khaled to India.
The event, organised by the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE embassy in India, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, focused on key sectors such as healthcare, biotechnology, renewable energy, sustainability, AI, logistics and supply chains, and agricultural technology.
Boost to UAE-India economic ties
During the forum, Abu Dhabi’s LuLu Group collaborated with the India's Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority to procure and import organic produce from India to the UAE, Abu Dhabi Media Office said.
Additionally, AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones in Abu Dhabi, partnered with India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways to create a virtual trade corridor connecting both countries.
International Resources Holding RSC, a UAE-based natural resources extraction company, entered into a partnership agreement with Oil India, Khanij Bidesh India, and ONGC Videsh. This partnership aims to use the collective expertise of the companies to identify, acquire, and develop assets on a global scale.
The forum will build on the consistent rise in bilateral non-oil trade, which reached $28.2 billion in the first six months of 2024
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi,
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade
Aircraft maintenance company Global Jet Technic, another UAE company, entered into agreements with three Indian airlines – InterGlobe Aviation Services, Air India, and Akasa Air – to provide aircraft line maintenance services for their fleets at UAE’s international airports, including Zayed International Airport.
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry also partnered with the Confederation of Indian Industry to strengthen investment opportunities for the private sector in both the UAE and India.
This collaboration aims to assist in the exchange of crucial information on economic development, fostering greater commercial co-operation and expanding avenues for economic and industrial growth. Additionally, the agreement includes the expansion of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Business Connect Platform.
Finally, Rorix Holdings, a global trading and trade assistance company, signed an agreement with Indian logistics company Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone to integrate advanced technologies into India’s infrastructure.
The UAE delegation at the India-UAE Business Forum was headed by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade. The delegation included senior representatives from prominent UAE-based entities across various public and private sectors.
“The forum will build on the consistent rise in bilateral non-oil trade, which reached $28.2 billion in the first six months of 2024 – a 9.8 per cent increase on the same period in 2023 and set against a marked decline in trade growth around the world in H1 2024,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
The UAE and India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in February 2022 to boost trade ties. The Cepa helped non-oil trade between the countries to increase by 5.8 per cent to $50.5 billion in the first 12 months after it took effect in May 2022. The countries hope the agreement will help them boost trade to $100 billion by 2030.
Benefits of the Cepa include enhanced market access, lower or eliminated tariff rules, simpler customs procedures, clear and transparent rules, and rule-based competition.
The Emirates has been focusing heavily on diversifying its economy away from oil by developing sectors such as technology, manufacturing, tourism, trade and innovation. Its non-oil foreign trade hit a record Dh1.4 trillion ($381 billion) in the first six months of this year, as it continues to forge closer trade ties with partners around the world.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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