Robotic dogs have become a familiar sight at tech exhibitions around the world, but the latest cyberdog on show at Gitex Europe in Berlin has been designed specifically to address the growing demands of social care.
The exhibition held each year in Dubai opened its European version on Wednesday, uniting venture capitalists with technology start-ups. As populations age, elderly care is one of the greatest challenges facing society.
The Abu Dhabi-based developers of ‘Byte’ claim the robotic dog can offer companionship and emotional support while used as a home assistant.
And without the need for daily walks, trips to the vet or the constant attention demands of most canine companions, Byte could offer a low-maintenance alternative to man’s best friend.
“We want to position this as a cyber pet for elderly people or as a guide dog for the blind,” said Charles Goh, global alliance director at InspireTech, a company in Yas Island developing software to a make the Chinese-made robotic dog more interactive with humans.
“It will use ChatGPT to sing songs, tell jokes and engage with its owner. Importantly, it is a companion that can offer a low-maintenance solution to help resolve the issue of isolation. This robot is in the shape of a dog, but eventually it may be able to take different forms of a cat or a bird, for example.”
Multilingual pet
The company is developing software that will allow the dog to understand commands in several languages. It is programmed to notify emergency services if it receives no response from its owner during regular check-ins in case of a fall at home, and can offer medication reminders.
A camera fitted inside the dog’s head can be viewed through the owner’s mobile device, while its body is packed with sensors allowing safe integration with its surroundings.
Health-monitoring software is under development to allow the cyberdog to monitor its owner’s biometrics and call medical assistance in the event of a heart attack or stroke.
Byte takes an hour to fully charge and is expected to cost about $5,000 once on sale, which developers expect by 2030.
“Real dogs are amazing but there is an emotional attachment humans have that can be difficult to break, as most owners will outlive their pets,” said Mr Goh, in Berlin to build new financial partnerships with European investors.
“There is no separation anxiety with a cyberdog and the fundamental difference is you will never have to say goodbye to him.”
The cyberdog, one of a number of projects under development at InspireTech, a company also working in data protection and cybersecurity. Across three days, Gitex Europe is focusing on these core areas, as well as green technology, to decarbonise economies, smart cities and regulation of artificial intelligence.
Investment potential
Investors said there was plenty of potential to build new partnerships between the UAE and Europe.
“We have a lot of start-ups and founders from Dubai who want to expand into Europe so we want to make sure we connect them with the right ecosystem enablers and the right partners,” said Julien Plouzeau, senior partner at Oraseya Capital, the venture capital fund of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority.
“It is also important for us to be educated about new opportunities we can bring to our founders and help them set up in Europe. Most of the expansion plans we see from the Middle East at some point will include Europe.”
The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 is a comprehensive plan to double the size of the emirate's economy within the next decade.
As a road map to sustainable growth, the drive aims to hit that goal before 2033, with a focus on diversifying the economy and attracting new investment.
Mr Plouzeau said technology around finance and property have been the most active industries in regards to investment capital over the past two years.
“There's no reason to think that's going to stop in the future,” he said. “We are also looking at logistics, supply chain, and pretty much all the industries and verticals aligned to Agenda D33.
“We are actively deploying $136 million at the moment and looking at $500,000 to $3 million per investment. Of course, there is a long process for us to conduct our due diligence, but we've seen start-ups very much here coming to Berlin, so it's quite exciting.”
Technology hub
Dubai Silicon Oasis has been a key location in the UAE to test the latest technology, before expanding services elsewhere.
From automated roadside delivery robots, to driverless taxis, AI-powered pedestrian crossings and drones transporting vital medical supplies, the area has played a crucial role in technology testing.
“It is a great moment to see something made in the UAE, such as Gitex here in Europe, and we really want to consolidate that,” said Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, director general of Dubai Silicon Oasis.
“We want to not only import technology but also export the transfer of technology as there is an ease of doing business in the UAE.
“We are really interested in technology but investment does not come easily. The UAE was the first country to appoint a minister of AI and rather than red tape for business, we roll out the red carpet.”
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
