Makkah Health Cluster brings AI-powered healthcare platform ‘iSelfie’ to region

Short Url
Updated 03 June 2025
Follow

Makkah Health Cluster brings AI-powered healthcare platform ‘iSelfie’ to region

The Makkah Health Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Canadian company AIZTech, which specializes in AI-powered medical diagnostics, to deploy the iSelfie platform across its facilities, including King Abdullah Medical City and several major hospitals in Makkah.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jean-Philippe Linteau, ambassador of Canada to Saudi Arabia; Dr. Mubarak Al-Mulhem, director general of healthcare at the Ministry of Investment; and Dr. Hatim Al-Omari, CEO of the Makkah Health Cluster, which oversees more than 10 hospitals in the city. Also present were Dr. Adel Tash, CEO of King Abdullah Medical City, and Tarek Sultan, vice chairman of Agility. The agreement was signed by Al-Omari and Mohamed Sheta, CEO of AIZTech.

This marks the first agreement of its kind in the Middle East, allowing patients to benefit from instant health assessments using AI through a short facial video, with no additional hardware required. The iSelfie platform analyzes the video to extract key health metrics including blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate. The platform will be integrated into the patient-facing screens within hospital facilities and will be used with the assistance of medical staff.

Al-Omari said: “We are proud to be the first in the Kingdom and the region to adopt this advanced technology, which reflects our ongoing commitment to harnessing the latest digital solutions to enhance diagnostic efficiency and accelerate patient care. This step marks a qualitative leap toward a more advanced and innovative healthcare system, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

Tash added: “In line with the spirit of digital transformation and the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, we are pleased to launch this innovative AI-powered technology in Makkah. This launch is backed by a pivotal study conducted across the Kingdom, where the technology showed promising results when compared with 1,021 cases diagnosed using traditional medical devices. We are committed to expanding access to these advanced tools to benefit the wider community in the region.”

Sheta said: “We are honored to collaborate with one of the Kingdom’s leading public healthcare institutions. This agreement is a clear indicator of the growing trust in AI-powered healthcare solutions and reinforces our belief that remote, non-invasive early diagnostics will be a core part of healthcare’s future.”

Ambassador Linteau said: “Digital health innovation is gaining momentum in Canada, and Saudi Arabia is a market that is open to early adoption of innovation in the health sector.” He also expressed hope that the platform will achieve remarkable success in the early detection of health conditions in patients.

The iSelfie platform has proven its effectiveness through clinical trials conducted in Saudi Arabia, the US, Canada, and Brazil, including a national study supported by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Results showed that the platform provides accurate readings comparable to traditional medical devices, with the added benefits of rapid assessment, accessibility, and cost efficiency.

This collaboration aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which places innovation and digital transformation at the heart of healthcare development by improving the quality of life, promoting preventive care, and expanding access to modern medical services.

 


Schneider Electric to advance energy technology to power intelligence at Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa

Updated 01 March 2026
Follow

Schneider Electric to advance energy technology to power intelligence at Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, has announced that the second edition of the Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 28–29. 

The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders as well as government officials to advance the regional shift toward energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national visions place unprecedented demands on energy systems.

Schneider Electric is advancing its energy technology ambitions with the integration of electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids to unlock the full value of energy, and ensure efficiency and sustainability for all.

This year’s summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the Middle East and Africa, as the region experiences exponential growth driven by national visions, giga-projects, and rapid expansion in AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure. 

Saudi Arabia stands out within this landscape as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of investment in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy. 

With global electricity demand projected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of 3.6% over the 2026–2030 period and global AI workloads projected to lead a 160% increase in data center power demand, the imperative for intelligent, sustainable energy solutions has never been more critical.

“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. With electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and on course to grow at an incremental 3-4% every year to register a whopping 50% by 2035 – driven by surging cooling, desalination, and urbanization demands, the region is at an inflection point,” said Walid Sheta, Zone president, Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric. 

“Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa underscores our dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region. This edition will emphasize our emergence as the trusted energy technology partner guiding the region’s next phase of transformation. " 

This year’s summit will highlight regional benchmarks from 80+ countries, from the 100% elimination of SF6 and Carbon footprint reduction for fruit producers in South Africa to the savings that EcoStruxure Power & Grid is enabling for the National Electricity Company, Senegal – ensuring recovery times of 3 minutes versus 3 hours earlier.

Blending high-impact programming and latest product launches that position Schneider Electric at the center of MEA's energy transition story, key agenda items include:

CEO Forum in partnership with Forbes Middle East: An exclusive C-suite initiative bringing together 100 business leaders to address strategic imperatives in energy intelligence.

Keynote and Thought Leadership sessions: Featuring executive speakers from industry-leading companies and insights from strategic partners, including Bain & Company.

Innovation Hub experience: Guided tours and live demonstrations, as well as tailored customer experiences of Schneider Electric’s most innovative and integrated energy technology solutions addressing critical challenges in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and digital infrastructure across a 3,000 square feet immersive space.

Stakeholder recognition: Schneider Electric’s dedicated partners will be honored with 20 Cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across four categories – Growth Award, Efficiency Award, Innovation Award, and Sustainability Award, on Day 2 of the Summit. 

"Across the Gulf, energy intelligence is becoming the operational reality as public and private sector enterprises race to align with national visions for a decarbonized and sustainable future,” said Amel Chadli, president, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.

“As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric is empowering customers to move beyond electrification and implement AI‑driven, software‑defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resilience, and sustainability at a national scale. This summit offers a roadmap of what’s next as we continue to redefine the relationship between energy and digital capability.”

With AI, cloud, and high-performance computing becoming foundational to national competitiveness, energy technologies today must evolve and become resilient, sustainable and scalable to meet modern intelligence demands. 

Schneider Electric's refreshed positioning as an energy technology partner reflects the company's approach to supporting the region's transformation. 

Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa highlights real-world applications across key sectors, including utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure — demonstrating how intelligent energy management enables operational excellence, resilience, and sustainability across the region's most vital projects.