The requirement for contactless services and need to do away with human error, have significantly elevated the position of AI in everyday lives of citizens in the Middle East. Cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah are already testing self-driving vehicles, equipped with sensors for machine learning, that enable autonomous movement.

After hospitals, airports and malls, smart humanoids are also on their way to become a part of connected households, and AI-powered surveillance is set to watch over children in Emirati schools. At a time when computer vision is clearly peaking, experts based out of Dubai have collaborated with peers in six different locations globally, to create a sophisticated smart video analytics platform.

The system launched by international brand Atos, is designed to be used for managing traffic, public services and crowd control in the gulf's futuristic cities. It is also an instrumental mechanism for ensuring security via facial recognition, and can speed up access based on biometrics at airports.

At malls or retail outlets, visual data about footfalls and consumer behaviour gathered via cameras, can be processed using machine learning to generate insights for higher sales. Speaking of benefits for businesses, computer vision can also keep a sharp eye on manufacturing operations for quality control, and can monitor transportation of products.

The system developed for Atos by vision experts at labs across the world, including one in Dubai, can also be controlled via cloud or an edge-server, for processing information in real time. The firm has also developed an advanced platform called BullSequana Edge, which is designed for functioning in all environments, ranging from shops to outdoor spaces.

Before this, other major brands have arrived in UAE with smart offerings, including surveillance systems that measure preferences of buyers to help retailers. Friendly robots equipped with cameras and computer vision, are also promising to bring Emiratis closer to their pets while they are away.