A very long time ago, atop the heights of Mount Olympus, a drama unfolded that would shape the human story: Zeus resented how the Titan Prometheus had become attached to humans, so decreed that no human could use fire on earth — a reminder of the gods’ ultimate power. Yet Prometheus, defiant, smuggled a spark of divine fire back to humanity.

That spark ignited the rise of civilisations and empires as humans harnessed its potential. Some became so confident in their mastery that they questioned the gods themselves, even believing they were gods. Zeus was furious. Not only had Prometheus stolen from the heavens, but he had upended the natural order of human subservience.

For Prometheus, it didn’t end well. Zeus exacted his vengeance, which led to the opening of Pandora’s box.

The lesson? Empowering humanity with fire led to extraordinary progress, but humans are nothing if not unpredictable. There are accidents, and there are arsonists.

Open-source artificial intelligence feels much the same: a Promethean spark with immense potential and significant risks.

Open-source AI refers to systems whose components — code, models, and sometimes datasets — are made publicly accessible. This openness allows individuals and organisations to use, study, and modify these AI resources freely. It democratises access to technology, accelerates innovation, and empowers smaller players.

Projects like LlaMa, Mistral, and, more recently, DeepSeek, illustrate the transformative power of this approach. These platforms foster collaboration across borders and industries, transforming Gen AI from an exclusive domain of the elite into a shared tool for global progress.

But just as fire-forged weapons alongside warmth, open-source AI carries ethical dilemmas. Its accessibility — the foundation of its power — can heighten risks if unchecked. With proprietary models, individuals and companies can be held accountable (albeit that is slightly diminished with the repeal of the Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (EO 14110) Act).

With open source, we rely on a willing community of dispersed individuals to do the right thing. While openness fosters rapid innovation and transparency, it needs tools and assurances to prevent misuse.

DeepSeek’s low-cost, open-source AI disrupts the very foundation of the global AI race. Developed for a fraction of the cost of its rivals, its efficiency and openness challenge the assumption that massive resources are prerequisites for cutting-edge technology. Yet with openness comes a lack of control. Once released, models are no longer governed by their creators, leaving accountability elusive when harm occurs. This underscores the urgent need for the global AI community to develop tools — a suite of tests, monitoring systems, and ethical protocols — to ensure that open-source models behave responsibly and resist malicious manipulation.

Inspiration from DeepSeek’s example

The UK and Europe, with constrained AI budgets relative to the US and China, can take inspiration from DeepSeek’s example. By focusing on efficiency over scale, these nations could embrace open-source frameworks to pool talent and resources, fostering collective advancements rather than isolated efforts.

This approach aligns with the UK’s stated commitment to fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI development. Furthermore, the UK’s leadership in ethical AI could drive the creation of governance standards that enhance the safety and reliability of open-source models without stifling their potential.

History offers parallels. Open-source software, from Linux to decentralised cryptocurrencies, demonstrates how collective innovation can accelerate progress. But freedom without governance often invites chaos. Bitcoin democratised financial transactions, but it also fueled ransomware attacks and unregulated markets. In AI, the stakes are higher still.

A safety net is key

Artificial intelligence’s borderless nature accelerates innovation but complicates governance. A safety net is needed that ensures innovation does not outpace responsibility. This is where the AI community must come together to create tools that govern open-source models effectively. Navigating these challenges demands balance.

Developers must embed safeguards into their models, such as fine-grained permissions, ethical guidelines, and robust monitoring mechanisms. Initiatives like the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) offer a collaborative platform to monitor developments and respond to risks.

Prometheus gave humanity fire, but he did so without a plan for its use. Open-source AI could rapidly bring transformational progress. But we must think of the consequences and prepare accordingly — something Prometheus, for all his brilliance, did not.

The writer is the chief external affairs officer and an executive board member at IFS, the industrial AI company serving the aerospace, manufacturing, engineering, construction, utilities and energy sectors. Previously, she was a correspondent and anchor at CNN in London.

The world must adopt positive energy and pragmatic policies to drive economic growth and power the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology said Dr Sultan Al Jaber during his recent address at CERAWeek in Houston, Texas.

Dr Al Jaber, who is also the managing director and group CEO of ADNOC, chairman of Masdar, and executive chairman of XRG, urged global leaders to implement durable, stable policies that are “pro-growth, pro-investment, pro-energy, and pro-people” to meet surging energy demand.

“The world is finally waking up to the fact that energy is the solution. Energy is the beating heart of economies, a key driver of prosperity and fundamental to every aspect of human development. If we want a pro-growth world, we need pragmatic actions,” Dr Al Jaber said.

Energy demand and the ‘and-and’ approach

Dr Al Jaber emphasised that global energy demand is set to increase significantly, with oil demand expected to rise from 103 million to at least 109 million barrels per day by 2035.

LNG and chemicals will expand by over 40 per cent, while electricity demand will surge by 70 per cent to reach 15,000 GW, he noted.

“We will need more LNG, more low-carbon oil, more nuclear, and more commercially viable renewables to meet all this demand,” he said, advocating for an “and-and” approach that embraces a diverse mix of energy sources.

Highlighting the UAE’s leadership in the sector, Al Jaber pointed to the country’s strategic investments in renewables, nuclear energy, and low-carbon solutions.

“We have diversified into new energies, investing in 51GW of commercially viable renewable energy globally through Masdar. We have also added nuclear to our energy mix, with four reactors now generating 5.6GW of electricity, covering 25 per cent of the UAE’s power needs.”

AI’s energy challenge

Dr Al Jaber linked the future of AI to energy availability, calling it a critical factor in the race for AI supremacy. “Applications like ChatGPT use 10 times as much energy as a simple Google search and are growing exponentially.

“By 2030, in the US alone, data centre power demand is expected to triple, accounting for more than 10 per cent of US electricity use. Simply put, the true cost of AI is not just in code, it’s in kilowatts. The race for AI supremacy is essentially an energy play.”

He highlighted the UAE’s plans to deepen partnerships with the US in energy-AI integration, positioning XRG, the UAE’s newly launched international energy investment company, as a key player in meeting AI’s growing power needs.

“XRG is designed to meet the fast-growing energy needs of AI in an ‘and-and’ world. Without energy, AI is just potential. With it, AI has the potential to reshape the world,” he added.

ADNOC’s AI strategy

Dr Al Jaber outlined ADNOC’s AI strategy, stating that the company has integrated artificial intelligence across its operations and developed proprietary AI solutions through AIQ, its homegrown AI company.

“Over 200 AI use cases are currently being implemented across ADNOC’s operations, from exploration to refining to logistics and strategic decision-making.

Our flagship AI initiative, ‘Energy to the Power of AI’, is applying agentic AI at an unprecedented scale. Using AI, we are speeding up our upstream seismic analysis from months to hours and increasing the accuracy of production forecasts by up to 90 per cent. We are on course to make ADNOC the most AI-enabled energy company in the world.”

Dr Sultan Al Jaber calls for global action, invites leaders to ADIPEC

Concluding his remarks, Dr Al Jaber invited global energy leaders to ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, calling for a shift from discussion to action. “From this very stage, [US Energy] Secretary [Chris] Wright said, ‘We need more energy.’ I couldn’t agree more. We don’t just need more energy, we need more positive energy. So, I invite you to join me at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi to turn positive energy into positive action. The modern world was built on energy; tomorrow’s world will be transformed by energy. Let’s energise the world with positive energy.”

CERAWeek runs from March 10-14, gathering the energy sector’s key leaders to explore solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges.

ADIPEC will take place in Abu Dhabi from November 3-7, 2025.

Read: AIQ secures $340m contract to deploy agentic AI across ADNOC ops

UAE residents are in for some fabulous weather during the next few days.

Certain parts of the UAE, including Bu Hasa in the Al Dhafra region, Sir Baniyas Island, Tarfa, the southern areas of Zayed City, Shawamakh regions of Abu Dhabi, as well as Al Khazna and Al Hili in Al Ain, have experienced light to moderate rainfall on Thursday.

According to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) in UAE, these regions also saw a drop in temperatures during the day.

On Friday, March 14, a mix of cloudy skies is expected, with the possibility of fog or mist forming over some coastal and inland areas. Similar weather conditions are forecasted for the weekend, with a slight increase in temperatures on Saturday, March 15. Light rainfall is anticipated for Sunday.

However, residents of the UAE can expect cloudy weather and light rainfall on Monday morning, March 17.

Aldar Investment Properties (AIP), a subsidiary of Aldar Properties, has raised $500m through a 10-year green sukuk, further strengthening its financial position.

The issuance was oversubscribed 7.2 times, attracting orders exceeding $3.6bn, with regional and international investors accounting for 61 per cent and 39 per cent of the allocation, respectively.

Priced at a spread of 110 basis points over the 10-year US Treasury yield, the sukuk carries a coupon rate of 5.25 per cent.

The transaction mirrors the company’s May 2024 green sukuk issuance, which achieved the company’s tightest-ever spread for a public debt offering.

The issuance, Aldar’s third under its $2bn Trust Certificate Issuance Programme, was buoyed by Moody’s reaffirmation in January of Aldar and AIP’s investment-grade ratings of Baa2 and Baa1, respectively, with a stable outlook.

“Our ability to consistently achieve a favourable cost of capital, even in the context of global market volatility, underscores the strength of our financial position and disciplined capital management,” said Faisal Falaknaz, chief financial and sustainability officer at Aldar Properties. “The strong demand for our latest green sukuk is a clear sign of investor confidence in our strategy and commitment to sustainable growth that delivers real impact for our stakeholders and communities.”

Sukuk proceeds to refinance sustainability-accredited real estate within Aldar’s portfolio

The proceeds will be used in line with the company’s Green Finance Framework to refinance sustainability-accredited real estate within AIP’s portfolio.

Aldar has invested over Dhs150m in retrofitting 67 properties to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions as part of its net zero goals.

The new issuance will support the early redemption of a sukuk maturing in September 2025 and the repayment of outstanding bank debt.

JP Morgan and Standard Chartered acted as joint global coordinators, as well as joint lead managers and book runners alongside Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank, Bank ABC, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, KFH Capital, Mashreq, and Sharjah Islamic Bank.

The company has raised Dhs16.3bn in new liquidity across its capital structure since the start of 2025, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth and financial resilience.

Ripple has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payments and services in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The entity, a leader in enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, will be the first blockchain-enabled payments provider licenced by the DFSA.

Read-Abu Dhabi’s MGX makes $2bn crypto investment in Binance

The development marks Ripple’s first licence in the Middle East and underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to the region and regulatory compliance globally.

How will the licence benefit Ripple?

The licence will now make Ripple’s seamless compliance-first global payments product available to businesses in the UAE. It will also reinforce Ripple’s role as a trusted partner for financial institutions looking to leverage the superior capabilities of digital assets to drive real-world utility.

“We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption,” Brad Garlinghouse, Chief Executive Officer of Ripple, said.

Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit, Garlinghouse added.

Ripple’s DFSA licence adds to its growing list of over 60 regulatory approvals worldwide, including a Major Payments Institution licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Trust Charter, a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the Central Bank of Ireland, and Money Transmitter Licences (MTLs) across multiple US states.

What do crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions demand?

The UAE is a global hub for outbound finance, with a market worth over $400bn for international trade. Most of the crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions have been found to be seeking solutions to the inefficiencies of traditional cross-border payments—such as high fees, long settlement times, and lack of transparency.

A 2024 business survey carried out by Ripple revealed that 64 per cent of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) see faster payments and settlement times as the biggest value proposition for incorporating blockchain-based currencies into their cross-border payments business.

Payments utility is also expected to drive greater stablecoin adoption in the UAE. Stablecoins tend to offer real-time settlement compared to traditional banking systems, which often take days to process.

Ripple’s own RLUSD stablecoin had surpassed $130m in market cap after being launched on global exchanges at the end of December.

“We are thrilled that Ripple is deepening its commitment to Dubai by securing a DFSA licence that makes it the first blockchain-enabled payments provider in DIFC. This milestone not only highlights our commitment to fostering innovation, but also opens the door for Ripple to tap into new growth opportunities across the region and beyond. As the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s leading global financial centre, DIFC is proud to support forward-thinking companies like Ripple as they shape the future of finance and accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology in the payments industry,” Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, commented on the development.

Ripple’s position in the region

Ripple has substantially cemented its position in the region since establishing its headquarters in DIFC in 2020. This regulatory approval has positioned Ripple as an entity to further accelerate growth and innovation in a high-potential market.

Around 20 per cent of Ripple’s global customer base is already operating in the Middle East.

MEA region: The crypto-adoption scenario

The MEA region has one of the highest levels of institutional readiness when it comes to crypto adoption, with over 82 per cent of MEA finance leaders stating they are “very or extremely confident” when it comes to integrating blockchain solutions into their business.

“Dubai and the broader UAE have established themselves as leaders in fostering a progressive and well-defined regulatory framework for digital assets,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.

“Securing this DFSA licence is a major milestone that will enable us to better serve the growing demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border transactions in one of the world’s largest cross-border payments hubs. We’re grateful for the support of our partners at DIFC, and we’re ready to hit the ground running with a growing local team and strong customer pipeline,” Reece Merrick added.

Ripple’s securing of the DFSA licence has further strengthened its mission to bring the benefits of compliant blockchain technology to financial services companies and their customers globally.