News
Four in 10 UAE Consumers Experienced Online Fraud Attempts: Visa-Dubai Police-DED Survey
While almost four in 10 UAE consumers have experienced online fraud attempts in the past year, trust and usage of digital payments both in-store and online see no signs of ceasing as consumers still prefer them over cash, citing improved technology, and security measures as reasons why they still feel more secure with these methods of payment. These findings were revealed in the 2021 Stay Secure survey launched today by Visa, Dubai Police, and Dubai Economy (DED).
Cash is unlikely to return to its previous high level of use
According to the study, the use of cash in the UAE continues to decline. While eCommerce and contactless payments have increased in popularity and use since the start of the pandemic, paying by Cash on Delivery (COD) has declined significantly (75%), while the use of digital payments (contactless cards + mobile wallets) for payment online or on delivery has almost doubled (by an average of 98%). Consumer feedback reinforces the belief that there is no reversal of this trend, with 40% of consumers saying they are less likely to use COD and 45% are more likely to use contactless payment methods in the future.
Trust driving consumer preference in contactless and digital payments, but some concerns remain
Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) have high level of confidence in digital payments (contactless cards and mobile wallets) for shopping in-store and payment on delivery, an increase since the start of the pandemic. Top reasons consumers gave for their trust in contactless include convenience (60%), speed (59%), control (the card or mobile never leaves consumer’s hand during transaction) (46%), avoiding human touch (56%) and innovative way to pay (48%).
Biometrically-verified payments – such as mobile wallets – also scored high with consumers with more than a third (67%) saying it is secure, and 60% saying it gives them complete control as it never leaves their hand in a transaction and eliminates the hassle of having to remember passwords.
Knowledge of the technology that protects digital payments is a driver of consumer trust. Among consumers who trust digital payments, a majority (52%) said having knowledge of underlying security technologies that protect digital payments, such as tokenization, helps build their confidence in cashless options. Those who do not have adequate levels of knowledge of the technology, still have lagging doubts about the safety of digital payments. For example, 47% fear misuse of lost or stolen contactless cards mostly due to a lack of understanding of how the technology work (27%). These findings reinforce the importance of continual education on safe digital payment practices among consumers to maintain their trust.
Consumers’ experience with fraud
The survey also sheds light on consumers’ experiences with fraud, with 39% of UAE consumers surveyed admitting they have experienced an online fraud attempt. Around a quarter of consumers (27%) have experienced phishing, while just under a fifth have experienced credit card fraud (19%) and receiving counterfeit goods (17%). In the event of fraud, informing the bank (67%) or customer service (58%) and changing their password/PIN (72%) are the most important actions consumers are likely to take. As a testament to the trust consumers have in local law enforcement, half of UAE consumers said they would contact the authorities in the event of fraud.
Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jalaf, Director of Criminal Investigation Department in Dubai Police, said, “As people spend more and more time online – including many for the first time, fraudsters are using this as an opportunity to exploit consumers’ fears and lack of knowledge. We strongly believe that government authorities, the private sector and local communities all have an important role to play in raising awareness among UAE residents. Dubai Police is delighted to once again partner with Visa and Dubai Economy on the Stay Secure initiative, which will help strengthen our efforts to reduce online fraud and cybercrime in the UAE and ensure a safe and secure digital economy for everyone.”
Ahmad Al Zaabi, Director of Consumer Protection in Dubai Economy, said, “Shopping in Dubai presents a remarkable opportunity for retail innovations as it involves a vast and varied customer demographics and businesses. At Dubai Economy we focus on making shopping in the city a pleasant experience and we have leveraged every opportunity, including the increase in online shopping in the aftermath of COVID-19, to encourage consumers to enjoy the benefits of cashless and contactless shopping. The partnership with Visa enables us to track consumer behaviour and we are delighted to see confidence in digital payments rising steadily, which in turn will accelerate the ongoing digital transformation in Dubai.”
Neil Fernandes, Visa’s Head of Risk for Middle East and North Africa, commented, “As our survey results indicate, consumers have fully embraced digital payments in the COVID-19 era but that does not come without risks. As consumers shift online, fraudsters have sought opportunities to exploit these changes in how people pay for goods and services. This is why constant consumer education is so much more important than ever before. The fact that 1 in 2 consumers surveyed would contact law enforcement in the event of fraud is a credit to the diligent efforts of our partners Dubai Police and Dubai Economy, who are committed to keeping consumers safe and empowering them to use digital payments and online channels with confidence. However, as an industry we cannot afford to let our guard down. Our ongoing Stay Secure campaign is our effort in bringing together all participants in the payments ecosystem to work together to advance efforts to educate consumers on how to stay vigilant, identify potential fraud, and what actions they should take if they are affected.”
News
Huawei and Dubai Health Innovation and Digital Health Team Partner on Blood Pressure Study
Huawei has announced a collaboration with the Dubai Health Innovation and Digital Health team to conduct a validation study on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring technology. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring capabilities using Huawei’s wrist-based wearables.
Born from a decade of research and development in blood pressure technology, Huawei’s latest advancements represent significant progress in wrist-based monitoring. The collaboration aims to assess the effectiveness of this technology in providing accurate and convenient blood pressure measurements.
Hypertension affects about one-third of adults globally, making it a critical public health concern. Early identification and effective management of high blood pressure have the potential to significantly improve long-term health outcomes. The medical community emphasises the necessity of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring due to the fluctuating nature of blood pressure, influenced by factors such as emotions, diet, and activity levels. Nighttime blood pressure changes, often overlooked, can be critical indicators of cardiovascular health.
According to the ISH 2020 Global Hypertension Practice Guidelines, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring using a traditional arm cuff device is the best method for assessing blood pressure levels. However, these devices can be cumbersome and interfere with daily activities. Huawei’s advanced wearable technology addresses these challenges by providing continuous, non-invasive monitoring in a compact and comfortable form factor. This will make it easier for people to integrate blood pressure monitoring into daily routines without significant interference.
This study highlights a growing trend of integrating advanced technology into healthcare. By offering a more accessible form of ambulatory monitoring, Huawei’s advancements have the potential to improve early detection and management of high blood pressure. The findings from this study could pave the way for wider adoption of wearable health technologies, offering a proactive approach to managing chronic conditions. This study will also provide valuable insights into how such technology can be effectively implemented in healthcare settings.
Gadgets
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE in the UAE
Samsung Gulf Electronics today announced the availability of the Galaxy S24 FE in the UAE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem that delivers premium mobile experiences to more users. Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery, and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.
Fadi Abu Shamat, Senior Director and Head of Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “Our vision is to bring cutting-edge AI technology to all our users in the UAE. The introduction of Galaxy AI is revolutionizing how people in the region connect, express themselves, and boost their productivity. With the Galaxy S24 FE, we’re extending the advanced features and Galaxy AI capabilities of our flagship S24 Series to a wider audience across the UAE, ensuring more users can experience the future of mobile innovation.”
Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera. The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes visual quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE Series, ProVisual Engine features vastly improved technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:
- Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low-light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
- Works with the wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x in addition to the optical 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality at distances between digital zoom lengths. Object-aware engine to recognize scenes and optimize colours in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos
When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features breathe life into ideas. Since its introduction with the Galaxy S24 Series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:
- Generative Edit reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
- Portrait Studio reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolour paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
- Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
- Instant Slow-mo immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap
The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. In a world where every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:
- A 1.1x larger vapour chamber improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations
- A bigger 4,700mAh battery allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions
- A 6.7-inch adaptive Dynamic AMOLED 2X display – the largest display ever used in the FE Series – with up to 120Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience
- Vision Booster optimizes colour and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight
The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 Series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities:
- Circle to Search with Google satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
- Interpreter instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
- Live Translate breaks down communication barriers on phone calls and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
- Composer from Samsung Keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
- Note Assist streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes, you can get transcription, translation, and summarizing of voice recordings directly. Texts in PDF files also can be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation
Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, the Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Building on the innovative legacy of the S Series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection.
As a continuation of the S24 Series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources. It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminium, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components. It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.
Customers who purchase the breakthrough Galaxy S24 FE will receive a complimentary bundle of value-added services from premium Gulf brands worth up to AED 598. This exclusive package includes offerings from Samsung Entertainer, Anghami, VIU Premium and Starzplay Sports, providing customers with an extensive suite of entertainment and dining options to elevate their lifestyle.
The Galaxy S24 FE is available in retail stores and online starting October 3rd. At launch, customers can enjoy double the storage — a 256GB variant for the same price as the 128GB, starting from AED 2,399. The Galaxy S24 FE is available in Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint colours.
Networking
e& UAE Launches Managed Wi-Fi 7 Services
e& UAE, the telecommunications arm of e&, today announced the launch of its Managed Wi-Fi 7 services. Designed to meet the growing demands of businesses, this next-generation wireless solution offers up to four times faster speeds and twice the capacity of previous Wi-Fi generations, delivering enhanced operational efficiency and scalability.
Hamad Mohamed Almarzooqi, Senior Vice President of Pre-Sales and Business Operations, e& UAE, said: “Wi-Fi 7 marks a transformative leap in wireless networking with faster speeds, greater capacity, and enhanced adaptability. This technology is integral for those looking to optimise virtual conferencing, cloud applications, AR/VR experiences, and other data-intensive applications. The launch of our Managed Wi-Fi 7 services underscores e&’s commitment to providing cutting-edge connectivity solutions, designed to meet the evolving demands of diverse industries.”
Backed by e& UAE’s managed services expertise, the newly launched Managed Wi-Fi 7 services are set to introduce a new era of high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity and improved network stability. These services enable organisations to handle higher device density and increasing digital demands with ease. As a result, businesses can boost productivity, enhance collaboration, and drive innovation.
With a team of dedicated professionals overseeing deployment and management, e& UAE ensures that customers fully leverage the capabilities of the Managed Wi-Fi 7 services. By investing in a robust WiFi and cloud infrastructure, organisations can fully harness the potential of modern workplace applications while strategically positioning themselves for future advancements. This technology sets a new benchmark in connectivity, supporting businesses with tangible advantages as they adapt to an ever-evolving digital landscape.