An AI startup based in the UAE will be delivering Friday sermons in over 30 languages. This venture showcases how artificial intelligence can aid in communication in a multicultural environment. With ongoing advancements in AI translation technologies, the potential uses of artificial intelligence in communication are expected to grow in several fields.
UAE residents may soon be able to read Friday sermons in more than 30 languages through a new AI platform developed by a local startup and showcased at the Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition.
The application, created by KhutbahFlow, is set to be launched this year, allowing Muslims to access translations of sermons through QR codes provided in the mosques that use the application. The idea is to make the Friday sermons easily accessible to the diverse population of the UAE, where there are over 200 nationalities who speak different languages.
According to the company, the platform will support languages including English, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Tagalog, Indonesian, Pashto, Russian, Chinese, Turkish, Uzbek, Malay, Swahili, and Somali, among others.
Mohammed Ahmad, founder and CEO of KhutbahFlow, returned to the UAE after studying at King's College London and working at UK startup Fuse Energy during its rapid growth phase to launch his own venture.
"The competition at the Khalifa Fund event is tough, and that's exactly what's inspiring about being here. It pushes us all to do better, and it's an extremely exciting place to be building a company," he said, adding that “being surrounded by founders who are building innovative solutions gives me confidence that the UAE entrepreneurship scene is becoming increasingly competitive and globally relevant."
Ali Abdullah Al-Saadi, Director of Program Management at Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said the organization has spent nearly two decades supporting entrepreneurs across the UAE through financial and non-financial programs.
"For the past 18 years, Khalifa Fund has been shaping the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," Al-Saadi said. "We support entrepreneurs through business planning, financial planning, advisory services, and mentorship to help build sustainable businesses that contribute to the UAE economy."
Dr. Omar Najam, CEO and co-founder of the company, said the initiative was inspired by lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent regional challenges.
"Today, molecular testing kits are largely imported from overseas. Our goal is to design, manufacture, and validate these solutions locally using artificial intelligence and the capabilities that already exist within the UAE," he said.
He added that the company aims not only to serve the UAE market but also to position Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for expansion across the Middle East and Africa.
By making information more accessible and inclusive, AI can help organizations connect with diverse audiences while reducing language barriers and improving engagement.