11 Arab innovators get $150,000 backing from GM

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

General Motors has pledged $150,000 to support 11 young innovators from seven Arab countries through its expanded partnership with the Arab Youth Center’s Young Arab Pioneers initiative. This funding will provide these entrepreneurs with financial aid, technical resources, and professional networks to accelerate projects in advanced fields like AI, quantum computing, and electric mobility, boosting regional innovation and economic growth.

General Motors (GM) has committed $150,000 to support 11 young Arab innovators through a partnership with the Arab Youth Center, aimed at advancing youth development and innovation in the region. The funding is part of an expanded collaboration under the Young Arab Pioneers initiative, an effort that highlights promising young professionals driving progress across various fields.

The agreement, formalized in October 2026, builds on cooperation between the two organizations that has been in place since 2021. It seeks to enhance the impact of the initiative’s members by providing them with financial backing, technical resources, and connections to professional networks and institutions.

The selected pioneers represent seven countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, and Syria. Their projects span multiple cutting-edge disciplines including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, electric mobility, digital twin technology, coding education, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and medical technology.

Among the recipients, Akram Amir, founder of AR Engineering, is focused on developing digital twin and augmented reality tools designed for immersive defense training applications. Kareem Ayyad has created "ALtokob," an Arabic generative AI platform currently serving over 400,000 users. In Algeria, Yousra Farhani conducts research in the fast-evolving field of quantum computing. Meanwhile, Rashid Ahmad Al-Salmi from the UAE is advancing technologies related to electric mobility.

In addition to technology and research, the initiative also supports projects in education and professional development. Mohammed Saud Al-Otaibi, the founder of Wathba, is fostering career growth among young Saudi professionals through peer mentoring programs.

The Young Arab Pioneers initiative aims to connect talented young Arab innovators with expertise, institutional support, and resources necessary to scale their efforts, thereby contributing to the region’s economic and technological development. GM’s ongoing involvement underscores its commitment to empowering youth-led innovation and shaping the future landscape of the Arab world.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.