Napster and Kameha Ventures Partner to Advance AI Innovation and Deployment in the UAE

NEW YORK and DUBAI – September 10, 2026 – Napster, the AI company democratizing access to expertise through embodied, multimodal agents, and Kameha Ventures, the Dubai-based venture platform led by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mana Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, today announced a strategic partnership to advance the development and deployment of locally relevant AI solutions in the UAE and support the country's national AI ambitions. Through the partnership, Napster plans to establish the UAE as a regional hub and build a long-term foundation for growth across the wider GCC.

The partnership is designed to bridge the gap between global AI capability and local deployment requirements. Napster will contribute its AI platform and capabilities across embodied and agentic AI, enterprise applications and interactive customer experiences, while Kameha Ventures will provide regional market-development capability, institutional relationship building and execution support. Napster partnered with Kameha because sustained growth in the UAE requires more than market access: it depends on trusted, long-term relationships and continuous guidance from the government, enterprise and institutional stakeholders shaping the country's AI ecosystem.

"Napster's agreement with Kameha Ventures puts us in the UAE while the national AI framework is still being built, and that is a significant opportunity,” said John Acunto, CEO of Napster. “This moment is the result of years of work, and the next few months will be about capitalizing on the trust we’ve built with government and enterprise entities in the country to make the most of our momentum in the Emirates.”

The timing follows a significant acceleration in the UAE's broader AI agenda. In May 2026, the UAE Cabinet approved a federal framework for implementing Agentic AI across ministries and entities, supporting a plan to transition 50 per cent of government services and operations to Agentic AI models within two years. Dubai also launched a two-year initiative to accelerate Agentic AI adoption across the private sector. These are recent examples within a broader national agenda spanning responsible AI adoption, digital infrastructure, talent and practical applications across government and industry. That agenda builds on the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and Dubai's Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, making this the right moment for a partnership that connects international technology with local knowledge, talent and deployment capability across the wider AI landscape.

The partners will focus on locally guided deployment rather than one-size-fits-all technology. Napster and Kameha Ventures intend to work directly with UAE government entities, enterprises and institutions to gather first-hand feedback, identify practical use cases and shape solutions around local operational needs, cultural context, data-governance expectations and regulatory priorities. Emirati leaders and experts will be central to guiding deployment priorities and evaluating solutions. This approach is intended to ensure deployments are developed with, tested by and validated alongside the UAE organizations that will use them.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mana Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO at Kameha Ventures, said: "The UAE's AI ambition has always been about turning vision into practical outcomes. This partnership brings together Napster's technology and Kameha Ventures' local relationships and execution capability so that solutions are shaped here, with the people and institutions they are intended to serve. We share a commitment to contributing to the UAE ecosystem for the long term, strengthening local capability and supporting the country's position as a global hub for responsible AI innovation and deployment."

Sam Huber, CEO MENA at Napster, said: "We want the UAE to be Napster's principal hub for the region, not simply a market we serve. That means deploying locally, listening first, and building with UAE organizations so our technology reflects their priorities and earns their trust. Emirati leadership and first-hand stakeholder guidance will be central to how we develop use cases and evaluate solutions. Kameha gives us the relationships, regional understanding, and execution support to build that foundation properly and for the long term."

Under the partnership, Kameha Ventures will support long-term engagement with government entities, enterprises, institutions and investors; help structure local partnerships and commercial pathways; and provide ongoing guidance on market needs and stakeholder priorities. Napster will use those insights to adapt deployment plans and locally relevant applications. The combined approach is intended to solidify Napster's UAE foundation while helping local organizations move from AI experimentation to practical AI adoption.

The partnership builds on Napster's recent regional momentum. In July 2026, Napster announced a sovereign AI infrastructure collaboration with Saudi-based DETASAD and Lenovo, pairing in-Kingdom datacenterinfrastructure with Napster's enterprise AI platform to provide a fully local path for advanced AI deployment, including agentic AI applications. The collaboration established a principle Napster intends to carry into the UAE: deploy closer to customers and data, work with regional infrastructure and business partners, and use first-hand local guidance to build solutions suited to the market.

Together, Napster and Kameha Ventures aim to create a durable platform for cooperation that connects global technology, Emirati leadership and UAE stakeholder expertise. The partnership will support the UAE's broader federal and emirate-level AI priorities, help organisations move from experimentation to practical deployment, and establish the UAE as the foundation of Napster's long-term regional growth.

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About Napster‍

Founded on the principle of democratizing access, first to music in 1999, now to expertise in the AI era, Napster has consistently remained at the forefront of technological shifts that empower users. Today, the company builds embodied, multimodal AI agents that engage employees and customers where they already work: through video presence, voice, and text. Designed to work alongside people rather than replace them, Napster’s agents carry institutional knowledge into every interaction, elevating the user’s experience and improving business outcomes. For more information, visit napster.com. 

About Kameha Ventures

Kameha Ventures is a Dubai-based strategic venture platform connecting global technology companies with opportunities across the Gulf. The firm supports companies through GCC market entry, venture building, investment, strategic partnerships and regional commercial development. Its investment focus includes deep technology and artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and enterprise technology, smart cities, energy and industrial innovation, security and resilience, and strategic infrastructure.‍

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