Amazon officially introduced Alexa to the Middle East starting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The virtual assistant can now chat in Arabic and understands the local dialects of the area.
The work started practically a couple of years ago to develop the Arabic language and personality with Alexa. Local service customers volunteered to assist Alexa in learning the language through an app at a scripted event. As a result, Amazon employees began to test it internally, which has now led to its launch in the Middle East.
Amazon didn't just literally translate Alexa's commands from English to Arabic. Instead, he crossed the nuances of the different dialects of the area with the addition of cultural references. Alexa can tell you when is the next prayer hour or when is the next Eid.
Launch of Echo devices in UAE and Saudi Arabia
Along with Alexa, Amazon has also announced a slew of Echo devices that will launch in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These devices are:
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen): AED one hundred and eighty-nine ninety-nine with a preparatory offering of AED 109,99
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation): Two hundred and twenty-nine AEDs with one hundred and forty-nine preparatory offerings AED ninety-nine
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) with watch: AED two hundred and seventy-nine ninety-nine with a propaedeutic offer two of AED 239,99
Amazon Echo (fourth generation): AED four hundred and forty-nine ninety-nine with a preparatory offer of AED 299,99
Amazon Echo Show Five (XNUMXnd Generation AED Three Hundred Forty Nine Ninety-Nine with Introductory Offer from AED Two Hundred Nineteen Ninety-Nine
Amazon Echo Show Eight (XNUMXnd Generation): AED five hundred and forty-nine ninety-nine with a preparatory offer of AED three hundred and ninety-nine
Amazon Echo Show Ten (999.99nd Generation): AED one hundred nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine with a preparatory offer of AED XNUMX
The Amazon Echo Dot and Echo devices come without a screen, while the Amazon Echo Show devices bring Alexa to a five-, eight- or ten-inch screen with a camera.
Regional applications and skills
Amazon has partnered with a number of companies in the area to launch their apps or skills on the Amazon Echo. As well as music, Amazon worked with Anghami to bring its catalog to Echo devices.
Elie Habib, co-founder of Anghami, mentions that although there is tons of content awaited, such as Arabic songs and free podcasts on Echo, he also mentions the availability of the Quran in it.
In addition to Anghami, you'll find skills for Expo Twenty Twenty, Careem, Fatafeat, and Reel Cinemas.