Abu Dhabi – Virtually Islamic News

Thu 6 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 17-9-2026AD
Abu Dhabi, Artificial Intelligence

Abu Dhabi AI Government

The impact of AI on policy and government development …

Mon 14 Muharram 1448AH 29-6-2026AD
Abu Dhabi, Artificial Intelligence

AI Abu Dhabi Strategies

Jenna Kleinwort, DW, How the Iran war has disrupted Abu Dhabi’s AI strategy, 26 Jun 2026 “”Despite massive investments, much of the region’s AI ecosystem continues to rely on...

Tue 15 Shaban 1447AH 3-2-2026AD
Abu Dhabi, Artificial Intelligence, UAE, UAE Digital

Abu Dhabi AI

"Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence company G42 is developing national infrastructure for autonomous AI systems, alongside plans to build a large-scale computing centre in the UAE." #UAE...

Tue 15 Shaban 1447AH 3-2-2026AD
Abu Dhabi, Cryptocurrencies, Research, UAE, UAE Digital

Crypto Abu Dhabi

From a few days ago (missed it amongst everything else!). "A crypto venture linked to Donald Trump accepted a half-billion-dollar investment backed by an Abu Dhabi royal days before...

Thu 10 Shaban 1447AH 29-1-2026AD
Abu Dhabi, Artificial Intelligence

Abu Dhabi L-AI

The frightening (to some) prospect of AI driving instructors in Abu Dhabi (or elsewhere!). AI driving instructors in Abu Dhabi: "The automated system will learn a pupil's driving style...

Tue 22 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 14-10-2025AD
Abu Dhabi, Relationships, Religious Authority, UAE, UAE Digital

Marriage by App

The National, Put a ring on it: Couples in Abu Dhabi can use their phones to get married for Dh800, 14 Oct 2025 “Couples enrolled on the Tamm app, which...

Mon 30 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 22-9-2025AD
Abu Dhabi, Nvidia, UAE, UAE Digital

Nvidia/UAE Collaboration

Reuters, Abu Dhabi to host first Nvidia AI Technology Center in Middle East, 22 Sep 2025. “The joint research hub is the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the...

Tue 24 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 16-9-2025AD
Abu Dhabi, Amazon, Arabic, Artificial Intelligence, Digital MENA, Dubai Internet, Libraries, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI

The National, Editorial, How the UAE is maintaining Arabic’s place in the information era, 16 Sep 2025 “Concerns about Arabic’s place in the digital era are held by many...

Thu 24 Dhul Qidah 1446AH 22-5-2025AD
Abu Dhabi, Digital MENA, Donald Trump, Nvidia, UAE, UAE Digital

‘Stargate UAE‘

Stephen Nellis, Reuters, ‘Stargate UAE’ AI datacenter to begin operation in 2026, 22 May 2025 “The first phase of that project will be the 1-gigawatt Stargate UAE project, built...

Wed 23 Dhul Qidah 1446AH 21-5-2025AD
Abu Dhabi, Arabic, Artificial Intelligence, LLMs, SLMs, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI Arabic model launched

Reuters, UAE launches Arabic language AI model as Gulf race gathers pace, 21 May 2025 “Falcon Arabic, developed by Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), aims to capture...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

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Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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