In a significant step forward for the UAE’s digital health sector, Abu Dhabi-based mental health platform Takalam and G42’s AI company, Inception, have announced the launch of Sanad. The new platform is the region’s first bilingual (Arabic-English) AI assistant designed specifically to empower therapists and streamline mental healthcare delivery.
Bridging AI and Empathy in Therapy
Developed over a year-long collaboration, Sanad is engineered to handle crucial but time-consuming administrative aspects of therapy. This includes managing patient intake, assisting with case preparation, and reducing the overall administrative burden on practitioners. By automating these tasks, the AI assistant allows therapists to dedicate more of their time and energy to what is most essential: fostering human connection and providing high-quality care to their patients. The goal is not to replace the therapist but to enhance their capacity for understanding, empathy, and connection.
Built for the MENA Region
Sanad distinguishes itself by being deeply attuned to the region’s unique needs. The AI has been trained on extensive data that reflects the specific cultural and clinical contexts of the MENA population. Its full bilingual functionality in both Arabic and English ensures that it can support genuine dialogue and accurately capture nuances that are critical in a therapeutic setting. The platform has been successfully validated for both security and effectiveness, and it provides direct support to therapists in developing and managing effective treatment plans for their clients.
A Collaboration Driving UAE’s AI Leadership
The partnership between Takalam and Inception highlights the growing capability of UAE-based innovation to produce transformative and safe AI solutions. Khawla Hammad, Founder and CEO of Takalam, stated, “Sanad blends cultural understanding with cutting-edge AI to create tools that make people feel seen, heard, and supported – while empowering therapists to focus on what truly matters: human care.”
Ashish Koshy, CEO of Inception, added, “Our partnership with Takalam shows how AI can be both safe and transformative. With Sanad, we’re proving that UAE innovation can lead the world – advancing bilingual AI and transforming digital mental health.” As Sanad moves into its next phase of testing, the companies are inviting healthcare providers and research institutions to collaborate in shaping its future development and deployment.
About Takalam
Born out of Abu Dhabi’s vision for social innovation, Takalam is transforming mental-health care through the seamless integration of technology, science, and human connection. The platform provides tools to enhance mental well-being, including online counseling, mood tracking, journaling, and personalized wellbeing programs that make mental-health support more accessible and culturally attuned. As a certified social enterprise, Takalam partners with leading organizations to build scalable and inclusive wellbeing ecosystems across the MENA region.
About Inception
Inception, a G42 company, is the region’s leading innovator of AI-powered products. Within the G42 ecosystem, Inception functions as the core intelligence layer, transforming data into real-world, applied AI solutions. Its key products span various domains including climate, health, and energy. Committed to positive societal impact, Inception has developed bilingual LLMs such as JAIS (Arabic) and supports the UAE’s ambition to become a global leader in AI through talent upskilling programs.
Source: Zawya
