Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Qatar’s card payment transactions totaled QR11.59 billion in April 2025, driven by strong growth in PoS and e-commerce. The Fawran instant payment system and mobile wallets also contributed significantly, supporting Qatar’s expanding digital economy and advancing a secure, efficient, and inclusive digital payment ecosystem.
Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth launched ‘Shabik,’ a digital platform for online event ticketing, alongside the ‘Accelerators’ hackathon—the Gulf region’s largest. These initiatives aim to drive digital transformation, enhance service efficiency, and foster innovation in culture, sports, and youth sectors across Oman.
The Oman CX Forum 2025, held at St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat, will unite over 250 industry leaders to explore customer experience innovations. Featuring expert talks and the Oman CX Awards, the event focuses on AI, personalization, and loyalty strategies to help Omani businesses thrive in a competitive digital market.
The Girls in ICT Conference, organized by Nepal Telecommunication Authority and ITU, emphasized the need for equal digital access for girls and women. Officials highlighted government efforts to enhance digital inclusion and called for ICT education at the school level to close the gender gap in technology fields.
Zain Kuwait sponsored the 26th career fair at Gulf University for Science and Technology, connecting over 50 employers with students and job seekers. Showcasing job openings and its internship program, Zain reinforces its commitment to empowering national talent and strengthening Kuwait’s private sector workforce development.
Crédit Coopératif plans to acquire fintech Anytime from Orange Bank, enhancing its digital services for associations and social economy organizations. The acquisition supports Crédit Coopératif’s 2025-2030 strategic plan to expand its digital offering and increase market share in the association segment with innovative, tailored financial solutions.
Morocco hosted the Smart City Morocco RoadShow & Expo 2025/2030 from May 21 to 23, promoting sustainable urban innovation across Casablanca, Rabat, and Benguerir. The event aligns with King Mohammed VI’s vision and prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2030, emphasizing resilient, connected, and inclusive smart cities.
Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have signed an MoU to pilot Kuwait’s first cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), deploying 5G Standalone sites with Rakuten’s virtualized Open RAN software. The initiative aims to boost network agility, efficiency, and scalability, marking a key step in Zain’s regional digital innovation.
Jordan’s ICT sector has grown rapidly, with revenues rising from $320 million to $3.6 billion since 2000. Supported by royal leadership and strong public-private collaboration, the sector now employs over 46,000 people, hosts 450 startups, and advances digital infrastructure, positioning Jordan as a key regional tech hub.
Saudi Arabia launches a national AI incubator to support 20 early-stage startups with funding, mentorship, and technical partnerships. This initiative supports Vision 2030’s goal to diversify the economy and build a competitive AI ecosystem, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a regional and global technology leader.