In 2024, Zain Kuwait continued its leadership in telecom and digital innovation, supporting sports, empowering youth, and promoting sustainability. The company launched the Zain Great Idea accelerator, achieved significant 5G breakthroughs, and spearheaded campaigns like Zain Alshuhoor Ramadan, all contributing to Kuwait’s growth and community well-being.
The Nclude Fund, with over $105 million in capital, has invested $24.5 million into 8 fintech startups, boosting Egypt’s fintech sector. Managed by Development Partners International (DPI), the fund aims to encourage foreign investment and position Egypt as the MENA region’s fintech innovation hub.
Egypt has introduced a new e-voting platform and government service monitoring apps, enhancing citizen participation and public service delivery. These digital tools align with Egypt’s Vision 2030, boosting transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. The country aims to overcome challenges in rural areas and expand digital governance across the nation.
Konecta Group has signed an MoU with ITIDA to expand its operations in Egypt, establishing a regional headquarters in New Cairo. The $100 million investment will create 3,000 jobs, focusing on AI solutions, digital transformation, and multilingual customer services. The partnership will enhance Egypt’s IT sector and exports.
GoDaddy is helping MENA businesses boost sales growth in 2025 with AI-powered tools. The company offers solutions to optimize e-commerce, digital marketing, and customer engagement, enabling businesses to build strong digital presences, streamline operations, and attract new customers through localized platforms and targeted strategies.
Moroccan startups raised $70 million in 2024, ranking fifth in Africa for funding. Despite a decline compared to previous years, the country remains a key player in the African tech ecosystem. The government’s new plan to support innovation aims to foster growth, create jobs, and attract foreign investment.
Egypt’s Digital Strategy aims to empower citizens, foster entrepreneurship, and simplify digital government services. The country is expanding its Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs, which focus on digital skills training, freelancing, and innovation. These hubs support startups, offering incubation, funding, and specialized training programs to boost Egypt’s digital economy.
Space42, formed from Al Yah (YahSat) and Bayanat AI, launched its Thuraya 4 satellite to replace older units. The satellite supports a $799 million revenue backlog, with plans for Direct-to-Device services. The UAE government has committed $800 million over 15 years to support Space42’s ambitions in global non-terrestrial communications.
stc pay has partnered with Mastercard Move to become the first in Bahrain to offer secure remittances to Alipay, China’s leading digital platform. This collaboration enhances stc pay’s digital ecosystem, providing secure, efficient international transactions between Bahrain and China, and aligning with both nations’ strategic business cooperation.
Newlab has expanded into Saudi Arabia with a strategic partnership to foster critical-tech startups. The new Riyadh hub, set to open in 2025, will support commercialization, offering essential infrastructure and innovation programs. The first program, The Mining Innovation Studio, focuses on tech solutions for challenges in the mining sector.
