Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The third Arab regional forum brought together policymakers and experts in Tozeur to explore how cultural and creative industries can drive sustainable development in the age of artificial intelligence. Discussions focused on future professions, financing creativity, digital transformation, and protecting creators’ rights.
Tunisie Telecom marks 30 years as a cornerstone of Tunisia’s national and international connectivity, evolving from traditional telephony to advanced digital infrastructure. Its expansion of fibre networks, data centres, and submarine cables has supported digital inclusion and economic development nationwide.
Qatar advanced its digital transformation in 2025 through major AI, GovTech, and policy initiatives, strengthening national readiness and public-sector efficiency. Government-led programs and global partnerships positioned the country to deliver AI-powered public services aligned with Digital Agenda 2030.
Big Tech firms are signing record multi-billion-dollar deals across chips, cloud, and data centres to secure AI capacity amid surging demand. Major players including OpenAI, Nvidia, Meta, Google, and Amazon are locking in long-term infrastructure to protect competitiveness and reduce future supply risks.
Pakistan’s digital payments ecosystem is growing rapidly but remains fragile due to transaction failures, regulatory friction, and low trust. Experts say operational fixes, open banking, and better fraud management could improve reliability and confidence without major infrastructure spending.
Oman Broadband expanded fiber-optic coverage to nearly 927,000 homes by November 2025 and surpassed 326,000 active subscribers, with plans to reach one million homes within three years. The expansion supports smart cities, SME participation, and Oman’s broader digital economy goals.
TikTok has released Nepal’s top searches for 2025, highlighting how users rely on the platform for festivals, travel, entertainment, news, and everyday decisions. The trends show TikTok’s growing role as a real-time discovery and information tool shaped by local creators.
Woliz raised USD 2.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Sanlam Maroc to digitize Morocco’s informal neighborhood retail sector. The startup will use the capital to scale its AI-driven platform, onboard merchants, and prepare for expansion into other African markets.
Zain Omantel International and Zain Kuwait enabled a Guinness World Record remote robotic surgery between Kuwait and Brazil using ultra-low latency connectivity. The 12,000km procedure demonstrated how advanced digital infrastructure can support real-time, life-critical medical applications globally.
Huawei Cloud gathered over 150 partners in Saudi Arabia to share its ecosystem strategy and reinforce long-term collaboration. The event highlighted partner success stories, recognised top performers, and underscored Huawei Cloud’s role in supporting the Kingdom’s digital transformation.