Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Mobily and Ooredoo have pledged US$2.2 billion to the ITU’s Partner2Connect initiative, supporting data centres, subsea cables, 5G, and fibre infrastructure projects aimed at advancing universal connectivity and digital inclusion across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.
LEAP 5 returns to Riyadh in April 2026, aiming to surpass last year’s $14.9 billion in deals. With over 200,000 attendees expected and participation from global tech giants and major investors, the event underscores Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in the global technology ecosystem.
Arbisoft and Thakaat have signed an MOU to scale digital education in Saudi Arabia through open learning platforms, teacher development, and workforce readiness initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 and the Human Capability Development Program.
Mobily’s strong 2025 results, including revenue growth of 7.9% and higher margins, prompted United Securities to assign a buy rating and raise its price target to 72 riyals, citing sustainable growth driven by infrastructure investment and wholesale expansion.
Qatar ranks sixth globally in Islamic FinTech market size at $3.1 billion, with projections to reach $4.8 billion by 2029. The sector is set for continued expansion amid rising global demand for Sharia-compliant digital financial services.
Pakistan’s telecom sector recorded Rs 1,075 billion in revenues with broadband subscribers reaching 150 million and 4G users crossing 141 million. Data consumption surged 30 percent, FDI rose 67 percent, and ARPU improved significantly, reflecting strong sector growth and rising digital adoption.
Morocco Telecom plans to launch a new share buyback programme worth up to 255 million dirhams, covering 1.5 million shares over 18 months. The initiative aims to enhance liquidity and stabilise trading without altering capital structure, pending shareholder approval at the March 26 AGM.
Jordan launches a €1.83 million EU-backed ReTour initiative to enhance digital readiness and resilience among tourism SMEs across six Mediterranean countries. The 30-month project will introduce AI, blockchain, smart tools, and training to support sustainability and business continuity.
The Iraqi-UAE World Link project is a US$700 million hybrid subsea and terrestrial fiber network linking Asia and Europe through Iraq and Turkey. Designed for hyperscale traffic with sub-100ms latency, it supports AI workloads and cloud services, diversifies global data routes, and positions Iraq as a key Eurasian connectivity hub.
Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched Wa3i.net, an Arabic platform promoting digital citizenship and child online safety. The launch coincided with an MoU signing with NCCM to strengthen child protection, awareness, and training programs across the country, benefiting thousands of teachers, students, and parents.