Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi Arabia has named 2026 the “Year of AI” to catalyze its $100 billion investment in the sector. Backed by world-class infrastructure like the Shaheen III supercomputer and the National Data Lake, the Kingdom aims to move beyond regional leadership to become a primary global influencer in AI innovation and ethical governance.
Humain, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is spearheading Saudi Arabia’s transition into a global AI hub. By securing 211 land plots and deploying cutting-edge Qualcomm hardware, the company is building the “Humain Core”—a gigawatt-scale infrastructure designed for high-performance inferencing and sovereign AI development, including the “Allam” Arabic language model.
Qatar’s Ministry of Labour now offers 325+ online services, processing 250,000 transactions in the last month alone. The 24/7 digital portal allows workers and employers to manage administrative tasks remotely, marking a key achievement in the country’s national digital transformation efforts to improve government service efficiency.
Meta’s 2Africa subsea cable project has been paused in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea due to regional military conflicts. ASN has halted operations citing high risks to vessels, leaving key segments unconnected. The delay threatens to slow digital expansion across Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of critical global internet infrastructure during geopolitical crises.
Select Technologies Limited is moving toward a public listing on the PSX, appointing Arif Habib Limited as the lead manager for the IPO. Founded in 2021, Select has quickly become a key manufacturing arm for Air Link, already operating state-of-the-art assembly lines for global brands like Xiaomi. The upcoming IPO is expected to fund further capacity expansion, particularly in the domestic production of consumer electronics, reducing Pakistan’s reliance on imported finished goods.
Ufone 4G’s parent company, PTML, acquired 180 MHz of 5G spectrum for $156.75 million in Pakistan’s latest auction. The allocation covers the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, providing the capacity needed for urban 5G rollout. This infrastructure will support Ufone, Onic, and Telenor subscribers, facilitating a nationwide shift toward ultra-fast mobile broadband and low-latency digital services.
Bank Nizwa has launched Apple Pay, offering its customers in Oman a secure and Sharia-compliant mobile payment solution. The service enables contactless transactions via Apple devices, utilizing tokenization for enhanced privacy. This rollout supports Oman’s national digital transformation goals and provides a modern, cardless banking experience for Islamic finance users.
Morocco’s “AI Made in Morocco” initiative targets a 100 billion dirham GDP boost and 50,000 new jobs by 2030. Key developments include the Al-Jazari Institute for Industry X.0 and a national network of centers of excellence. The strategy emphasizes technological sovereignty and ethical AI, positioning Morocco as a regional leader in digital transformation.
Morocco is establishing “Local Digital Access Points” to help citizens in rural areas access e-government services. Part of the Maroc Digital 2030 strategy, the program uses a pilot phase to test regional effectiveness before a national rollout. The initiative aims to reduce travel times and administrative delays by providing local digital assistance and high-speed internet in underserved zones.
Vodacom South Africa has debuted “SuperUpload,” a 5G-Advanced feature reaching 254 Mbps uplink speeds. The technology uses dual-channel data transmission to provide fiber-like upload performance on mobile devices. This African milestone targets the growing demand for stable, high-speed connectivity in video conferencing, cloud gaming, and professional file sharing.