Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Salam has joined DeveGo 25 as a Strategic Sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation in Saudi Arabia. Through initiatives such as the Salam Award for Promising Projects, the company is supporting early-stage startups and entrepreneurs while contributing to Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and sustainable growth.
Cyberattacks escalated sharply in 2025, hitting governments, corporations, and critical infrastructure worldwide. Repeated US federal breaches, major ransomware campaigns, and economically damaging attacks in the UK and Asia highlighted systemic vulnerabilities, weak detection, and the growing impact of state-linked cyber actors on global stability.
Egypt ranked 22nd globally in the World Bank’s 2025 Digital Government Index, jumping 47 places from 2022. Strong gains across automation, service delivery, citizen engagement, and digital enablers reflect the impact of the Digital Egypt strategy and sustained investment in skills, infrastructure, and govtech innovation.
Egypt successfully led the adoption of a UN resolution on artificial intelligence in telecommunication development at the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025. The resolution strengthens ICT capacity-building for developing countries and highlights Egypt’s expanding role in global digital and AI policy within the ITU framework.
Bangladesh has launched a digital truck tracking system under ASYCUDA World to monitor cargo vehicles entering from India. Piloted at Benapole land port, the system enables real-time monitoring, improves data accuracy, strengthens border security, reduces revenue leakage, and supports more transparent and efficient cross-border trade.
Bangladesh’s internet usage rose to 48.9 percent in 2025, up from 44.5 percent in 2023, according to a BBS survey. While mobile phone access is nearly universal, gaps persist in smartphone ownership, internet use, and gender and urban-rural access, highlighting uneven digital inclusion.
Xiaomi has been named Bangladesh’s leading mobile handset brand for the second consecutive year at the Best Brand Award 2025. The recognition reflects strong consumer trust, widespread market presence, and the brand’s role in making affordable, feature-rich smartphones and connected technology accessible across the country.
Bahrain is introducing a digital system to manage and pre-approve mobile food truck locations, allowing operators to reserve designated sites online. The initiative sets clear zoning, safety, and operating rules to regulate food trucks while improving oversight and organisation across the kingdom.Bahrain is introducing a digital system to manage and pre-approve mobile food truck locations, allowing operators to reserve designated sites online. The initiative sets clear zoning, safety, and operating rules to regulate food trucks while improving oversight and organisation across the kingdom.
Saudi Telecom Company, through Center3, has signed an MoU with PIF-backed Humain to form a joint venture developing AI-focused data centres in Saudi Arabia. The partnership targets up to 1GW of capacity, combining Center3’s infrastructure scale with Humain’s AI mandate to support high-density computing workloads.
Gaza’s remaining tech workers are struggling to stay online as Israel’s war devastates the enclave’s digital infrastructure. Coding offline, using solar power, and relying on rare connectivity, freelancers and technicians are fighting to preserve livelihoods and purpose amid widespread destruction and displacement.