Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt is accelerating education reform by embedding AI and programming into school curricula while expanding technical education partnerships with Italy, the UK, and Japan. The government is upgrading schools, distributing tablets, enhancing financial literacy, and strengthening exam governance to align graduate skills with labour market demands.
ADB has approved $950,000 in technical assistance to help Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia adopt AI in healthcare. The programme will assess clinical, management, and generative AI tools while building governance frameworks and domestic AI ecosystems to improve efficiency and equitable access.
Bangladesh’s 4G median speeds exceed new QoS benchmarks, driven by spectrum investments and 3G refarming. However, bottom 10th percentile data reveals compliance gaps in rural and edge zones, highlighting the need for targeted network densification.
Saudi Arabia has joined the OECD-hosted Global Partnership on AI, aligning with Vision 2030 to shape global AI governance and promote ethical, human-centric development. The move strengthens international cooperation and is expected to attract investment into the Kingdom’s expanding AI ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multilingual digital “Umrah and Ziyarah Guide” covering all stages of the pilgrimage journey. Featuring interactive tools, maps, and videos, the initiative enhances awareness, service quality, and digital accessibility for pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia is leveraging MORAN to accelerate 5G rollout, reduce infrastructure duplication, and enhance sustainability under Vision 2030. By enabling shared radio infrastructure while preserving competition, the model supports giga-project connectivity, faster deployment, and lower energy consumption nationwide.
The Pakistan FinTech Summit marks the first global expansion of DIFC’s platform, strengthening UAE-Pakistan fintech ties. With rising funding and 450 fintech firms active, Pakistan is advancing regulatory reforms and digital infrastructure while addressing cash reliance and financial inclusion gaps.
Qatar and Azerbaijan are strengthening ties to expand tech startups across fintech, proptech, and insurtech sectors. Leaders stress public-private collaboration, talent development, and infrastructure investment as key drivers for transforming resource-based economies into regional digital hubs.
Finnfund has invested $5m in CREI to expand solar-hybrid energy systems across MTN South Sudan’s telecom sites, boosting network coverage to 80% of the population and cutting emissions by 43%, while supporting community health and gender inclusion initiatives.
Kuwait has secured approval to award a $64.8m contract to modernise its fixed-line network, aiming for 90% fibre coverage by 2028 with speeds up to 10 Gbps, supporting smart city ambitions and the New Kuwait 2035 vision.