Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Zain Group’s startup accelerator, Zain Great Idea (ZGI), was named a 2025 Corporate Rising Star at the Corporate Startup Stars Awards in Paris. The recognition highlights 15 years of sustained open innovation, regional accelerator programs, Silicon Valley partnerships, and strong outcomes across funding, mentorship, and ecosystem development throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Nigeria climbed slightly to 97th in Surfshark’s 2025 Digital Quality of Life Index but remains constrained by poor Internet affordability, weak infrastructure, and slow speeds. While digital security improved, Nigerians still pay among the highest costs for mobile and fixed Internet, limiting AI readiness, digital inclusion, and broader economic opportunities.
Zain Group is accelerating disability inclusion across its eight markets with three new initiatives aligned to its WE ABLE 2030 strategy. The company partnered with Business Disability Forum, expanded its GROW training program for graduates with disabilities, and introduced Individual Development Plans to support career growth for employees with disabilities across the region.
Jordan is strengthening water sustainability by deploying ABB’s Genix Industrial IoT and AI Suite to monitor energy use, optimize operations, and enhance decision-making across its water sector. Working with GIZ, the Water Authority of Jordan, and Volt Automation LLC, the project supports national climate goals in one of the world’s most water-scarce countries.
Orange Jordan concluded its tourism-focused accessibility hackathon by honouring three winning teams that developed digital solutions designed to make Jordan’s tourism sector more inclusive for persons with disabilities. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, combined training, mentorship, and innovation to empower students and promote accessible tourism. The hackathon reinforces Jordan’s wider digital inclusion efforts and Orange Jordan’s commitment to breaking barriers and enabling full participation for all.
Thales and AIO have expanded their long-standing partnership to deepen Egypt’s technological sovereignty and strengthen its role as a regional innovation hub. The collaboration includes establishing Thales Academy, advancing defence systems, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and integrating AIO into Thales’ supply chain—reinforcing Egypt’s ability to develop and export high-value technologies.
Pakistan is preparing its first National Fiberization Policy to deliver minimum 100 Mbps fixed broadband nationwide. Backed by the World Bank, the plan includes 8–10 million new fiber house passes and 80% tower fiberization. A consulting firm will map gaps, guide PPP investments, recommend regulatory reforms, and strengthen resilience for Pakistan’s digital future.
SYTEQ and Autodesk announced expanded collaboration to support Egypt’s Vision 2030, hosting a major conference on digital transformation for the public sector. The event showcased BIM, AI, and data-driven workflows, SYTEQ’s regional expansion, and the launch of SYTEQ Academy to upskill future engineers. Leaders explored solutions to enhance service delivery and infrastructure efficiency.
DXC Technology and ITIDA have partnered to launch the DXC Dandelion Program in Egypt, offering training and career pathways for neurodiverse individuals in IT. Over 60 participants will be trained across software testing, AI, and analytics. The initiative supports Egypt’s digital transformation, inclusive workforce development, and growing ICT industry.
Egypt’s Digital Egypt platform expanded significantly in 2025, surpassing 200 government services and growing its user base to 10.4 million. Transactions increased 300%, new apps and services were added, and e-litigation capabilities expanded. The progress supports Egypt’s wider digital-transformation strategy and improves nationwide access to public services.