Veon and Engro have secured all regulatory approvals to combine their telecom infrastructure assets in Pakistan. Engro will acquire Deodar from Veon’s Jazz, enabling Jazz to operate as an asset-light company while maintaining service leases, supporting Pakistan’s digital transformation and infrastructure growth.
Benefit highlighted Bahrain’s financial sector as a key driver of Economic Vision 2030 at the Kuwait Public Relations Conference. Emphasizing digital transformation and fintech innovation, Benefit showcased its role in financial inclusion and attracting foreign investment, aligning with national strategies and advancing sustainable economic growth.
IFS will showcase its industrial AI-powered Asset Lifecycle Management solutions at the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi, helping utilities modernize infrastructure and enhance operational resilience. The launch of IFS Cloud 25R1 enables predictive maintenance and smarter decision-making to support energy transition and sustainability goals.
Bahrain’s iGA participated in the 27th GCC eGovernment Executive Committee meeting in Kuwait, advancing regional digital transformation. Key highlights included renaming the committee, developing a unified AI strategy, enhancing digital security, and preparing for the GCC Digital Government Award 2025, reinforcing Gulf cooperation in government digital services.
Globant has opened its Middle East Regional HQ in Riyadh to lead AI-driven digital transformation. The hub will train local talent and accelerate innovation across key sectors, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and positioning the Kingdom as a global technology center.
The UAE Verify platform has issued over 21.7 million certified digital documents since 2022, enabling instant verification of official documents without physical copies. Using blockchain technology, the platform enhances data security, authenticity, and privacy, supporting the UAE’s digital transformation and facilitating seamless information sharing across government and private sectors.
Saudi Arabia launches a new digital service enabling pilgrims to activate eSIMs instantly via app and biometric verification, ensuring seamless connectivity upon arrival. This innovation enhances the Hajj and Umrah experience by eliminating traditional SIM card activation delays and aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to digital modernization.
Saudi Arabia’s digital economy grew to 15.6% of GDP in 2023, driven by strong ICT sector performance. ICT imports increased by 19.9%, exports surged 76.1%, and smart device adoption reached 71.6% of connected establishments, highlighting the kingdom’s advancing digital transformation and economic diversification.
Qatar’s card payment transactions totaled QR11.59 billion in April 2025, driven by strong growth in PoS and e-commerce. The Fawran instant payment system and mobile wallets also contributed significantly, supporting Qatar’s expanding digital economy and advancing a secure, efficient, and inclusive digital payment ecosystem.
Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth launched ‘Shabik,’ a digital platform for online event ticketing, alongside the ‘Accelerators’ hackathon—the Gulf region’s largest. These initiatives aim to drive digital transformation, enhance service efficiency, and foster innovation in culture, sports, and youth sectors across Oman.
