Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Wio Bank is nearing Dh60 billion in assets less than three years after launching and is aiming to cross the Dh100 billion threshold within two to three years. Backed by ADQ, e&, FAB and Alpha Dhabi, the digital bank has become one of the UAE’s fastest-expanding lenders and intends to secure a top-three position in the retail and SME banking market as it continues its rapid growth.
Ericsson and ITIDA have signed a three-year MoU to advance Egypt’s ICT and digital services sectors in line with the Digital Egypt Offshoring Strategy. The partnership supports R&D expansion, high-value digital jobs, and advanced services such as AI and analytics, while investing in nationwide digital skills programmes and university collaborations to strengthen Egypt’s position as a global offshoring hub.
Nigeria’s NCC is intensifying efforts to eliminate pre-registered SIM cards, warning that they pose serious cybersecurity risks by enabling fraud and identity-related crime. Despite previous clean-up campaigns, illegal SIM sales continue due to informal resellers. The regulator will increase field inspections, penalise operators, and work closely with security agencies and NIMC to enforce stricter compliance and combat call masking and interconnect fraud.
Dialog Axiata has introduced a 5G-powered autonomous robot that cleans plastic and floating waste from Sri Lanka’s waterways. Developed with MEPA, the robot uses AI, real-time video, and carbon-neutral power to remove up to 50 kg of debris per mission. The announcement comes as Sri Lanka prepares for its first commercial 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step toward national 5G deployment.
The UAE has inaugurated Orbitworks, the region’s first commercial satellite manufacturing facility, launching production of the AI-enabled Altair constellation. Equipped for end-to-end assembly, testing, and rapid deployment, the KEZAD-based hub can build 50 satellites annually and serve global partners. Orbitworks positions the UAE as a sovereign producer of advanced space infrastructure, supporting national industrial strategies and accelerating its transition to a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged faster progress on key digital infrastructure projects, including telecom tower rollout, SLUDI, and NIC issuance. Reviewing the work of TRCSL, DRP, and GovTech, he emphasised eliminating delays, scaling infrastructure, and strengthening governance as essential pillars for the 2026 Budget’s digital economy objectives and long-term transformation goals.
eSIM adoption is rising quickly in Saudi Arabia as travelers embrace Airalo’s seamless and affordable digital connectivity. The shift aligns with Vision 2030’s focus on mobility and innovation, enabling users to activate mobile networks instantly upon arrival abroad. With strong customer uptake and expanding global coverage, Airalo is helping position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of regional digital transformation.
The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution reaffirming Syrians’ sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan and Palestinians’ rights to their natural resources. Though symbolic, the vote underscores global support for resource ownership in occupied territories and raises concerns over restricted access to land, water, and energy that directly impacts economic and humanitarian conditions.
Visit Qatar won six awards at the 2025 SMARTIES Saudi Arabia Awards, including two Golds and the top honour for Best Use of AI in Marketing. The wins recognise its advanced AI-driven campaigns powered by hyper-personalisation, real-time optimisation, and big data analytics. Supported by Mindshare Qatar and Smartifai, its recent global campaigns delivered highly targeted, high-impact digital experiences that boosted audience engagement and reinforced Qatar’s position as an innovative tourism leader.
Qatar has introduced a unified regulation for radio communications infrastructure to speed up 5G deployment and future technologies. The guidelines merge older rules into one streamlined framework, promoting site sharing, reducing redundancy, and enforcing updated safety and technical standards. The CRA aims to boost telecom quality, improve transparency, and align infrastructure development with international best practices and Qatar’s long-term digital ambitions.