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
Digicel Samoa has expanded 5G coverage in Apia to 25 sites following the addition of five new locations. The rollout is part of a WST23m network upgrade programme across Upolu and Savaii, improving speeds, reliability, and access to digital services in urban and residential areas.
Botswana’s first satellite marks a turning point in Africa’s space journey. BOTSAT-1 strengthens national security, boosts agriculture, guides rural connectivity, and builds local engineering capacity. It positions Botswana as a serious player in the continent’s $22bn space economy while accelerating data-driven development across sectors.
Almadar Aljadid has completed final technical preparations to launch Libya’s first national 5G service. The rollout supports the country’s digital transformation agenda, aims to deliver world-class connectivity, and positions Libya within the global landscape of modern telecommunications.
Abu Dhabi has launched a new Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in partnership with the World Economic Forum, focused on quantum, robotics, space systems, and AI. Led by TII, the Centre will accelerate responsible deployment of frontier technologies, strengthen global policy leadership, and position the UAE as a premier hub for advanced innovation.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed toured UMEX and SimTEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi, reviewing global advances in unmanned systems, AI, robotics, and simulation. He highlighted the exhibitions’ role in global knowledge exchange and in reinforcing the UAE’s position as a hub for future technologies across civil and defence sectors.
KAUST spinouts have raised over $1bn, marking Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a serious deep-tech hub. The university is now courting global VCs, corporates, and accelerators to expand its funding base, accelerate clean-tech and critical-minerals innovation, and de-risk early-stage research under Vision 2030’s diversification drive.
NowPay has raised $20 million to launch operations in Saudi Arabia through a new joint venture, NowAccess, with Tas’heel. The partnership brings payroll, earned wage access, and financial wellness solutions to the Kingdom, aligning with Vision 2030 and positioning NowPay at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s HR and fintech transformation.
EdfaPay has launched Smart SoftPOS in Saudi Arabia following SAMA approval, enabling merchants to accept contactless payments on Android devices without hardware terminals. The unified, API-driven platform supports banks, fintechs, and enterprises with white-label solutions, accelerating cashless adoption and modernising the Kingdom’s payments ecosystem.
SUDO has signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to accelerate cloud adoption, AI integration, and legacy modernisation across Saudi Arabia. The partnership supports Vision 2030 by enabling public and private sector entities to build secure, scalable digital platforms and strengthen the Kingdom’s digital foundations.
Saudi Arabia’s Humain has secured a $1.2bn financing framework with the National Infrastructure Fund to build up to 250MW of AI data centre capacity. The move accelerates the Kingdom’s push to become a regional AI hub, backed by hyperscale infrastructure and institutional investment.