Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi Arabia launched SMAI 2 to strengthen national data and AI capabilities through coordinated public-sector training, building on earlier programs that reached over one million Saudis and supporting responsible AI adoption across 11 government ministries.
The sixth Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum will convene global experts in Dubai in April 2026 to examine AI-driven digital content growth, governance challenges, misinformation risks, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the global digital economy.
Saudi Arabia’s Oracle AI World Tour highlighted the Kingdom’s growing focus on artificial intelligence as a driver of economic diversification, with leaders emphasizing cloud innovation, enterprise adoption, and large-scale investment aligned with Vision 2030 goals across government and industry.
Morocco has refreshed its offshoring strategy, placing AI, big data, and cloud computing at its core. Backed by tax incentives and training bonuses, the framework aims to attract global firms, future-proof the sector, and expand a workforce already supporting nearly 149,000 jobs and MAD 26 billion in service exports.
Egypt’s Fatwa Authority has ruled that using AI tools like ChatGPT to interpret the Quran is impermissible, warning of misinterpretation and doctrinal error. It stressed that AI lacks true understanding and scholarly method, urging Muslims to rely on recognised tafsir, qualified scholars, and established religious institutions.
The UN has launched the 2026 Global Pulse Accelerator, offering $60,000 each to three data- and AI-driven projects with real-world impact. The programme targets solutions advancing sustainable development, humanitarian action, and social inclusion, providing funding, mentorship, and technical support to help teams scale.
EY has launched Studio+ across Mena, bringing together regional and global expertise in design, technology, and customer experience. The new offering helps organisations deliver end-to-end, AI-powered transformation, with a focus on measurable impact. The launch in Riyadh also saw EY sign an MoU with stc to drive ecosystem-led innovation.
Bold Brand has launched AI-powered marketing services in Egypt and Saudi Arabia to help businesses improve efficiency, customer experience, and campaign performance. The agency is tailoring its solutions to distinct consumer behaviours and regulatory environments, using data analytics and automation to deliver scalable, compliant, and market-specific digital strategies.
Oman and Saudi Arabia discussed expanding cooperation across journalism, broadcasting, and digital media, with a focus on modern technologies and artificial intelligence. The talks underscored strong bilateral ties and examined how digital transformation can enhance content quality and strengthen the media’s role in awareness and public guidance.
Gulf Edge and Google Cloud are transforming Thai telco AIS into an AI-native enterprise using Gemini Enterprise, creating an agentic AI platform across operations and customer touchpoints. The model will scale across Gulf Group, supported by a new AI Center of Excellence, positioning Thailand for large-scale enterprise AI adoption.