Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
NOTHUMEN has launched Rayoof, Saudi Arabia’s first AI influencer, combining advanced AI with deep cultural insight. Designed as a digitally native Saudi persona, Rayoof has already gained strong local engagement, validating AI-driven influencers as a culturally relevant and scalable model for brand storytelling in the Kingdom.
Bahrain’s iGA and Royal Academy of Police honoured university students who won the 2025 AI GameDay Challenge, highlighting national efforts to build AI and cloud computing skills. Supported by UNDP, AWS, and stc Bahrain, the initiative showcased youth innovation and practical applications aligned with the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.
Qatar has launched Qai, a state-backed AI company supported by the Qatar Investment Authority, to build secure AI infrastructure and unify national AI efforts. The initiative aims to strengthen digital sovereignty, attract global partnerships, and position Qatar as a trusted regional and international hub for responsible artificial intelligence development.
Morocco is accelerating its national AI strategy through new ethical regulations, a dedicated AI directorate, sovereign cloud infrastructure, and a nationwide network of JAZARI institutes. Anchored in the Morocco Digital 2030 roadmap, the initiative aims to strengthen digital sovereignty, boost innovation, and position the country as a regional AI and technology hub.
Bahrain is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate public-sector transformation and sustainable development through ethical policy frameworks, skills investment, and real-world AI applications. Initiatives such as SME SMART highlight how AI can support evidence-based policymaking, empower businesses, and help the Kingdom advance national sustainability goals.
Zain KSA partnered with Groq to deploy a Saudi-developed high-performance AI inference platform integrated into Zain Cloud. The initiative supports Vision 2030, enables AIaaS offerings, strengthens data localization, and positions Saudi Arabia as a growing hub for advanced cloud and AI technologies.
Qatar and Brookfield have formed a $20 billion joint venture to develop AI infrastructure, including an Integrated Compute Center, strengthening Qatar’s digital ecosystem and advancing Vision 2030. Brookfield invests through its global AI fund, supporting Qatar’s goal of becoming a regional hub for advanced computing.
Vodafone Qatar’s CTO delivered a lecture on AI-driven cyber risks and resilience at Barzan University College, highlighting deepfake threats, automated malware, and predictive defence strategies, while reinforcing the operator’s commitment to national cybersecurity and industry–academia collaboration.
Marjane has adopted Huawei’s AI-powered Xinghe Unified SASE platform to support its rapid retail expansion across Morocco. The solution enables faster branch deployment, improved checkout performance, and advanced cybersecurity for more than 10,000 daily transactions per store. The partnership strengthens Marjane’s nationwide growth with secure, scalable digital infrastructure.
Telenor Asia’s latest study shows that 96 percent of Bangladeshi internet users now regularly use artificial intelligence, reflecting rapid digital adoption across daily life and work. AI is increasingly used for learning, remote work, financial management, content creation, and personalized advice. The report highlights the growing responsibility of telecom operators to ensure secure, trusted digital infrastructure.