Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Oman’s Ministry of Labour has introduced a smart waiting list initiative and announced plans to create 45,000 job opportunities in 2025. The ministry also launched digital transformation efforts, including the ‘Smart Management’ project and freelance work packages to empower Omani entrepreneurs and localize the workforce in key sectors.
Moroccan Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni met with US officials to deepen digital cooperation, focusing on AI and Morocco’s Digital Morocco 2030 plan. This partnership follows significant Morocco-US initiatives in AI, including co-presenting the first UN AI resolution and establishing a Group of Friends for AI development.
icetana AI has secured a $1.7 million deal with Iraq-based High Tech Enterprise to supply its AI video analytics solution for the Baghdad Safe City project. The deal is icetana’s first in Iraq and the largest in the company’s history, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
A survey of African CEOs reveals AI is a top priority for businesses, with a strong focus on cybersecurity. Kenya and Egypt lead in AI adoption, while South Africa adopts a more cautious approach. The survey also highlights skills gaps and the importance of staff training for successful AI implementation.
The AI Beyond Boundaries Summit at MWC 2025 saw the release of the “Carrier Techco Transformation White Paper,” focusing on the transformation of telecom operators into technology-driven companies. The white paper outlines strategies such as AI integration and service innovation to help telecoms lead the AI-driven B2B market.
Iran has launched a prototype of its national AI platform to address technological challenges and circumvent sanctions. The platform, which is set for full deployment by 2026, aims to ensure resilient digital services and enhance various sectors, while also raising concerns due to its role in AI-driven surveillance.
Riyadh Air has partnered with IBM to integrate AI into its operations, aiming to provide a seamless, world-class travel experience. The collaboration will leverage IBM’s watsonx platform and AI technologies to optimize customer interactions, flight operations, and digital transformation, marking Riyadh Air as the world’s first digital-native airline.
Bahrain’s Parliament has approved a proposal to expand AI use across government ministries to improve efficiency and governance. The initiative aims to automate public services, enhance transparency, and optimize decision-making through data analysis. AI’s role in reducing administrative burdens and combating corruption is central to this transformation.
Dialog Axiata and Meta successfully completed an “AI for Network” trial to enhance network optimization and Quality of Experience (QoE). Using Meta’s Llama AI models, the trial showed improvements in call quality and user satisfaction. Dialog plans to deploy the AI-powered solution across Sri Lanka starting in March.
Open Innovation AI has partnered with Oracle to accelerate sovereign AI adoption across the EMEA region. Leveraging Oracle’s AI infrastructure and Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), the collaboration will help organizations optimize their AI workloads while complying with local data security and regulatory requirements, fostering innovation in both public and private sectors.