Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The Royal Oman Police has updated its mobile app with new digital services including virtual inmate visitation, digital family and document access, driving licence applications, and anti-trafficking reporting. The move enhances convenience for citizens while reinforcing Oman’s digital transformation goals and Vision 2040.
Kerala has become India’s first state to achieve total digital literacy, training over 20 lakh residents under its Digi Kerala initiative. Meanwhile, Bangladesh continues to face digital divides, policy shortcomings, and weak adult education programmes. Experts call for a coordinated literacy drive integrating digital skills to close the gap.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and stc Bahrain have launched the kingdom’s first digital bus station, a milestone in smart and sustainable mobility. The initiative supports Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, enhances passenger experience with digital solutions, and sets a blueprint for future smart transport hubs across the kingdom.
QuantumConnect, launched in the UAE by TII, VentureOne, and e&, embeds quantum encryption directly into fibre networks. Powered by QKD technology, it protects sensitive data against quantum-era threats, ensures compliance with UAE regulations, and provides scalable, future-proof security for industries like healthcare, finance, and government.
Roblox has suspended in-game chat across Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East to address child safety concerns and improve content moderation. The move follows regulatory pressure, recent bans in Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey, and lawsuits abroad, raising global questions about online safety and responsibility in gaming platforms.
SDAIA’s Dr. Esam Al-Wagait emphasized Saudi Arabia’s global role in AI-driven digital transformation, citing platforms like Tawakkalna and Absher, Vision 2030’s National AI Strategy, and the Kingdom’s ODIN ranking progress. He stressed international partnerships and highlighted ICAIRE’s role in AI ethics and governance.
Saudi Arabia’s CST presented a global study at GSR25 showing that $2.6–2.8 trillion in investment is needed to bridge the digital divide by 2030. The initiative, part of the Connecting Humanity project with ITU, highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in digital inclusion and sustainable development.
Streameast, the world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform, has been shut down after a year-long investigation by ACE and Egyptian authorities. Two men were arrested, millions in illicit funds traced, and domains seized, marking a major global victory in the fight against piracy.
Zain Bahrain will host the Bahrain National Qualifiers for the FIFAe World Cup on September 5–6, 2025, at Zain Esports Lab. Featuring mobile and console competitions, the event highlights Zain’s esports leadership and provides Bahraini gamers aged 16+ with a chance to compete on the global stage.
Solidarity Bahrain has become the first insurer in the kingdom to integrate eKey 2.0, enabling biometric and facial recognition login for seamless, secure access. The move boosts fraud prevention, simplifies digital transactions, and aligns with Bahrain’s Vision 2030 digital transformation strategy.