Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, met with an Omani delegation to discuss collaboration in the IT and telecom sectors and preparations for Comex 2025. The event is seen as an opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its tech capabilities and enhance bilateral ties in these sectors.
SAP and Chalhoub Group have partnered to implement RISE with SAP, hosted on Microsoft Azure, as part of Chalhoub’s digital transformation. This collaboration will modernize Chalhoub’s IT infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency, and leverage AI to optimize business processes, supporting its expansion plans across the Middle East and beyond.
Deloitte has expanded its Anaplan offerings to the GCC market, aiming to enhance business planning and decision-making with advanced data and analytics tools. The collaboration will help organizations streamline operations and improve forecasting capabilities, driving digital transformation and economic growth in the region.
Ezditek has broken ground on its flagship data center, RUH01, in Riyadh. The facility, located within Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, aims to support Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation with 24 MW capacity and rapid connectivity. Set to go live by Q1 2026, it will enhance data sovereignty and support cloud providers.
IT spending in the MENA region is projected to reach $230.7 billion in 2025, driven by investments in AI, cloud services, and cybersecurity. This growth is propelled by both government and private sector initiatives, aiming to make MENA a global AI hub. Data center systems and GenAI investments will lead the charge.
Pure Data Centres and Dune Vaults have formed a joint venture to develop hyperscale data centres in Saudi Arabia. This strategic partnership aims to meet growing demand for AI and cloud services, with a focus on sustainable data centre solutions to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and digital transformation goals.
Chalhoub Group has partnered with SAP and Microsoft Azure to adopt RISE with SAP as part of its Transform Chalhoub initiative. The collaboration will enhance operational efficiency, improve customer engagement, and support the group’s global expansion through AI-powered, cloud-based solutions, including SAP S/4HANA and retail management applications.
Siemens has won a contract to retrofit 60 UAE government buildings with IoT sensors and software, driving energy efficiency and supporting the country’s decarbonization goals. The project will enhance building performance and help reduce CO2 emissions, aligning with the UAE’s target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Pakistani custom software companies, including Koder Labs and 10x Engineers Technologies, made a strong debut at the 26th China International High-tech Fair (CHTF) in Shenzhen. The event highlighted Pakistan’s growing IT sector, with exhibitors showcasing innovations in digital solutions and fostering global partnerships, particularly in fintech and chip design.
Egypt is positioning itself as a global hub for outsourcing and technology innovation, with a focus on expanding digital exports and supporting startups. ITIDA’s efforts aim to boost Egypt’s competitiveness, leveraging key initiatives like “Export IT,” AI advancements, and digital signature services to foster growth in the tech sector.
