Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Red Sea Global and Bunat VC have launched Saudi Arabia’s first AI-focused investment fund to support startups from early to growth stages. The initiative combines capital with real-world testing environments to accelerate innovation and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global AI and digital transformation hub.
Woliz has raised $2.2 million in a pre-seed round led by Sanlam Maroc to digitise the retail sector using AI-powered POS systems and software. The funding will support expansion in Morocco and lay the foundation for scaling the platform across African markets.
Newera.ai has raised $2.13 million in a Pre-Seed round led by Embark to expand its Saudi operations and accelerate generative AI product launches. The funding will strengthen R&D, build partnerships, and support compliant, locally hosted AI solutions aligned with Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals.
Roamless raised $12m in a Series A led by Rasmal Ventures, with UAE investors backing its shift from travel eSIMs to a full-stack global mobile platform. By owning telecom infrastructure, the startup aims to add voice, SMS, and B2B embedded connectivity as eSIM adoption accelerates worldwide.
Rakiza has raised $1 billion from global investors to finance infrastructure projects in Oman, supporting sectors including food security, telecoms, logistics, and energy. Backed by the Oman Investment Authority, the fund has created a new channel for foreign investment while building an independent platform for long-term national development.
Umniah will invest JD300 million over five years to expand 5G, fiber, cloud, and data-center infrastructure in Jordan. CEO Faisal Al-Jalahma highlighted major upgrades, education-sector connectivity, and partnerships with global tech firms. The company’s initiatives support national digital transformation, sustainability goals, and social development across underserved communities.
Sri Lanka’s AI-native innovation studio Futurity has secured seed funding from top private investors to accelerate its mission of embedding invisible, intuitive AI into everyday business operations. With flagship products Omni and Query, a newly formed board, and plans for rapid market expansion, the startup aims to redefine how enterprises access knowledge, automate tasks, and create intelligent digital experiences.
Payment24 has strengthened its Middle East presence by launching a regional hub in Dubai and securing strategic contracts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, marking a key milestone in its GCC expansion strategy. The company is responding to surging demand for advanced fleet, fuel, and retail payment technologies, positioning its modular platform as a backbone for digital transformation in the downstream oil and gas sector.
Invest Saudi will highlight the Kingdom’s $14.9 billion technology investment portfolio at Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global hub for artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and logistics innovation under Vision 2030. With a digital economy projected to reach $76 billion by 2030, Saudi Arabia is leveraging its vast connectivity infrastructure — including 1,300 megawatts of data-center capacity and 20 subsea cables — to anchor its regional digital leadership.
Microsoft and G42 will expand UAE data centre capacity by 200 MW via Khazna Data Centers, part of a $15 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure. The move strengthens Microsoft Azure’s regional footprint and accelerates the UAE’s vision to become a global AI powerhouse.