Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
SentinelOne has launched its AI-native Singularity Platform on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, hosted in the Dammam region. The deployment keeps all security data within national borders, supporting PDPL and NCA compliance, reducing latency, and enabling real-time, autonomous threat detection for government, finance, and critical infrastructure sectors.
The Esports World Cup 2026 will feature a record $75m prize pool, with $30m dedicated to the Club Championship and $7m for the winning Club. Hosted in Riyadh over seven weeks, the event will unite 2,000 players across 24 titles, cementing Saudi Arabia’s role in global esports.
Consulting HAUS guided Snoonu through its $245 million acquisition by Jahez, valuing the Qatari startup above QAR 1 billion and delivering Qatar’s first billion-riyal tech exit. The deal sets a national benchmark, underscores Qatar’s rise as a tech hub, and accelerates Snoonu’s regional growth ambitions.
Ooredoo Group, through Syntys, has acquired Q Data’s hyperscale facilities in Qatar, adding 12.5MW of Tier III capacity and lifting national live IT capacity to 26MW. The move strengthens sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, positions Syntys for hyperscaler demand, and advances its MENA expansion to 120MW by 2030.
Pakistan’s local plants produced 30.21 million mobile phones in 2025, dwarfing commercial imports. Output included 15.64 million smartphones and 14.57 million 2G devices, with smartphones now forming 71 percent of phones on local networks. Despite this, imports still crossed $800 million in five months.
Wateen Telecom has partnered with Nayatel to provide nationwide carrier-grade connectivity across Pakistan. The agreement delivers Layer-2 services over Wateen’s fibre backbone, offering 100Gbps+ capacity and resilient metro networks. The collaboration strengthens Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and enables Nayatel to deliver reliable, high-speed broadband at scale.
Global Money Exchange has launched Global Pay, a mobile payments app powered by Comviva, to accelerate Oman’s shift toward a cashless economy. The platform enables transfers, remittances, bill payments, and QR-based merchant payments without requiring a bank account, strengthening financial inclusion and interoperability across the Sultanate’s digital ecosystem.
Oman climbed to 18th in the Speedtest Global Index after doubling median download speeds in three years. Regulatory reforms, 3G sunset, new competition, and sustained 5G investment lifted coverage to 91 percent, strengthened resilience, and positioned the sultanate among the world’s fastest mobile markets.
AI, real-time payments and embedded finance are reshaping how money moves in Oman. Comviva CEO Rajesh Chandiramani says gamification, cybersecurity and mobile-first platforms are redefining financial services, with the launch of Global Pay Oman marking a key milestone in the country’s digital payments journey.
WAM Morocco has convened over 60 global leaders, including the UN’s Chief AI Officer and billion-dollar investors, delivering 45+ hours of Industry 4.0 content. The event positions Casablanca as a strategic hub for AI-driven manufacturing, green industry, and industrial transformation across Africa.