Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering rerouting the East to Med Data Corridor through Syria instead of Israel, reflecting shifting geopolitical dynamics. The move aligns with Riyadh’s broader push to expand regional digital infrastructure and position itself as a data bridge between Asia and Europe.
Egypt is accelerating education reform by embedding AI and programming into school curricula while expanding technical education partnerships with Italy, the UK, and Japan. The government is upgrading schools, distributing tablets, enhancing financial literacy, and strengthening exam governance to align graduate skills with labour market demands.
ADB has approved $950,000 in technical assistance to help Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia adopt AI in healthcare. The programme will assess clinical, management, and generative AI tools while building governance frameworks and domestic AI ecosystems to improve efficiency and equitable access.
Bangladesh’s 4G median speeds exceed new QoS benchmarks, driven by spectrum investments and 3G refarming. However, bottom 10th percentile data reveals compliance gaps in rural and edge zones, highlighting the need for targeted network densification.
Saudi Arabia has joined the OECD-hosted Global Partnership on AI, aligning with Vision 2030 to shape global AI governance and promote ethical, human-centric development. The move strengthens international cooperation and is expected to attract investment into the Kingdom’s expanding AI ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multilingual digital “Umrah and Ziyarah Guide” covering all stages of the pilgrimage journey. Featuring interactive tools, maps, and videos, the initiative enhances awareness, service quality, and digital accessibility for pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia is leveraging MORAN to accelerate 5G rollout, reduce infrastructure duplication, and enhance sustainability under Vision 2030. By enabling shared radio infrastructure while preserving competition, the model supports giga-project connectivity, faster deployment, and lower energy consumption nationwide.
The Pakistan FinTech Summit marks the first global expansion of DIFC’s platform, strengthening UAE-Pakistan fintech ties. With rising funding and 450 fintech firms active, Pakistan is advancing regulatory reforms and digital infrastructure while addressing cash reliance and financial inclusion gaps.
Qatar and Azerbaijan are strengthening ties to expand tech startups across fintech, proptech, and insurtech sectors. Leaders stress public-private collaboration, talent development, and infrastructure investment as key drivers for transforming resource-based economies into regional digital hubs.
Sources further indicated that the firewall initiative falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of IT, adding to concerns due to the continued lack of official communication. Reports suggest the project may have faced technical challenges during integration with telecom infrastructure, potentially leading to financial losses and raising questions about whether the government may consider permanently shutting down the system ahead of the planned 5G spectrum auction.