Md Nahid Islam, Bangladesh’s IT Adviser, has sought UNDP’s assistance to expand ICT access to marginalized communities. During a meeting with UNDP officials, Nahid emphasized the importance of addressing digital discrimination and training the youth in cybersecurity and ICT.
Algeria’s e-commerce market has reached $1.5 billion, driven by an increase in payment cards to over 18 million. This growth underscores e-commerce’s role in fostering economic development, digital transformation, and financial inclusion, despite ongoing challenges with cash payments.
ATME, a regulated digital assets exchange, launched at FinTech Forward 2024 in Bahrain. Licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, ATME aims to democratize access to illiquid assets via tokenization, boosting investment potential and supporting Bahrain’s economic diversification and fintech leadership.
UAE telecom operators e& and du paid AED3.54 billion in federal royalty for H1 2024, down from AED3.73 billion in H1 2023. The new royalty guidelines exclude international profits, applying a 38% rate on UAE net profits and a 9% corporate tax rate.
Bupa Arabia’s new AI-driven Digital Clinic provides accessible healthcare services through smartphones, aiming to keep users healthy while improving the company’s efficiency. The service uses AI to track health data and predict risks, offering virtual consultations, checkups, and medication delivery to patients with chronic conditions.
Wink Pay, in collaboration with Visa and Codebase Technologies, has launched Lebanon’s first service for instant issuance of Visa prepaid virtual cards. This innovative solution facilitates secure, transparent payments and digital financial inclusion, targeting over 5 million Lebanese, particularly benefiting those without traditional bank accounts.
The Dubai Electronic Security Centre has launched the Dubai AI Security Policy to strengthen cybersecurity and support AI development, aiming to position the UAE as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031.
Oman experienced a 3.10% increase in mobile phone subscriptions, reaching over 7 million by April 2024. Average usage per mobile subscription rose by 4.19%, while mobile broadband subscriptions and average usage declined. Fixed-line and fixed broadband subscriptions saw modest increases, though average usage decreased.
Google Cloud has launched a new cloud region in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to offer advanced cloud services to various sectors and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This strategic expansion is expected to add significant economic value and job creation by 2030. The initiative includes collaborations and a focus on aiding SMEs and startups, particularly through the upcoming Google for Startups Cloud Program.
Ooredoo partnered with ICIESTR 2024 to support innovation and knowledge exchange. Organized by UTAS and IEEE, the conference covered emerging technologies, AI, and sustainable engineering, bringing together industry, academia, and government stakeholders to foster digital transformation and technological advancement.
