Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The UAE has named Latifa as its first virtual Emirati family member following a public vote. Part of a Digital Dubai initiative, Latifa and her family will serve as digital ambassadors promoting AI awareness, digital responsibility, and storytelling around Dubai’s innovation and community values.
UAE telecom operator du has launched a new ‘Salary in the Digital Wallet’ service via du Pay, allowing blue-collar workers to receive wages directly into their digital wallets. The service offers cashless convenience, international transfers, and bill payments, addressing financial inclusion for workers without access to traditional banking.
Tunisia’s Ministry of Health is deploying the Najda platform nationwide to improve cardiac emergency response. Linking ambulances, hospitals, and specialists in real time, Najda reduces treatment delays and boosts survival chances. The project is part of broader health digitization efforts, including telemedicine expansion and international partnerships.
LINX and center3 have upgraded Riyadh’s Internet Exchange with expanded 100GE ports and new 400GE connectivity, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role as a digital hub. The enhancements support Vision 2030 goals, while center3’s $10B expansion plan targets 1GW of data centre capacity by 2030.
Fahy Studios has secured $1.75 million from Impact46 and Merak Capital to expand its hybrid-casual mobile game development pipeline, including titles RAWR, Footy Traps, and Heist Party. Backed by Saudi’s booming gaming ecosystem, the studio aims to deliver globally competitive games while positioning the Kingdom as a gaming powerhouse.
Saudi Arabia participated in the 31st GCC Post and Telecommunications Undersecretaries Meeting, where member states agreed on measures to boost cooperation, review sectoral work plans, and address new technologies including AI. The session built consensus on recommendations to advance the region’s telecom and postal services.
The GSMA’s Digital Nation Summit in Islamabad praised Pakistan’s progress but warned of a 52% mobile Internet usage gap, the largest in APAC. With reforms on spectrum, taxation, trust, and regulation, Pakistan could transform into a digital powerhouse, boosting economic growth, social inclusion, and regional leadership in innovation.
Ooredoo has launched the Salalah Data Centre and submarine cable landing station, the first of its kind in southern Oman. Positioned as a digital hub linking Asia, Europe, and Africa, the facility supports cloud, AI, and edge computing, offering scalable hosting, reduced latency, and vital resilience for global connectivity.
The 21st Festival des Plages Maroc Telecom has energized Morocco’s northern beaches, uniting crowds in Martil, Nador, and Saïdia through music that bridges heritage and modernity. Drawing tens of thousands nightly, the event highlights Morocco’s summer spirit of celebration, with performances from iconic and contemporary artists running until August 21.
Zain Kuwait, in collaboration with Huawei, has launched an AI-powered Digital Assistant called FME Mate to support wireless site engineers. Using LLM technology, it improves fault detection, repair efficiency, and reduces downtime by over 2,200 hours annually. The initiative boosts operational efficiency and supports Kuwait’s digital economy vision.