Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi’s Gathern raised $72M in Series B funding led by PIF-owned Sanabil Investments, reaching a $266M valuation. The platform manages 72,000 units across 200+ Saudi cities, contributing SAR 2B to the local economy. The funds will drive regional expansion, inbound tourism, long-term stays, and AI solutions, with a Tadawul listing on the horizon.
Lenovo is opening a regional HQ in Riyadh’s Al Majdoul Tower and building a 200,000-sqm manufacturing hub with PIF-owned ALAT. The facility will produce Saudi Made PCs, laptops, smartphones, and servers by 2026, with the expansion expected to add $10 billion to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP by 2030.
Cisco says smart networks are becoming the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital transformation. With AI-ready infrastructure, automation, and cybersecurity, Saudi firms are investing heavily to reduce outages, boost efficiency, and support advanced technologies, while balancing sustainability with innovation.
Saudi Arabia has launched the Nusuk Umrah digital platform, enabling international pilgrims to apply directly for visas and book travel services online. Available in seven languages, the service supports Vision 2030 goals of boosting religious tourism, enhancing service quality, and expanding access for Muslims worldwide.
ZTE and GO Telecom have achieved Saudi Arabia’s first long-distance 5G-A mmWave trial, covering 6 km with nearly 1 Gbps speeds. The trial supports Vision 2030 by enabling enterprise-grade connectivity, smart industries, and FWA solutions, positioning the partners at the forefront of Saudi digital transformation.
China’s Meituan has launched its delivery arm Keeta in Qatar, marking its entry into the Gulf’s competitive food delivery sector. Aligning with Qatar Vision 2030, Keeta will leverage Meituan’s global scale while adapting to local market preferences in a country prioritizing digital services and economic diversification.
Pakistan’s BOI has signed MoUs with seven regulators, including NEPRA, PEMRA, and DRAP, to integrate with SECP’s eService Portal. The initiative streamlines processes through the Pakistan Business Portal, advancing regulatory reform, digitization, and transparency to strengthen investor confidence and competitiveness.
Thousands of Pakistani women are leveraging foodpanda’s home chef platform to turn kitchens into businesses, marking a major step for women’s financial inclusion. While commissions remain high, success stories like Lo-Kal Bites and Kausey Extreme show how digital tools are reshaping entrepreneurship and empowering women in Pakistan’s economy.
Jazz has rejected allegations of irregularities flagged in the AGP audit, reaffirming that all tariffs and services are PTA-approved. The Senate Standing Committee will review the audit on August 25, as scrutiny of the telecom sector’s transparency and compliance practices intensifies.
Heavy rains in Sindh disabled over 2,500 telecom towers, cutting mobile and internet access for thousands of users. PTA restored 1,800 towers within 24 hours, with most of Karachi’s services back online. The incident underscores the risks posed to telecom infrastructure by extreme weather.