Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Morocco is strengthening its gaming industry with a developer hub, training programs, and a $26 million Rabat Gaming City. Hosting a major gaming expo, the country aims to empower youth, attract investment, and double gaming revenue by 2030, tackling high youth unemployment through tech-driven career opportunities.
Sri Lanka has launched Starlink satellite internet, providing nationwide coverage and monthly plans for homes and businesses. This expansion follows regulatory changes and positions Sri Lanka to improve connectivity, especially in remote regions, as part of bridging the digital divide.
Zoho has partnered with Dart in Dubai to offer $500 wallet credits and extensive training to founders relocating and scaling businesses in the UAE. This collaboration supports startups with Zoho’s comprehensive cloud applications, contributing to the region’s growing AI and fintech ecosystem.
du received three awards at FM Middle East 2025 for sustainability leadership, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, and AI-driven optimizations. These honors reaffirm du’s commitment to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision and its role as a pioneer in sustainable telecom practices.
Ada Derana secured two awards at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2025 for its advanced election coverage and audio streaming platform eTunes. These honours recognise the network’s leadership in digital innovation and its role in promoting Sri Lankan artists globally amid shifting media landscapes.
KAIST and King Saud University are partnering to create a joint AI research institute focused on open-source AI development, joint degree programs, and multilateral collaboration. The initiative aims to combine Saudi Arabia’s resources with Korea’s AI expertise to foster inclusive, industry-relevant AI innovation across regions.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have formalized cooperation to securely exchange personal data under aligned data protection frameworks, enhancing cybersecurity and enabling cross-border digital services. This agreement, alongside prior MOUs, supports regional interoperability and sets higher compliance standards for public and private sector entities.
A Red Sea coral restoration project uses AI to accelerate monitoring and resilience enhancement across 100 hectares. DigiLab and KAUST’s initiative includes an AI-powered digital twin and advanced sensor optimization, reducing monitoring times and enabling data-driven reef restoration at an unprecedented scale targeting two million corals by 2030.
AIQU’s Deploy-on-Demand model enables Saudi Arabian organizations to fill critical tech roles 50% faster and at 30-50% lower cost than traditional hiring. This solution addresses acute talent shortages under Vision 2030 by providing pre-verified professionals and comprehensive onboarding, supporting agile scaling for digital transformation projects.
Microsoft is closing its subsidiary in Pakistan, shifting to support customers through partners and regional offices. The decision follows business model changes and reflects challenges in Pakistan’s tech investment climate, despite the country’s large population and government initiatives to boost the IT sector.