Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Omantel won two awards at the Oman CSR Summit & Awards 2024, recognized for its “Maqroo” initiative, the first Arabic dyslexic-friendly font, and for using AI-powered technology to improve healthcare, particularly cancer detection. These accolades highlight Omantel’s commitment to innovation, social responsibility, and inclusivity.
The partnership marks one of the first deployments of network-level child protection services in the regional telecom market, with plans for a phased rollout across GCC markets during 2026. The initiative reflects a broader shift toward embedding safety and trust features directly within connectivity services as digital usage continues to expand among younger users.
Consulting HAUS guided Snoonu through its $245 million acquisition by Jahez, valuing the Qatari startup above QAR 1 billion and delivering Qatar’s first billion-riyal tech exit. The deal sets a national benchmark, underscores Qatar’s rise as a tech hub, and accelerates Snoonu’s regional growth ambitions.
Oman’s postpaid mobile subscriptions rose by 9% in the first half of 2024, reaching 1.89 million, while prepaid subscriptions dropped by 4.5%. Fixed internet subscriptions grew by 6.5%, but fixed-line subscriptions declined by 21.7%. Muscat led in fixed analogue lines, despite a 71.1% drop in this category.
Jordan, UNESCO and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) have launched a $1 million programme to strengthen digital education, supporting…
Saudi Arabia will host the Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia event in December, in partnership with Riyadh Exhibitions Company and Deutsche Messe. This event will showcase advancements in industrial automation and smart manufacturing, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, and aims to attract global manufacturers, foster innovation, and promote investment opportunities.
The data centre sector in Qatar is expected to exceed $1 billion within the next decade, fueled by an 8.57% annual growth rate. Drivers include increased cloud migration, government-led digital initiatives, and robust connectivity infrastructure. Despite challenges related to data residency and infrastructure resilience, the market is set for sustained expansion through AI adoption and sovereign investment.
Robi is expanding its in-home service support for customers with physical disabilities in multiple cities.
Dubai Internet City will showcase its AI-driven ecosystem at AI Everything Global from February 4-6, 2025. The event will focus on AI’s transformative power for equitable and viable development. The hub brings together 4,000+ businesses and supports innovation, fostering growth in AI technologies aligned with Dubai’s digital economy goals.
ORA, a Casablanca-born Moroccan startup, raised $7.5 million in Series A funding, championing the value of local innovation and signaling Morocco’s readiness to support homegrown tech ventures.