Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
NBK has upgraded its Mobile Banking App with new features including in-app Fixed Savings Account opening, simplified standing orders, extended refund periods, and enhanced access recovery. These updates aim to strengthen customer convenience and reinforce NBK’s position as Kuwait’s leading digital banking provider.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement and MoU to end their dispute over the Neutral Zone, paving the way for oil production to resume at the Al-Khafji and Al-Wafra fields. The fields previously produced 500,000 barrels daily, representing 0.5% of global oil supply.
Four Kuwaiti executives—Isam Al-Sager (NBK), Sheikha Adana Nasser Al-Sabah (KIPCO), Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi (Zain), and Tariq Al-Sultan (Agility)—have been named to Forbes Middle East’s 2025 Sustainability Leaders list. Their inclusion reflects Kuwait’s growing ESG leadership across banking, telecom, investment, and logistics.
Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met with China’s Ningbo Clinical Pathology Diagnostic Center during Huawei Connect 2025 to discuss AI-driven digital diagnostics. Talks included training programs, medical team exchanges, joint oncology research, and a pilot project to introduce digital pathology services in Egyptian hospitals.
Valu and MobileMasr have launched Egypt’s first peer-to-peer BNPL service for pre-owned smartphones, combining secure diagnostics, identity verification, and flexible financing. The partnership formalizes the informal secondhand phone market, boosts affordability, extends device lifecycles, and introduces a new growth avenue for Egypt’s digital economy.
Fintologya, the Bahrain-based fintech startup, has secured $1M in seed funding to expand across GCC markets. Founded in 2024, the company builds secure, compliant payment infrastructure that empowers banks and fintechs to deliver seamless digital finance products, supporting the region’s push toward modern, inclusive financial systems.
Algeria’s National Investment Fund (FNI) has teamed up with Djezzy, IT-DEV, Inet, and Smart Test Spa to build a national technology hub. Focused on digital finance and public sector transformation, the hub will support Algeria’s 2030 strategy to modernize services, boost innovation, and strengthen competitiveness in the regional digital economy.
Qatar Media Corporation and Djibouti’s Ministry of Communication held talks in Doha on boosting joint media cooperation. The meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides, explored ways to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen collaboration in broadcasting and communications.
Annaba State has achieved rapid progress in telecom and postal services since April 2025, with fiber subscriptions up 46%, 40 new mobile stations added, digital skills training launched, and mobile post offices deployed. The initiatives reflect Algeria’s broader push to modernize communications and improve citizen services.
Teletalk and BTCL owe over Tk 7,000 crore in unpaid dues, with the figure possibly exceeding Tk 10,000 crore. While private operators face strict enforcement, state-run firms avoid penalties, raising concerns of market distortion. Analysts urge restructuring, spectrum reallocation, or partial privatisation to restore fairness and efficiency.