Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt’s exports of mobile phones and components jumped from $129,000 in 2019 to $12 million in 2024, driven by the Egypt Makes Electronics programme and a suite of tax, customs, and regulatory incentives. With 15 brands producing locally and capacity of 20 million units annually, Egypt is fast emerging as a regional smartphone manufacturing hub.
Orange Egypt and the Public Prosecution have launched a major digital services platform within the My Orange app, enabling citizens to access legal and governmental services—including traffic, family, and criminal cases—entirely online. Users can submit requests, pay fees, track updates, and receive documents digitally, supporting Egypt’s national digital-government vision.
Orange Egypt and Qilaa International Group have partnered to create WTour, a fully integrated digital tourism platform aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030. The platform streamlines trip planning, bookings, and digital exploration while leveraging Orange’s connectivity and Qilaa’s content leadership. The initiative aims to modernize Egypt’s tourism ecosystem, enhance visitor experiences, and support national smart-tourism goals.
EDOTCO Bangladesh and Summit Communications have renewed their partnership through a Space and Power Lease Agreement, combining Summit’s nationwide fiber backbone with EDOTCO’s tower network to strengthen Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure. The five-year deal enhances network reliability, supports rural expansion, and prepares for 4G/5G growth, reinforcing national digital transformation goals.
BENEFIT and Ant International are partnering to link Bahrain’s national QR system with Alipay+, enabling international travellers to pay at Bahraini merchants using partner wallets starting in 2026. The agreement also explores outbound QR usage for Bahraini consumers. The initiative strengthens Bahrain’s digital payments ecosystem and deepens its integration with global fintech networks.
ONE App, powered by Al Salam Bank, has won the Best Project for Digital Transformation at the 2025 eGovernment Excellence Awards. The honour recognises the platform’s role in reshaping Bahrain’s financial sector through smart, integrated digital services that enhance user experience, strengthen sector-wide innovation, and contribute to national digital transformation goals.
stc Bahrain and Huawei have introduced new digital solutions focused on strengthening SMB digital transformation, including Huawei’s eKit services and updated Ideahub smart screen promotions. Launched at a joint event, the initiative aims to equip businesses with accessible tools for efficiency and growth while reinforcing stc Bahrain’s role as a national digital enabler.
Kalimna has launched its iOS and Android mobile app, enabling GCC businesses to monitor their Arabic AI phone agents on the go. The companion app syncs with the Kalimna dashboard to display real-time calls, leads and campaign activity. Designed for regional workflows, it prioritizes simplicity and strong security through encrypted API key access.
Algeria and the International Energy Forum strengthened their partnership during a meeting between Minister Mohamed Arkab and IEF Secretary-General Jassim Alshirawi in Riyadh. The two sides discussed global market volatility, energy security, and the need for sustained investment in hydrocarbons alongside clean technologies. They highlighted Algeria’s leadership role, including the historic 2016 Algiers Accord, and agreed to deepen cooperation, skills transfer, and technology integration to support global market stability.
Algeria has inaugurated a new joint digital contact center in Bani Thor, built with Algeria Post, Mobilis, and Algeria Telecom. Equipped with modern facilities, the center improves nationwide customer service while creating 400 jobs. It supports Algeria’s broader plan to grow the call center sector to 10,000 jobs by 2027, generate $1.2 billion in revenue by 2029, and build a competitive regional outsourcing industry.