Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Mastercard has partnered with TerraPay to expand global acceptance for digital wallet users by improving interoperability across payment networks. The collaboration aims to enable seamless cross-border transactions, support financial inclusion, and help merchants and wallet providers scale as digital payments continue to grow worldwide.
Moroccan startup Reborn has won the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator 2025, beating over 700 organizations from across Africa. The sports tech company will receive funding, global incubation, and access to major innovation ecosystems, reinforcing Morocco’s growing leadership in AI-driven sports performance solutions.
Morocco is accelerating its national AI strategy through new ethical regulations, a dedicated AI directorate, sovereign cloud infrastructure, and a nationwide network of JAZARI institutes. Anchored in the Morocco Digital 2030 roadmap, the initiative aims to strengthen digital sovereignty, boost innovation, and position the country as a regional AI and technology hub.
NBK organized an awareness session on digital fraud for Ahmed Al-Adwani Secondary School students as part of Kuwait’s “Let’s Be Aware” campaign. The initiative educated students on common online scams, data protection, and AI-driven fraud risks, reinforcing the importance of safe digital banking practices among youth.
Iraq has launched the Ameen digital platform to combat online extortion and cybercrime, enabling victims to report cases within minutes through a secure system. The initiative follows rising misuse of digital content and AI-driven blackmail, supporting faster investigations and stronger protection under existing criminal laws.
Iraq is moving closer to introducing satellite internet services as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani discusses licensing requirements with SpaceX. The talks highlight Iraq’s commitment to digital transformation, attracting global technology investment, and expanding connectivity while maintaining sovereignty over its IT sector.
Egypt’s NTRA has warned citizens about advanced global smartphone hacking attempts exploiting unknown vulnerabilities. The authority urged users to update devices regularly, enable advanced security features, avoid suspicious links, use secure browsers, and activate two-factor authentication to reduce the risk of cyberattacks targeting mobile phones.
Egypt has granted tpay the country’s first licence to offer direct mobile billing for government services. The approval enables citizens to pay utility bills, fines, and official fees via mobile balances or bills, expanding digital payment access and supporting financial inclusion without requiring bank accounts or cards.
Telecom Egypt has approved its 2026 budget with guidance pointing to high single-digit revenue growth and EBITDA margins in the low forties. Supported by disciplined capital investment and strong cash generation, the plan builds on a sharp rise in 2025 profits and focuses on network strength, service quality, and long-term value creation.
Bahrain is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate public-sector transformation and sustainable development through ethical policy frameworks, skills investment, and real-world AI applications. Initiatives such as SME SMART highlight how AI can support evidence-based policymaking, empower businesses, and help the Kingdom advance national sustainability goals.