Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Zain has partnered with KAFO to support the Sustainability Track, offering Kuwaiti youth a platform to innovate and collaborate on environmental and social solutions. Running through 2025–2026, the initiative will feature events and projects that foster creativity, empower young leaders, and strengthen Kuwait’s sustainability agenda.
Oman joined Gulf states in Kuwait for the Second Gulf Housing Conference to share expertise on sustainable housing and urban development. The event provided a platform to highlight Oman’s Vision 2040 housing initiatives, strengthen regional partnerships, and promote innovation in building affordable, modern, and resilient communities.
Shareet Studios’ viral 19-second campaign for Zain transformed from a social media spot into a nationwide phenomenon. Featuring monotone humor, a meta storyline, and the catchy tagline “زين نت اسرع نت اسرع من الاعلان”, the ad boosted brand recall, showcased Zain’s Ookla awards, and resonated strongly with Kuwait’s diverse population.
Egypt has unveiled a bold National AI Strategy to lead the Middle East and Africa in responsible innovation. Alongside hosting the Ai Everything MEA event in 2026, the country launched the Digitopia tech contest with 25,000 participants and $205,000 in prizes, fostering talent in AI, gaming, and cybersecurity.
Munify has raised $3 million in seed funding led by Y Combinator to revolutionize remittances for Egyptians abroad. The platform offers instant USD accounts, virtual cards, and low-cost transfers, already securing $50M in projected monthly transactions. It plans regional expansion to build a connected Middle Eastern banking ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia has launched its first drone delivery trial for postal parcels, in partnership with GACA and TGA. The initiative aims to enhance logistics efficiency, reduce delivery times, and advance digital transformation under Vision 2030, marking a key milestone in the Kingdom’s adoption of innovative transport solutions.
Mastercard has partnered with Dubai-based fintech Qlub to advance digital dining payments across the GCC. The deal includes a minority investment and processing through Mastercard Gateway, combining secure global infrastructure with Qlub’s QR-based dining solutions. The partnership aims to scale seamless, contactless hospitality payments regionally and beyond.
Bahrain and Egypt have signed a landmark MoU to enhance tourism ties, focusing on cultural exchange, investment, sustainability, and digital transformation. The agreement promotes joint events, reciprocal tourism weeks, and eco-friendly initiatives while aligning with national strategies to strengthen both nations’ positions as leading MENA tourism destinations.
Roblox has suspended in-game chat across Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East to address child safety concerns and improve content moderation. The move follows regulatory pressure, recent bans in Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey, and lawsuits abroad, raising global questions about online safety and responsibility in gaming platforms.
Bangladesh has introduced a new telecom licensing policy consolidating over 20 licence types into three while capping foreign ownership in network access services at 85 percent. The reform phases out intermediary operators, addresses transparency concerns, and seeks to streamline the sector, though operators warn of risks to local businesses and investment confidence.