Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Hosted by James Lyne and Ciaran Martin, the new season brings frontline perspectives to help CISOs navigate AI disruption, evolving…
Media City Qatar showcased the nation’s expanding creative and digital ecosystem at MWC25 Doha as a Headline Sponsor. Through sessions, panels, and its Media Village, it highlighted Qatar’s leadership in AI-driven media, immersive technologies, and strategic innovation, reinforcing its role in shaping regional content, talent development, and digital transformation.
Zong 4G has partnered with the JDC Foundation to fund free medical diagnostic services for low-income communities in Karachi. By covering test costs, Zong enables JDC to expand its capacity and range of screenings, easing financial burdens for underserved patients and strengthening access to essential healthcare through its CSR efforts.
Dialog Enterprise served as Principal Sponsor of the Sri Lanka CERT National Cyber Security Conference 2025, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening national cybersecurity. The company highlighted the importance of digital trust, secure transformation, and public–private collaboration to protect Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem as cyber threats grow across government, enterprise, and SME sectors.
Pakistan and Qatar have begun talks on a strategic technology partnership focused on expanding financing, incubation, and investment opportunities for Pakistani startups. With Qatar’s growing tech ecosystem and QDB’s potential role, both sides aim to collaborate on AI, cloud, cybersecurity, digital skills, industrial digitalization, and cross-border startup exchange programs.
Ooredoo Qatar has expanded its AI assistant Obot to retail customers and multiple social platforms, introducing a GPT-powered avatar with real-time voice and omnichannel continuity. Built on Azure AI and Dynamics 365, Obot delivers personalized, human-like support and reflects Ooredoo’s strategy to create a unified, trustworthy AI companion across all customer touchpoints.
Qatar’s Darkocean has launched NAVBathy, the world’s first Rapid Satellite-Derived Bathymetry engine delivering coastal depth maps in seconds using multi-source satellite imagery and proprietary AI. The platform offers instant bathymetric intelligence, API access, and mobile-friendly tools, attracting global investor interest and positioning Qatar as a leader in next-gen marine geospatial technology.
Pakistan has committed to making the internet safer for women and girls, with Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja linking online protection to national digital progress. Addressing widespread cyber-harassment and the digital gender gap, she emphasized digital skills, access, and safety as essential for women’s empowerment and Pakistan’s broader economic transformation.
Pakistan has launched its first sovereign AI cloud through a Telenor–Data Vault partnership, keeping all sensitive data within national borders and providing onshore GPU capacity for high-performance AI workloads. The platform strengthens data sovereignty, supports finance, health, telecom and government services, and gives Pakistan the foundation to develop its own AI systems.
The Central Bank of Oman has launched Maal, the Sultanate’s first national payment card, offering free debit and prepaid cards and lower processing fees for banks and merchants. The initiative aims to strengthen local payment sovereignty, reduce reliance on international schemes, cut transaction costs, and advance Oman’s broader digital economy goals.