Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
VeraViews, leveraging distributed ledger technology, will set up its global headquarters in the UAE under the NextGen FDI initiative. This strategic move aims to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the digital advertising ecosystem, supporting UAE’s goal of becoming a leader in secure digital advertising.
Ooredoo, Qatar Airways, and Nutanix partner to create a hybrid multi-cloud environment, enhancing the airline’s customer experience and business performance. This collaboration leverages Nutanix’s cloud platform, ensuring scalability and efficiency, and highlights Ooredoo’s role in driving digital innovation.
Nvidia and Perplexity’s partnership marks a significant push to localize AI models for European languages, overcoming data limitations and cultural nuances. This effort aims to deliver advanced AI reasoning capabilities tailored to regional markets, boosting adoption and business productivity.
Omantel and GlobalTech have signed a MoU to explore collaboration on AI and Big Data services, aiming to develop industry-focused AI solutions that support Oman’s Vision 2040 goals for digital transformation, economic diversification, and innovation.
Flat6Labs has invested in 10 Saudi startups as part of the fourth Riyadh Seed Program, focusing on diverse sectors such as e-commerce, logistics, and cybersecurity. These startups benefit from a four-month acceleration initiative, cash investment, and tailored support to scale their operations, positioning them for growth in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
DDoS attacks have surged across North Africa, with Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria seeing increased activity in the second half of 2024. The telecom sector is particularly targeted, with sophisticated multi-vector attacks. The report highlights the need for improved cybersecurity measures as regional digital infrastructure expands.
OmanSat has been granted a Category 1 license under Royal Decree 40/2025 to establish a satellite communication system providing broadband internet and satellite connectivity in Oman. This initiative will improve telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and contribute to market competitiveness, supporting the country’s digital transformation efforts.
Toffee App, a digital entertainment platform by Banglalink, will live stream the ICC Champions Trophy starting February 19. Fans can watch all 15 matches for Tk 99. Bangladesh’s first match against India will be on February 20, with subsequent games against New Zealand and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka has become the fastest adopter of digital payments in South Asia, with a 20% increase in digital transactions since 2019. Visa Corporation highlights significant growth, particularly in tap-and-pay transactions. Despite high consumer spending, there remains a need for education on cashless payments for merchants and consumers.
Jordan’s Institute of Public Administration (IPA) presented its strategic vision focused on administrative modernization, governance reforms, and expanding training through a new digital platform. The IPA trains 20,000 public sector employees annually via mixed learning formats and is restructuring governance to better meet sector needs.