Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
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.
Ariika, an Egyptian home furnishing e-commerce startup, has raised $3 million in Series A extension funding, led by Beltone Venture Capital and Citadel International Holdings. The new capital will fuel its expansion in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with Ariika poised for significant growth in the MENA home décor market.
Riyadh Air has launched Riyadh Cargo as a tech-first air freight business, embedding digital platforms, real-time tracking, and scalable operations across its wide-body fleet. The move supports Vision 2030, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub while enabling reliable, data-driven cargo growth alongside the airline’s expansion.
Nepal’s telecom regulator, NTA, has ordered all ISPs to obtain official tariff approval before offering services, citing growing complaints over arbitrary pricing. The directive enforces Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act and aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and consumer protection in internet service charges.
Oman’s Environment Authority has completed its full digital transformation through cloud adoption, improving service efficiency, cybersecurity readiness and environmental monitoring while advancing the country’s smart government and sustainability objectives.
PayTabs Egypt and Valu have launched a QR-powered merchant app that enables contactless smartphone payments, replacing POS hardware. The solution enhances financial inclusion, reduces costs, and supports Egypt’s digital payment transformation.
Major Pakistani telecom operators, including Jazz, Zong, and Ufone, have issued a collective clarification stating they do not control the…
Egypt’s telecom regulator has licensed seven global automakers to deploy IoT-enabled vehicle services, advancing the country’s Digital Egypt agenda. The initiative will enhance driver safety, navigation, and emergency response through AI-powered connectivity while strengthening Egypt’s position in smart mobility innovation.
The UNESCO MIL Youth Hackathon highlighted the achievements of Jordan’s Youth Media Literacy Ambassadors Program (YMLAP), which won for its impactful community-based projects. This initiative empowers Jordanian youth to combat misinformation and promote media literacy, fostering a more informed and resilient society in the digital age.
IBM reveals plans for IBM Quantum Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer capable of 20,000x today’s performance by 2029. The architecture uses logical qubits and advanced error correction, aiming to revolutionize fields like drug development and materials science through scalable, practical quantum computing.