Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
PALM secures seven-figure pre-seed funding to scale its goal-based saving platform in Egypt. By blending investment with behavioural incentives, PALM aims to modernize saving habits and boost financial inclusion in line with national development goals.
Dialog Axiata has launched a new real-time school van tracking service, enhancing student safety and operational efficiency. Leveraging GPS and 4G technology, parents can track their child’s van and receive alerts via SMS. The service benefits van operators by improving reliability and accountability. Devices cost LKR18,990, with a subscription fee of LKR1,910.
Tech Mahindra unveils TechM Orion, an AI agent platform powered by NVIDIA, offering rapid agent development, governance, and seamless enterprise integration. Featuring 200+ pre-built agents and proprietary AI oversight, it accelerates responsible AI adoption across industries. Commercial launch is slated for Q3 2025.
The UAE has ranked first globally in telecom infrastructure with a perfect UN score and continues to lead the world in mobile internet speeds. In 2024, it completed 173.7 million digital transactions, reflecting a 91% satisfaction rate. By 2030, AI is expected to contribute US$100 billion to GDP.
UAE Ambassador Fahad Alameri met with Bahrain’s Minister Al Khalifa to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between their countries. They focused on enhancing cooperation in transportation, communications, and logistics, as well as promoting knowledge exchange and joint investments to further the development of both nations.
Moov Africa Gabon, a subsidiary of Maroc Telecom, avoided nationalization despite Gabon’s recent economic shifts under new leadership. While the country nationalized key energy firms, the telecommunications sector remained untouched. Maroc Telecom holds a 52% market share, with rival Ariel Gabon at 48%, ensuring stability for the telecom market.
Maseera, an Abu Dhabi-based financial services firm, has acquired Egyptian fintech startup ADVA to expand its presence in North Africa. The deal will allow Maseera to enhance its consumer finance portfolio, increase access to flexible financial solutions, and tap into Egypt’s growing digital finance market.
Nigeria plans to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic cables starting in 2025, backed by a $700 million funding boost. This expansion aims to increase internet access to 70% of the population, reduce internet costs by 60%, and connect over 200,000 educational, healthcare, and social institutions.
HP has announced strategic investments in Saudi Arabia, including a new manufacturing facility in Riyadh and an AI and R&D Centre of Excellence in Dhahran. These initiatives aim to boost Saudi Arabia’s technology sector and education programs, contributing to the country’s Vision 2030 goals of digital transformation and workforce development.
ThinkONE, in partnership with IGONOGO, has introduced innovative survey technology that tracks finger movements to reveal consumers’ true emotions and thoughts. This advanced system promises faster, more accurate insights for brands, revolutionizing market research. In a separate event, Moroccan police seized two tons of cannabis resin and arrested eight suspects.