Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt’s Maaki initiative empowers one million women in Upper Egypt with digital skills through a partnership between MSMEDA, Vodafone Egypt, Samsung, and CARE Egypt, advancing digital inclusion and women’s entrepreneurship.
Morocco and Hong Kong’s Jungnong Group have launched a $22 million joint venture to modernize agriculture through water-efficient technologies and soil rehabilitation. The project includes training in precision farming and supports Morocco’s Green Generation strategy to create a climate-resilient farming model that can be expanded regionally.
LG Uplus has partnered with Zain Group to expand its AI service, ‘ixi-O,’ into the Middle East. The collaboration aims to enhance telecommunications in Saudi Arabia and other regions by integrating AI features like voice phishing detection, caller identification, and call recording, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Orange Jordan launched a Digital Self-Registration Service using the eKYC system, enabling customers to electronically authenticate prepaid mobile lines. This innovation allows remote identity verification via the “SANAD” app, enhancing the digital customer experience. The initiative reflects Orange’s commitment to digital leadership and supporting Jordan’s digital transformation vision.
TMC Pvt. Ltd. and SAP Pakistan hosted the “Digital HR, AI-Driven Experience” conference in Karachi, highlighting the urgent need for AI-powered HR transformation. With only 34% of organizations digitized, the event urged Pakistan to embrace data-driven HR to upskill talent, boost retention, and build a resilient workforce for the future.
Dubai AI Week 2025, held from April 21-25, will bring together global leaders, innovators, and experts to explore AI’s transformative impact on government services, economic growth, and society. The event will feature high-profile summits, hackathons, and global competitions, solidifying Dubai’s position as a global AI hub.
Aramco’s venture arm, Wa’ed Ventures, has invested in UK-based AI cloud start-up Ori. This investment, aimed at establishing a subsidiary in Riyadh, underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on advancing AI. Ori, which supplies AI infrastructure and uses Nvidia’s H200 chips, has also been backed by Telefonica and NextEra Energy.
Qualcomm and Aramco Digital have unveiled the world’s first AI-enabled industrial 5G smartphone at LEAP 2025. Powered by Qualcomm’s QCM8550 and QCM6490 processors, the device aims to enhance connectivity for 5G IoT, edge computing, and industrial applications, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and driving global industrial transformation.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will allow mobile operators to pay spectrum fees in local currency, taka, instead of US dollars. This decision follows requests from operators due to the US dollar’s appreciation against the taka. Fees will be settled based on the dollar rate at the time of payment.
At GITEX GLOBAL 2024, Tencent Cloud’s Dan Hu highlighted the company’s double-digit growth in the Middle East, strategic partnerships, and tailored services to support regional digital transformation. Key collaborations, including with local firms, emphasize Tencent’s commitment to advancing the digital economy and enhancing operational efficiency across sectors.