Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The government has launched a new project to connect 20 agencies through a unified digital platform, reducing reliance on paper documents. This initiative aims to streamline transactions, enhance efficiency, and improve public service delivery, allowing most services to be completed within a single day.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has launched a campaign to regulate e-commerce businesses, requiring registration of e-store links, secure payment methods, clear return policies, and timely deliveries. Non-compliance will lead to legal consequences, aiming to protect consumers, promote fair competition, and boost the country’s digital economy.
Oracle has launched a sophisticated R&D center in Casablanca focused on AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, employing hundreds of local tech professionals. This initiative advances Morocco’s role as a regional tech hub and supports global innovation through locally developed solutions.
SPAYZ.io is expanding into South Africa, Egypt, and Cameroon, offering EFT Bank Transfers and Mobile Money solutions to capture growing digital payment markets. This research-driven expansion targets long-term stability in Africa’s rapidly growing digital economy, set to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030.
Sri Lanka’s smartphone market saw 218 percent growth in Q2 2024, driven by brands like Honor, ZTE, and Samsung. With 25 percent of shipments being 5G smartphones, and Dialog Axiata expanding 5G coverage, the market continues to thrive, heavily reliant on retail sales.
Ooredoo has partnered with Kloudville to launch a B2B digital marketplace offering AI, cloud, and cybersecurity solutions for SMBs. The platform, built on Kloudville’s Marketplace 360, empowers businesses to easily access essential digital services. The marketplace will roll out across MENA from 2025, driving digital transformation in the region.
Pakistan has set national targets to expand digital payments: 2 million digital merchants, 120m mobile banking users, and 15bn annual transactions by FY26. The plan also aims to route all remittances through wallets or banks. JazzCash and Easypaisa lead the market, while other telcos lag behind.
AI is transforming major industries globally, including healthcare, aviation, agriculture, education, and energy. MBZUAI is at the forefront, driving advancements through partnerships and innovative projects. AI’s impact ranges from improving healthcare diagnostics to optimizing energy distribution, showcasing its potential to revolutionize various sectors and enhance operational efficiency.
Algerian Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Karim Bibi Triki, has launched a project to extend the 4G mobile network in Ain Defla, aiming to cover 1,400 localities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants. This initiative supports Algeria’s digital transformation goals and ensures access to affordable telecommunications services for remote areas.
The LEAP25 conference in Riyadh concluded with over $14.9 billion in investments, cementing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global leader in AI, technology, and digital economy innovation. With dynamic interactions between startups and investors, the event showcased the Kingdom’s commitment to Vision 2030 and rapid progress in digital transformation.