Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Egypt’s ICT sector is expanding rapidly, growing 16% annually and contributing 5.8% to GDP. With over 145,000 outsourcing jobs, 8M Digital Egypt users, and a 25-fold increase in training budgets, the government is prioritising innovation, AI, and digital entrepreneurship to attract global investment.
Bangladesh-China Apon Media Club and TMGB signed an MoU in Dhaka to expand cooperation in tech news exchange, journalist training, and professional development. The partnership aims to strengthen bilateral media ties, with China sharing expertise in AI and mobile journalism with Bangladeshi professionals.
Bangladesh’s TV market is embracing AI, with global and local brands introducing personalized, voice-controlled, and adaptive smart TVs. While affordability and infrastructure challenges remain, rising demand in urban centres and local innovation suggest AI features will soon become mainstream for Bangladeshi households.
SAP hosted its Business Suite Innovation Day in Karachi, highlighting AI, cloud ERP, and data-driven enterprise solutions. With participation from MG Motors, Aramco, and Orient Materials, the event showcased real-world use cases, reaffirming SAP’s role in driving Pakistan’s business transformation.
The National Bank of Bahrain has become the first Diamond Sponsor of Fintech Forward 2025, reaffirming its leadership in driving digital innovation. The event will unite global fintech leaders in Bahrain to explore integration, regulation, and trust, as the Kingdom builds a mature, future-ready financial ecosystem.
Africa’s content creation market is now worth $5.1B, projected to reach $30B by 2032. With 385M social media users and a young population, creators face monetization challenges but are leveraging YouTube, Facebook, and local platforms to grow. Rising youth-driven entrepreneurship positions Africa as a global creator economy hub.
Ethio Telecom and Huawei have deployed Africa’s first Solar-on-Tower solution in Ethiopia, enabling telecom sites to run four hours on solar daily and cut diesel use by 40%. The innovation addresses urban space limits and paves the way for greener, low-carbon telecom networks across Africa.
Orange Egypt has partnered with Enjaz Payment Services to launch exclusive money transfers from Saudi Arabia to Egypt via Orange Cash wallets. Customers enjoy fee-free transfers, instant receipt, and EGP500 cashback, reinforcing Orange’s regional remittance expansion and Enjaz’s strong Saudi fintech network.
Kuwait Airways and stc Kuwait have signed a cooperation protocol to integrate digital services across telecom and aviation. The agreement covers joint customer offerings, tech collaborations with Oracle, marketing initiatives, and CSR projects, aiming to enhance service quality and regional leadership.
Africa’s smartphone shipments rose 7% in Q2 2025 to 19.2M units, led by Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. Sub-$100 smartphones soared 38%, reshaping demand. Transsion held 51% market share, followed by Samsung and Xiaomi. Rural markets and fintech-driven services are emerging as key growth drivers.