Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Banglalink’s RYZE platform has evolved into an AI-powered digital hub for Bangladesh’s youth, offering a suite of tools like Vocalyze (AI speaking coach), CV-RYZEr (AI resume builder), and SummaRYZE (AI writing assistant). Designed to promote learning, creativity, and self-expression, RYZE is helping young Bangladeshis build professional confidence and digital fluency, driving the nation’s AI-led future.
Arab Financial Services (AFS) and Reboot01 have formed a strategic partnership to train and employ Bahrain’s next generation of FinTech professionals. The initiative offers hands-on training, internships, and recruitment opportunities, bridging education with industry needs. With an inclusive, project-based curriculum and a goal of graduating 350 developers annually, Reboot01 and AFS aim to drive Bahrain’s digital economy and regional innovation leadership.
Bahrain’s iGA and Beyon Connect have launched the Bulk KYC Service, allowing financial institutions to verify customer data in bulk directly against national registries. Built on the eKey 2.0 framework, the system enhances regulatory compliance, security, and user convenience. It forms part of Bahrain’s broader push toward a trusted, data-secure financial ecosystem and strengthens its position as a regional leader in digital identity innovation.
Bahrain’s iGA and EWA have merged the Electricity & Water Services App into the MyGov app as part of a nationwide digital unification initiative. Starting October 23, users can access all EWA services—such as bill payments and consumption summaries—via MyGov, which has surpassed 550,000 downloads since launch. The move streamlines access to public services under Bahrain’s mobile app merger strategy.
Bahrain FinTech Bay has partnered with Tether to drive blockchain innovation and digital asset education in Bahrain. The collaboration builds on the Central Bank of Bahrain’s new stablecoin regulatory framework, aiming to attract global talent and investment while promoting sustainable and compliant blockchain growth. The initiative strengthens Bahrain’s position as a leading fintech and blockchain hub in the GCC.
Algeria’s Ministry of Higher Education has launched the University Digital Library, a platform hosting over 110,000 academic and research documents. The initiative, led by Minister Kamel Baddari, aims to modernize higher education through digital access, promote intellectual property collaboration with INAPI, and preserve national heritage. It reinforces Algeria’s vision of open knowledge, digital inclusion, and innovation-led learning.
At the 16th UNCTAD Ministerial Session in Geneva, Algeria reaffirmed its commitment to Africa’s development through major infrastructure, trade, and digital connectivity projects. Minister Kamel Rezig highlighted initiatives such as the Trans-Saharan Highway, Gas Pipeline, high-speed internet network, and a $1 billion fund for African start-ups. He emphasized Algeria’s support for AfCFTA and called for fair debt solutions, positioning Algeria as a key advocate for African unity, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Etihad Salam has partnered with AFR-IX Telecom to connect Saudi Arabia to the Medusa Submarine Cable System via Aqaba, Jordan. The deal establishes Saudi Arabia as a key interconnection hub between Europe, Africa, and Asia, enhancing digital capacity and supporting Vision 2030 goals. The 8,760 km Medusa cable delivers up to 480 Tbps of bandwidth, enabling faster, more resilient data transfer across continents.
du and DE-CIX have achieved a record 1 Tbit/s traffic milestone on UAE-IX, the Middle East’s largest Internet Exchange. Hosted on du’s datamena platform, the IX connects over 110 networks and drives regional data efficiency by keeping traffic local. The achievement, announced at GITEX Global 2025, underscores UAE-IX’s growing role as a digital backbone for the UAE and wider Middle East, supporting innovation, cybersecurity, and cloud-driven transformation.
Amazon Web Services has restored its operations following a major global outage that disrupted platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, and Venmo, as well as several banking services. While operations have largely resumed, AWS said some systems still face message backlogs. The disruption, caused by an internal malfunction, highlighted the world’s growing dependence on cloud infrastructure for everyday digital services.