Barq, a Saudi fintech led by Ahmed Alenazi, has garnered over 1 million users in just three weeks following its public debut. Licensed by SAMA, the startup offers extensive features including digital personal accounts, Visa cards, and international money transfers, rapidly positioning itself as a major player in the fintech sector.
Egypt ranks fifth globally for affordable internet, with an average cost of $8.31 per month, enhancing its technological accessibility. The country’s advancements in broadband speed and increases in mobile and fixed internet subscriptions highlight its growing digital connectivity, crucial for supporting its youthful population’s potential for innovation.
Veon subsidiary Banglalink has agreed to sell around a third of its tower portfolio in Bangladesh to Summit Towers for $100 million. This strategic move, involving the transfer of over 2,000 towers, aligns with Veon’s shift towards a digital operator model and will help Banglalink focus on digital services expansion.
The UAE’s launch of the Foresight-1 SAR satellite marks a major step in its global space leadership. Bayanat and Yahsat’s collaboration on this project strengthens the UAE’s space capabilities, enhances geospatial solutions, and supports the National Space Strategy 2030. The upcoming merger will establish “Space42” as a key player in the global space sector.
Mubadala Investment Company has invested in Yondr Group, enhancing its global digital infrastructure portfolio. This partnership will support Yondr’s growth in hyperscale data centers, driven by increasing demands from AI, 5G, and IoT technologies. Yondr aims for net-zero emissions by 2030 through sustainable practices.
Orange Jordan sponsored and participated in job fairs at several Jordanian universities, offering students career opportunities and digital programs like the Coding Academy and Fabrication Lab. These efforts aim to bridge the gap between academic education and labor market requirements, fostering students’ technical and soft skills.
Dubai AI Campus and Google Cloud have partnered to enhance the startup ecosystem within the DIFC Innovation Hub. The collaboration will provide startups with mentorship, access to Google Cloud’s AI technologies, and support for growth. This initiative aims to establish Dubai as a global hub for AI innovation and technology-focused companies.
Qatar is leading AI investments in the MENA region with $2.4 billion in incentives, aiming to enhance its AI capabilities and attract global experts. The initiative is part of Qatar’s strategy to build a smart economy, with digital investments projected to reach $5.7 billion by 2026, significantly boosting various sectors.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library team discussed the integration of AI in library services during a Derasat Think Talks session, highlighting how AI enhances access to resources, user experiences, and operations. The discussion emphasized AI’s role in advancing educational and cultural institutions’ technological capabilities.
Vodafone Egypt has been ranked first in Umlaut’s network performance reports, covering November 2023 to April 2024. Vodafone excelled in mobile and fixed broadband performance, earning top scores for coverage, download speed, and latency. This achievement reflects Vodafone’s commitment to investing in network infrastructure and prioritizing customer satisfaction.
