Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
NBK’s partnership with Weyay Bank introduces exclusive digital banking services for employees, offering budgeting tools, savings solutions, and even child-friendly financial education through the “Jeel” card. The initiative reflects NBK’s focus on empowering staff while positioning Weyay as a pioneer in digital-first financial solutions.
Digital Health, a subsidiary of Dialog Axiata in Sri Lanka, has launched an AI-powered health scan service through the Doc990 App. This innovative tool allows users to monitor vital health indicators such as blood pressure and heart rate directly from their smartphones, promoting accessible healthcare and preventive care.
Intella, a Saudi-based AI startup specialising in Arabic dialect speech-to-text, raised $12.5M in Series A funding led by Prosus. With 95.73% transcription accuracy, it outperforms global tech giants. The capital will drive R&D, expand Ziila and IntellaCX, and support growth in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Google Pay is launching soon in Bangladesh, starting with City Bank cardholders, enabling NFC-based payments and digital wallet use. The move follows its success across South and Southeast Asia, boosting Bangladesh’s digital finance growth alongside local platforms like bKash.
Orange Egypt and Huawei have strengthened their partnership to roll out a high-performance 5G network across Egypt, incorporating Massive MIMO, AI-driven energy efficiency, and E-band microwave technology. This collaboration supports emerging technologies like AI, AR, and IoT, while enhancing network speed, capacity, and sustainability, positioning Egypt for a digital future with smart cities and advanced connectivity.
Kuwait’s Cybercrime Unit has uncovered key data from a suspect’s phone, leading to multiple arrests involved in illegal activities. The phone’s messages and call records revealed crucial information, including people on arrest and travel ban lists. More suspects are expected to be identified in the ongoing investigation.
Batelco has partnered with Almoayyed Contracting Group to build Bahrain’s first White Space Data Center at the Beyon Data Oasis. The facility will be the largest and most power-dense in the kingdom, integrating sustainability with a nearby solar farm and offering scalable, flexible infrastructure to meet growing digital sector demands.
Digital Forge Information Technology in Qatar has launched a range of web-based systems to improve operations for businesses and institutions. These solutions include queue management, library management, CRM, POS and inventory management, hospital management, and school management systems, all designed to simplify processes and enhance efficiency across various sectors.
Jordan experienced a 64% increase in 5G mobile technology subscriptions in Q2 2024, rising to 51,491 from 31,334 in Q1. Fixed broadband subscriptions reached 793,000, while data consumption through fixed services grew to approximately 1.289 billion gigabytes, reflecting a positive trend in digital connectivity across the country.
Cairo ICT 2024 concluded successfully, highlighting AI’s impact on data centers, advancements in cybersecurity, blockchain, smart city initiatives, and IoT. The event showcased Egypt’s digital prowess and strategic movement towards a digital-first, green future, marking a significant leap in technology and sustainability.