Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed toured UMEX and SimTEX 2026 in Abu Dhabi, reviewing global advances in unmanned systems, AI, robotics, and simulation. He highlighted the exhibitions’ role in global knowledge exchange and in reinforcing the UAE’s position as a hub for future technologies across civil and defence sectors.
KAUST spinouts have raised over $1bn, marking Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a serious deep-tech hub. The university is now courting global VCs, corporates, and accelerators to expand its funding base, accelerate clean-tech and critical-minerals innovation, and de-risk early-stage research under Vision 2030’s diversification drive.
NowPay has raised $20 million to launch operations in Saudi Arabia through a new joint venture, NowAccess, with Tas’heel. The partnership brings payroll, earned wage access, and financial wellness solutions to the Kingdom, aligning with Vision 2030 and positioning NowPay at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s HR and fintech transformation.
EdfaPay has launched Smart SoftPOS in Saudi Arabia following SAMA approval, enabling merchants to accept contactless payments on Android devices without hardware terminals. The unified, API-driven platform supports banks, fintechs, and enterprises with white-label solutions, accelerating cashless adoption and modernising the Kingdom’s payments ecosystem.
SUDO has signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to accelerate cloud adoption, AI integration, and legacy modernisation across Saudi Arabia. The partnership supports Vision 2030 by enabling public and private sector entities to build secure, scalable digital platforms and strengthen the Kingdom’s digital foundations.
Saudi Arabia’s Humain has secured a $1.2bn financing framework with the National Infrastructure Fund to build up to 250MW of AI data centre capacity. The move accelerates the Kingdom’s push to become a regional AI hub, backed by hyperscale infrastructure and institutional investment.
stc has been named the strongest brand in the Middle East and among the world’s top telecom brands by Brand Finance. The ranking reflects sustained investment in digital infrastructure, AI, and cloud services, reinforcing stc’s global stature and its role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital ambitions.
Trango Tech has expanded its mobile app development operations across the GCC with dedicated teams in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The move strengthens regional delivery for enterprises and startups, offering secure, bilingual, and regulation-compliant mobile solutions across key sectors including fintech, eCommerce, healthcare, and logistics.
Digital payments now account for 80% of all transactions in Saudi Arabia, according to Visa, as consumers rapidly move away from cash. Mobile payments alone represent 16%, driven by convenience, security, and Vision 2030 reforms that are embedding digital finance into everyday life.
Zarea has signed a $2 million MoU with Chinese agri-platform Wang Chuang Xi Jun Chang Agri to bring advanced seeds, agronomic services, and scalable production systems to Pakistan. The partnership aims to modernise the agri-value chain, boost productivity, and enable cross-border technology transfer and trade.