Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Jordan has launched a strategic partnership with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development to finance development projects from 2025 to 2029. The initiative will target key sectors like water, energy, and digital transformation, and is expected to boost private sector growth and enhance Jordan’s economic infrastructure.
Jahez Application and Kuwait Innovation Center have launched Kuwait’s first Food Innovation Hackathon, inviting youth and creative thinkers to develop AI-driven solutions for food delivery challenges. The multi-phase program includes workshops, mentorship, and cash prizes, supporting Kuwait’s Vision 2035 goals by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the food tech sector.
Ooredoo Qatar, in partnership with Microsoft, launched “Obot” at Web Summit Qatar 2025. Powered by GPT-4, this AI assistant will enhance customer service by offering personalized recommendations, order tracking, and more. Obot will be available across multiple platforms, further elevating Ooredoo’s customer experience.
Pakistan’s mobile phone imports declined significantly by over 16% in the first eleven months of FY25, with a steep drop recorded in May 2025. However, overall merchandise exports showed positive growth of 5.15%, while total imports increased by 7.5%, indicating broader trade dynamics beyond the mobile sector.
Banglalink’s “Smartphone on Installment” program offers affordable 4G smartphones through no-credit-card EMI plans, enabling wider digital inclusion in Bangladesh. Supported by partners PalmPay, Genex, and Ismartu, the initiative reduces entry barriers and provides complimentary data and rewards to customers upgrading their devices.
Morocco is leading the way in earthquake prediction and response by utilizing AI and machine learning to provide real-time seismic data analysis. This approach improves prediction accuracy, enables faster emergency responses, and enhances preparedness. The integration of IoT devices further strengthens monitoring, making Morocco a global leader in disaster management innovation.
Saudi Arabia’s Emerging Technology Adoption Readiness Index improved from 60.35% to 70.70% in one year. The increase in participating agencies, along with advancements in AI, drones, digital twinning, and other technologies, highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to modernizing its digital infrastructure and aligns with Vision 2030 goals.
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, in collaboration with Cisco, has launched Indonesia’s first Sovereign SOC, introducing Splunk-based AI-powered threat detection under national jurisdiction. The initiative will protect critical infrastructure, train one million Indonesians by 2030, and provide affordable security services to over 10,000 SMEs, strengthening digital sovereignty and resilience.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has announced a strategic partnership with Array Innovation to enhance its Industry 4.0 digitalization efforts. This collaboration will deploy advanced AI and data analytics solutions to optimize operations, improve efficiencies, and align with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 by investing in local talent.
The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), KAUST, and “Garage” announce the Space Tech Entrepreneurship Incubation Program. This six-month initiative aims to attract investments, support innovation, and expand R&D in the space sector. It includes a hackathon, bootcamp, incubation phase, and community establishment. Interested participants can register on the program page.