Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Qatar’s technology acceleration, driven by AI adoption and robust government investment, has propelled its innovation rankings and digital economy growth. With strong leadership embracing GenAI, quantum computing, and industry collaboration, Qatar is building a resilient, diversified economy aligned with its 2030 vision.
SRTI Park’s Business Breakfast event showcased advancements in AI and quantum computing from leading tech companies and in-house startups. The event highlighted the AI Factory concept, technology stack essentials, and products like AHB’s Dialog XR chatbot, reflecting Sharjah’s growing role as a hub for AI innovation and collaboration in the UAE and beyond.
Ibtechar and AI Crafters have partnered to accelerate AI adoption in Qatar, combining training and custom AI solutions to support organisations in navigating digital transformation. The alliance aligns with Qatar’s strategic goals to foster a diversified, knowledge-driven economy through innovative AI integration.
Smart glasses are experiencing a major comeback as AI advancements enable more useful, context-aware features. Leading tech companies including Snap, Meta, Google, Apple, and Amazon are developing next-generation eyewear that integrates AI for real-time object recognition, translation, and conversational assistance. While challenges like privacy, cost, and consumer adoption remain, market growth projections signal strong potential for smart glasses to become the next transformative technology platform.
Ghana and the UAE’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation have signed a $1 billion agreement to build a large-scale innovation hub near Accra. The project, launching in 2026, aims to position Ghana as a continental leader in AI and digital technology, leveraging local talent trained under Ghana’s “One Million Coders” program. The UAE’s PCFC will bring funding, technology, and global partnerships to the initiative, marking their first hub in Africa. This strategic move is expected to create thousands of jobs and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
Bangladesh is accelerating its AI adoption across key sectors including telecommunications, agriculture, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. By integrating AI, the country aims to boost operational efficiency, innovation, and global competitiveness. Collaboration between private and public sectors is essential to drive sustainable digital transformation and align with international standards.
Over 100 students graduated from MBZUAI, the world’s first AI-focused university, advancing research in healthcare, climate, and language tech. The UAE continues to cement its global AI leadership with expanded academic programs and a new US-backed $5 billion AI campus in Abu Dhabi.
Salesforce’s Agentforce World Tour Dubai showcased AI-powered digital labour’s potential to transform Middle East organisations, highlighting customer success stories and workforce empowerment initiatives. The event underscored AI’s critical role in driving efficiency, innovation, and national digital transformation goals amid rising adoption and deployment challenges.
du, du Tech, and HPE hosted a roundtable focused on accelerating AI and hybrid cloud adoption in the UAE banking sector. Highlighting the region’s leadership in AI integration, the event showcased strategies to enhance operations, customer experience, and data security amid rapid digital transformation.
Bahrain’s iGA participated in the 27th GCC eGovernment Executive Committee meeting in Kuwait, advancing regional digital transformation. Key highlights included renaming the committee, developing a unified AI strategy, enhancing digital security, and preparing for the GCC Digital Government Award 2025, reinforcing Gulf cooperation in government digital services.