Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
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.
Globant has opened its Middle East Regional HQ in Riyadh to lead AI-driven digital transformation. The hub will train local talent and accelerate innovation across key sectors, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and positioning the Kingdom as a global technology center.
Saudi Arabia launches a national AI incubator to support 20 early-stage startups with funding, mentorship, and technical partnerships. This initiative supports Vision 2030’s goal to diversify the economy and build a competitive AI ecosystem, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a regional and global technology leader.
AI now tops the list of cybersecurity risks in Morocco, with organizations struggling to govern and train staff on its safe use amid rising sophisticated AI-driven attacks.
Oracle is expanding its presence in Africa, announcing new cloud data centers in Morocco and Kenya, alongside its established South Africa center. The company aims to enhance regional digital infrastructure and democratize AI adoption, offering a fully integrated platform to businesses, data scientists, and engineers across the continent.
Dr. Yarub Badr, Minister of Transport, held discussions with the Arab Internet and Telecom Union (ARISPA) to strengthen collaboration on digital transformation and AI in the transport sector. The talks also focused on the upcoming regional conference in Damascus about AI and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the Ministry’s commitment to innovation.
The first ITU Embedded AI Focus Group meeting, hosted by Turkcell in Istanbul, brought together global experts to discuss AI-native networks. The summit emphasized the integration of AI in telecom networks for smarter, more efficient infrastructures. Key industry leaders stressed the need for international standards in AI-based networks.
Dubai AI Week 2025, held from April 21-25, will bring together global leaders, innovators, and experts to explore AI’s transformative impact on government services, economic growth, and society. The event will feature high-profile summits, hackathons, and global competitions, solidifying Dubai’s position as a global AI hub.
The IEA reports that data centre electricity consumption will more than double by 2030, primarily driven by AI. This surge in energy demand, alongside opportunities for efficiency improvements, could increase global energy consumption by data centres to 3%, significantly impacting carbon emissions, with companies turning to nuclear and renewable energy.
Morocco is heavily investing in blockchain and AI technologies as part of its Digital Morocco 2030 plan, aiming for a 10% GDP increase by 2030. The country is focusing on workforce development, digital education, and tech adoption across industries, positioning itself as a leading tech player in Africa and beyond.