Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
UAE tech startups raised $872 million in Q1 2025, a 194% increase from the previous year, driven by late-stage investments in sectors like enterprise applications, fintech, and retail. Dubai remains the dominant hub for venture capital, while acquisitions and high-value deals indicate the region’s growing tech maturity.
BD hosted the BD Healthcare Summit in Riyadh, focusing on healthcare transformation in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Experts discussed AI, digital transformation, and patient safety. The summit highlighted BD’s commitment to enhancing healthcare quality and workforce empowerment, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals of sustainability and innovation.
Maroc Telecom has partnered with Zoho to provide advanced digital solutions to businesses in Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa. Through this collaboration, businesses will gain access to Zoho’s comprehensive suite of applications, helping to streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and drive growth, with local support and training.
Inwi has announced a strategic partnership with the Association Professionnelle des Banques (APB) at GITEX Africa 2025, marking a significant step in Morocco’s digital transformation. This collaboration aims to provide tailored digital solutions to Moroccan businesses, enhancing their competitiveness and supporting the growth of startups and SMEs.
The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has launched a digital one-stop-shop platform for investors in collaboration with EBRD and Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation. The initiative aims to streamline 80 key services, improve business efficiency, and strengthen Egypt’s global competitiveness as an investment hub aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Egypt’s Minister of Communications, Amr Talaat, met with Vodafone Egypt and Vodacom Group CEOs, along with a South African investment delegation, to discuss boosting investments in the ICT sector. Key topics included digital transformation, infrastructure, and collaboration with the private sector, aiming to attract foreign investments and promote technological growth.
Recent data from Tunisia’s telecom regulator shows a shift towards data-driven services, with mobile internet usage and 4G adoption growing, while traditional voice services plateau. Mobile broadband is now the dominant access point, highlighting a digital transformation in the telecom sector that operators and regulators must support.
Lebanon has launched the “LEAP” initiative, a five-year digital transformation plan aiming to position the country as a regional tech hub powered by AI. The plan focuses on AI integration across government sectors, legislation, partnerships, and infrastructure improvements, with the goal of transforming Lebanon into a leader in innovation and technology.
Bangladesh plans to overhaul its ICT and telecom policies by June to eliminate barriers to digital growth. Key reforms include the Cyber Security Ordinance, telecom licensing changes, and full digital payment interoperability. These measures aim to strengthen citizen services, digital payments, and empower the youth population through technology.
The IoT market is rapidly expanding, with projections reaching $1.06 trillion by 2025. In Pakistan, Zong 4G is leading IoT adoption across sectors like banking, transportation, and utilities. The expansion of 4G and upcoming 5G rollout will further accelerate IoT integration, enhancing business efficiency and enabling smart city development.