Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Iraq is preparing to launch Apple Pay, enhancing its digital payment system and financial inclusion. Officials met with Apple to discuss technical requirements, with Prime Minister al-Sudani backing the initiative. This move supports Iraq’s broader digital transformation goals and will enable secure, contactless payments.
1001 partners with Almentor to stream Arabic educational courses in Iraq, targeting diverse learner groups and complementing entertainment content with valuable learning experiences.
Iraq is advancing efforts to introduce Apple Pay, engaging with Apple’s regional team to meet technical requirements and expand digital payment options, supporting financial inclusion and electronic payment growth.
Shahid and Al-Manassa have partnered to provide Iraqi audiences with expanded access to licensed Arabic video-on-demand and live TV, strengthening the country’s legal digital entertainment landscape and enhancing content diversity.
Iraq’s new MFTA chapter aims to accelerate fintech adoption and regulatory progress, supporting the country’s digital economy and financial inclusion goals under visionary leadership.
Iraq’s internet penetration rose from 44.3% in 2019 to 82.9% in 2024. The Ministry of Communications plans additional infrastructure projects with public-private partnerships to support the country’s digital transformation and modernize its telecommunications network.
UAE-based VC fund EQIQ has invested $3 million in InstaBank, a new AI-powered digital bank in Iraq, as part of a $15 million funding round. Led by finance veteran Hussain Qaragholi, InstaBank aims to transform Iraq’s financial sector with scalable, inclusive fintech services and serve as a core pillar of EQIQ’s regional digital ecosystem strategy.
Streaming platform 1001 has partnered exclusively with Wide.net to add over 8,000 hours of premium Arabic content, supporting Iraq’s shift toward legal digital media consumption. The deal expands 1001’s offerings and promotes licensed, culturally relevant entertainment for Iraqi audiences.
Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission has upgraded over 1,253 telecom towers and deployed AI-driven congestion prediction tools to support millions of pilgrims during the Ashura pilgrimage in Karbala. Network capacity has increased by nearly 500%, with full 4G coverage and 5G-ready infrastructure.
Blacknut has teamed up with Radian Arc, GCG.games, and Asiacell to launch its cloud gaming platform in Iraq, leveraging local telecom infrastructure and GPU technology to provide high-performance gaming experiences to over 19 million Asiacell subscribers.