Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Africa’s smartphone market grew 7% year-on-year in Q2 2025 with shipments hitting 19.2M units. Egypt drove growth with a 21% surge, while low-cost devices under $100 rose 38%. Transsion held 51% share, followed by Samsung (18%) and Xiaomi (14%), as local manufacturing gains pace across the continent.
Pakistan’s mobile phone market continues to strengthen its local assembly capabilities, significantly reducing dependency on imports and enhancing domestic production. Meanwhile, regulatory vigilance remains high with strong consumer complaint resolution, reflecting efforts to ensure quality and reliability in telecom services.
ADNOC has launched the ‘Make it with ADNOC’ mobile app to enhance local manufacturing and support the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative. The app provides real-time access to ADNOC’s procurement pipeline, helping businesses engage directly and make informed investment decisions, strengthening national supply chains.
Egypt’s smartphone market is stabilizing after the implementation of a whitelisting regulation to curb illegal imports. Although shipments dropped by 18%, the government’s strategy to boost local manufacturing and reduce reliance on grey markets could ensure long-term growth, despite challenges like higher prices for legally imported devices.
e& Egypt has successfully begun manufacturing Egypt’s first fully local 5G router at the SICO factory in Assiut Governorate. This step is part of the company’s strategy to boost local production and meet customer demands, while also contributing to Egypt’s position as a regional technology and manufacturing hub.
In the first quarter of FY 2024-25, Pakistan’s mobile phone imports dropped to $246.472 million, an 18.93% decline from the previous year. Meanwhile, local manufacturing surged, producing 20.44 million handsets from January to August 2024, highlighting a shift towards domestic production amidst changing market dynamics.
Iraq has launched its first locally-produced Android smartphone in Erbil, marking a major stride towards technological independence. This milestone enhances Iraq’s capacity for high-tech manufacturing and supports its goal of becoming a regional leader in technology.
Egypt has signed an MoU with ZTE to launch local telecommunications equipment manufacturing and establish 5G training labs. This partnership will enhance Egypt’s tech industry, boost export capabilities in the MENA region, and train 1,200 ICT professionals over three years.