Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Sarat Ventures Y Innovations Biotech Fund has launched a $50M initiative to back early-stage biotech companies targeting Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. Anchored by Allocator One, the fund aligns with Vision 2030, aiming to fuel life sciences growth, attract global talent, and advance transformative therapies.
The Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25) in Riyadh concluded with new ITU Best Practice Guidelines urging regulators to become digital ecosystem builders. The framework emphasizes innovation, cross-border cooperation, and inclusivity, enabling sustainable digital growth and positioning regulation as a catalyst for public trust and economic transformation.
SDAIA’s Dr. Esam Al-Wagait emphasized Saudi Arabia’s global role in AI-driven digital transformation, citing platforms like Tawakkalna and Absher, Vision 2030’s National AI Strategy, and the Kingdom’s ODIN ranking progress. He stressed international partnerships and highlighted ICAIRE’s role in AI ethics and governance.
Saudi Arabia’s CST presented a global study at GSR25 showing that $2.6–2.8 trillion in investment is needed to bridge the digital divide by 2030. The initiative, part of the Connecting Humanity project with ITU, highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in digital inclusion and sustainable development.
Saudi Arabia is solidifying its role as a digital economy leader, with $4.4 billion in tech investments, advanced 5G rollout, cloud expansion, and AI-focused talent programs. Backed by regulatory reforms and innovation initiatives, the Kingdom now contributes 50% of regional digital economy growth and 15% of GDP.
Saudi and Palestinian ministers met during GSR-25 in Riyadh to discuss a strategic partnership in digital infrastructure. Talks covered cooperation in digital government, skills development, and innovation to support Palestine’s digital transformation and youth-driven sustainable development.
Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, has established itself as the region’s AI leader and a rising global power. With SDAIA, Humain, supercomputing investments, and Arabic AI models, the Kingdom is building a comprehensive ecosystem to secure long-term competitiveness and set global standards in artificial intelligence.
Syria and Saudi Arabia have launched talks to boost cooperation in education, telecom, and trade. Discussions focused on digital learning platforms, improving telecom infrastructure, and reviewing Syria’s investment opportunities, reflecting renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties
Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN Chat, powered by the ALLAM 34B model, has been launched by PIF-backed HUMAIN to enrich Arabic digital content. SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi praised the initiative as a step toward positioning the Kingdom as a global leader in AI and preserving the Arabic language online.
Altharwah Albashariyyah has secured a SAR 15.21 million project from Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority to deliver employee training programs in 2025. The deal, set for signing in September, highlights the company’s growing role in talent development, following its earlier MoU with Dar Al Uloom University.