Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi shoppers are moving from browsing to buying directly on social apps, with Snapchat playing a major role in QSR, electronics, travel, and fashion. AI, AR, creators, and personal connections now define the path to purchase, giving brands powerful new ways to reach consumers in the Kingdom.
Orange Egypt has partnered with Enjaz Payment Services to launch exclusive money transfers from Saudi Arabia to Egypt via Orange Cash wallets. Customers enjoy fee-free transfers, instant receipt, and EGP500 cashback, reinforcing Orange’s regional remittance expansion and Enjaz’s strong Saudi fintech network.
Holo has raised $22M in Series A funding, led by Impact46 and backed by Mubadala and others, to expand its mortgage fintech platform in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company aims to simplify homeownership with 500+ mortgage products, regional talent growth, and stronger product innovation.
OmniOps has partnered with Groq to advance sovereign AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The MoU focuses on deploying locally hosted, high-performance inference solutions, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting Vision 2030 goals by accelerating AI adoption across key sectors like government, energy, and aviation.
Saudi Arabia will introduce an AI curriculum to over six million public school students in 2025–2026, aligning with Vision 2030 goals to build a knowledge-based society. The program, supported by SDAIA, includes global training, ethical AI guidelines, scholarships, and academies to prepare a future generation of AI leaders.
Saudi Arabia has launched Humain Chat, its first Arabic AI app powered by the ALLAM 34B model built locally by Saudi experts. Available on mobile and web, the culturally attuned platform serves 350 million Arabic speakers worldwide, marking a milestone in the Kingdom’s ambition to lead AI innovation.
Saudi Arabia and Syria are rapidly expanding economic ties after hosting the Saudi-Syrian Partnership and Investment Forum in Jeddah. With trade expected to hit SR2 billion in 2025 and investment agreements surging to SR24 billion, both nations are deepening cooperation in reconstruction, real estate, and key growth sectors.
Kammelna’s $53M funding marks a major boost for Saudi Arabia’s gaming ambitions. With over 6M downloads and 1M monthly users, the studio will now scale its culturally inspired portfolio under Vision 2030, as Impact46 positions it as a flagship for Saudi talent, digital culture, and global expansion.
Saudi’s Gathern raised $72M in Series B funding led by PIF-owned Sanabil Investments, reaching a $266M valuation. The platform manages 72,000 units across 200+ Saudi cities, contributing SAR 2B to the local economy. The funds will drive regional expansion, inbound tourism, long-term stays, and AI solutions, with a Tadawul listing on the horizon.
Saudi Arabia has launched the Nusuk Umrah digital platform, enabling international pilgrims to apply directly for visas and book travel services online. Available in seven languages, the service supports Vision 2030 goals of boosting religious tourism, enhancing service quality, and expanding access for Muslims worldwide.