Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Merak Capital has invested SAR203 million in Saudi cybersecurity firm DSShield to support expansion of operations, technology development, and managed services. The deal strengthens DSShield’s role in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing cybersecurity market and supports its pathway toward a future public listing.
Saudi Arabia ranked second globally in the World Bank’s 2025 GovTech Maturity Index with a score of 99.64%. Strong results across digital systems, service delivery, and citizen engagement highlight the Kingdom’s rapid digital government transformation aligned with Vision 2030.
Newera.ai has raised $2.13 million in a Pre-Seed round led by Embark to expand its Saudi operations and accelerate generative AI product launches. The funding will strengthen R&D, build partnerships, and support compliant, locally hosted AI solutions aligned with Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals.
Saudi Arabia’s workforce transformation under Vision 2030 is being driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence and financial literacy. Experts say human capital that combines digital fluency, financial confidence, and ethical judgment is key to economic diversification, leadership renewal, and sustainable growth across sectors.
Saudi Arabia’s CST has completed a series of investment awareness sessions to strengthen engagement between investors and space startups. The initiative highlighted emerging space technologies, cross-sector applications, and the role of AI and IoT, supporting Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification and innovation-led growth.
Telemedicine is reshaping Saudi primary care under Vision 2030, but scaling virtual services raises ethical, privacy, workload, and equity challenges. Sustainable adoption requires culturally aligned consent practices, privacy-by-design governance, institutional support for clinicians, and inclusive digital health strategies to ensure vulnerable populations are not left behind.
Group-IB and VAS have signed an MoU to expand cybersecurity cooperation in Saudi Arabia through joint market development, partner enablement, and awareness initiatives. The partnership leverages advanced threat intelligence and local expertise to strengthen digital resilience aligned with the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.
Group-IB and VAS Integrated Solutions have signed an MoU to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities across Saudi Arabia through channel-led expansion, joint market development, and partner enablement. The partnership will deliver advanced cyber threat and fraud intelligence, support awareness and training initiatives, and enhance national cybersecurity resilience in line with the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market is expected to triple to $708.7 billion by 2033, driven by Vision 2030, 99% smartphone penetration, and mobile-first consumer behaviour. Growth in digital payments, Q-commerce, omnichannel retail, and AI personalisation is reshaping how Saudis shop, while logistics and fraud prevention remain key challenges.
Mobily’s new “Ever Closer” platform marks a strategic brand evolution, blending Saudi cultural insight with large-scale storytelling. Developed with FP7 McCann Riyadh, the campaign celebrates human connection while signaling Mobily’s shift from a traditional telecom operator to a future-ready technology, media, and telecom player aligned with Vision 2030.