Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Jordan launches a €1.83 million EU-backed ReTour initiative to enhance digital readiness and resilience among tourism SMEs across six Mediterranean countries. The 30-month project will introduce AI, blockchain, smart tools, and training to support sustainability and business continuity.
Red Sea Global has unveiled ADRENA, a sustainable adventure and entertainment district featuring more than 20 attractions, including Saudi Arabia’s largest saltwater surf pool. The project combines advanced aquatic engineering with closed-loop water systems to support regenerative tourism and expand the Kingdom’s leisure and tourism offerings.
Oman launches a digital tourism booking platform on Experience Oman, enabling agents and travellers to build complete itineraries through a unified system featuring hundreds of experiences and hotels. The initiative supports SME participation, sports tourism growth and the country’s wider digital transformation strategy.
Oman has launched a unified digital travel platform to streamline trip planning, support sports tourism, empower local tourism SMEs, and enhance sustainable tourism growth as part of its Vision 2030 strategy to strengthen global tourism competitiveness.
Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority helped bring 27 million international visitors to the Kingdom in 2025. A new “Spirit of Saudi” Boeing 787-9 will serve 25 global destinations in 2026, promoting Saudi hospitality and supporting Vision 2030 goals to reach 150 million tourists by 2030.
Kingdom Centre’s landmark redevelopment in Riyadh is nearing completion, introducing enhanced luxury retail, hospitality, dining, digital innovation, and visitor engagement features aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the city’s global ambitions.
H2O Hospitality has partnered with the ADI Foundation to support the UAE’s digital currency initiative in the travel sector. The collaboration will integrate non-custodial wallets and QR-based stablecoin payments into tourism services, simplifying transactions for international visitors and supporting the UAE’s digital economy agenda.
Euronews has launched Euronews Travel in partnership with Media City Qatar, expanding its brand with a dedicated tourism channel. The platform will deliver digital-first travel content before expanding to global TV networks, supporting Qatar’s ambition to become a leading international media hub.
Orange Jordan concluded its tourism-focused accessibility hackathon by honouring three winning teams that developed digital solutions designed to make Jordan’s tourism sector more inclusive for persons with disabilities. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, combined training, mentorship, and innovation to empower students and promote accessible tourism. The hackathon reinforces Jordan’s wider digital inclusion efforts and Orange Jordan’s commitment to breaking barriers and enabling full participation for all.
Huawei and EternityX are bridging MEA and China’s digital economies through AI-driven advertising and data insights, helping Gulf brands capture fast-rising Chinese tourism, investment, and luxury spending through localized, performance-oriented campaigns.