UAE and Philippines to integrate instant payments systems, Lucid gets fresh funding from Saudi PIF and Uber, Google launches Personal Intelligence AI in MENA, TikTok disables 780K under-16 accounts in Indonesia, India yet to begin selection for data protection board
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE, Philippines to integrate instant payments systems
- PayTabs acquires TAPn’GO to boost contactless payment capabilities
- CBUAE develops e-KYC platform with Norbloc AB
- UAE to reduce salary top-ups for Emiratis in private sector
- Abu Dhabi Customs, CERT partner to collaborate on AI products research
- Lucid signs robotaxi purchase agreement with Uber, receives $550M PIF investment
- Aramco Digital partners Cumulocity to expand deployment of industrial AI platform
- Construction begins at Expo 2030 Riyadh site
- Kingdom leads globally in security, privacy, and cryptography in AI
- KSA to provide Pakistan $3B in additional support to bridge finance gap
- Egypt's Ezz Steel to develop $780M Algeria steel project
- Upcoming child SIM card to feature social media restrictions, secure internet packages
- S&P maintains sovereign credit rating with stable outlook
- Egypt to temporarily list 10 petroleum companies
- Fitch ranks Egypt third in MENA for investment openness, behind UAE, KSA
- PSX up 5,000 points following news of peace talks invitation
- Alibaba-backed KOKO gets SECP license for Pakistan BNPL offering
- Banks now allowed to open accounts for licensed virtual asset companies
- Telcos request PTA approval to raise mobile tariffs
- Finance minister holds meetings with Mastercard, Google to expand financial inclusion in Pakistan
Other MENA+ Developments
- Google launches Personal Intelligence AI in Arab market
- AD Ports partners Romanian port to support Middle Corridor trade route
- Norwegian wealth fund to lift ban on Syrian bond investments
- Kuwait revises citizenship law with tighter rules
- Qualcomm selects ten startups for Make in Africa mentorship program
Southeast Asia Developments
- Phillipine central bank offers loan relief, promotes fee-free digital fund transfers
- Samsung to invest $1.2B in Vietnam semiconductor substrate production
- Sea-backed AI-powered digital bank Ryt reaches 1.2M users in over half a year
- TikTok disables 780,000 under-16 account to comply with Indonesia rules
- Chinese firms pivot to importing chip tools from Southeast Asia amidst tighter US controls
India Developments
- Indian firms struggle to break Chinese grip on battery, EV, critical minerals production
- Human rights commission raises data protection act non-compliance by digital platforms
- Electronics manufacturers in Noida to resume production following wage protests
- India considering permitting FDI in inventory-based e-commerce model exclusively for exports
- India has yet to notify selection panels for data protection board despite rules coming into force
