UAE launches national program to shield supply chains, PIF ends funding of LIV Golf, 53 African nations begin getting zero-tariff access to China, Thailand ups scrutiny of ride-hailing ID verification, Apple becomes India's top branded export in FY26
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE reviewing multilateral ties, but says no more departures under consideration
- Mashreq, UAE fintech Cashew to co-create embedded lending framework
- UAE launches national program to shield supply chains
- Parkin, Glydways partner to support integrate autonomous vehicles into Dubai parking network
- AD Ports partners Azeri for transport, logistics infrastructure
- Qiddiya's new smart office HQ to be powered by Cisco tech
- PIF ends funding of LIV Golf after $5.3B in investments
- TotalEnergies partially resumes operations at Jubail refinery after Iranian strikes
- Jeddah Islamic Port now directly connected to Shanghai, Nansha
- Social-commerce Taager opens China supply office to strengthen cross-border infrastructure
- New EGX chairman expects more temporary listings, launch of derivatives
- Budget deficit widens to 5.2% of GDP in 9M FY2025-26
- Chinese tiremaker plans $2B manufacturing facility
- Egypt now allowed to export aquaculture products to the EU
- Madbouly taps credit rating agencies again, suggesting return to global debt markets
- Enhanced digital infratuscture to drive cashless economy
- Pakistan targets 60% fiber coverage in three years, up from 16% now
- Air Link enters BNPL market with new subsidiary
- Trump administration backs $2.4B proposal by Securiport to upgrade security tech at airports
- Senate summons officials over alleged non-compliance of social media platforms in data sharing
Other MENA+ Developments
- Trump warns Iran blockade could last months
- Airtel Africa considers London listing for mobile money arm, in shift from UAE plans
- 53 African nations begin getting zero-tariff access to China
- Syria’s banking sector gets first post-war foreign investment as Estithmar moves to acquire 49% of Shahba Bank
- Ahlibank partners Riyada on Oman entrepreneurship
Southeast Asia Developments
- TikTok unveils Indonesia restaurant recommendation service
- Visa unveils agentic-AI-ready program in Singapore
- AirTrunk to boost Malaysia investment by $3B this year, in discussions for localization frameworks
- Thailand ups scrutiny of ride-hailing ID verification
- Thailand approves subsea cable landing deployment for Google's TalayLink project
India Developments
- RBI unveils loan-relief norms for natural calamities
- Smaller UPI firms meet NPCI to call for curbs on market leaders
- High-speed trading unicorn Graviton expands to Singapore, London amidst regulatory hurdles at home
- Apple becomes India's top branded export in FY26
- India targets $2T in exports by 2030-31
