Emirates NBD launches SME business support package, Saudi AI commercial registrations up 240%, Jordan launches $1.1B stimulus package, Vietnam unveils new startup strategy, India to extend consultation on IT Rules amendments
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Emirates NBD launches SME business support package
- TDRA activates world’s first commercial upper 6GHz network for mobile operators
- Space42 says no impact on Thuraya services after strike in Sharjah
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology launches novel radio-frequency AI language model
- Brazilian digital bank Nubank plans ADGM HQ for regional expansion
- Life expectancy rises to nearly 80, from 74 in 2016
- AI commercial registrations surge 240% to 19,600 in 5 years
- Data center capacity expanded sixfold since Vision 2030 launch, reaching $4.3B in investments
- PIF anchors King Street's new MENA private credit fund
- FedEx launches new import tool to boost trade efficiency
- Mashreq rolls out account opening service for UAE-based Egyptian customers
- Afreximbank approved $10B facility to shield economies from war fallout
- Govt establishes executive committee to support digitalization of investor procedures
- Supply Ministry, Microsoft in discussions to upgrade digital infrastructure
- Egypt aims to drill 100 exploratory wells by 2026 to boost production
- Bookme partners Saudi Hajj ministry for instant Umrah visa processing
- Repayment of $3.5B UAE loan strains reserves, places new risks on IMF targets
- Gender internet usage gap improves to 25%, while 800,000 women open digital wallets
- PTA asked to develop framework overseeing overseas incoming calls
- Punjab targets 1.5M new broadband users under digital expansion initiative
Other MENA+ Developments
- Kuwait bans cash payments over $32 in several retail segments, to boost digitalization
- Jordan launches $1.1B stimulus package for banking, food, tourism sectors
- Meituan's Keeta launches Bahrain initiative to support 2,000 SME partners
- Oman MTCIT, Microsoft partner to launch startup accelerator
- Ooredoo integrates Starlink always-on connectivity
Southeast Asia Developments
- Circle expands access to third-party stablecoin payouts for Singapore partners
- FTSE keeps Indonesia’s market status amidst reforms, to confirm treatment soon
- Vietnam launches startup strategy, targets three more unicorns by 2030
- Indonesia’s data center boom comes under scrutiny over water use
- KBank, Grab partner to allow Thai travelers to use QR code payments in Singapore
India Developments
- RBI to revise guidelines, pushing bank boards to focus on policy over operations
- SEBI grants one-time extension for approved IPOs deferred due to Iran war sentiment
- E-commerce ecosystem to grow to $250B by 2030 from about $90B today
- MeitY to extend timeline for consultation on IT rule tweaks
- Income Tax Department issues tax notices for crypto transactions going back to 2021, targets small traders
