UAE issues payment licenses, 69.4% of KSA population under 35, Oman's mining push, Malaysia explores AI-specific laws, India plans 4 new chip plants
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Ant gets payment licenses to offer payment aggregation, e-wallet issuance
- ADQ-backed Zero Two makes first Southeast Asian investment with Evolution Data Centres
- G42's Presight sees proportion of international revenue rise to 26.8% from 4.9%
- Dubai to host Middle East’s first-ever government pavilion at Gamescom
- UAE-India CEPA Council's Startup Series see 10,000+ applications
- Saudis under age 35 made up 69.4% of the population in 2024
- Living organs donations rise to 4.9% facilitated by digital platform, app
- Oman's Sohar International Bank to expand in Saudi Arabia with Neo Group acquistion
- KSA, Singapore to establish Strategic Partnership Council, cooperate on logistics
- Aramco reportedly working on acquisition of 20% stake in BPCL refinery
- EGX moves to tap overseas Egyptians to invest in sector-focused subfunds
- 17% turnout reported for Senate elections
- President Al-Sisi says Egypt will not compromise on water rights
- Qatar, Kuwait expected to disburse over 50% of $12.5B Egypt investment pledges this year
- Egypt, Jordan sign 10 agreements, including covering freezones, investments
- New advisory committee to speed up spectrum auction for 5G rollout
- Exporters call for policy support to leverage new 19% US tariff
- Auto sales drop 49% after tax hikes in federal budget
- First Center of Excellence in Gaming and Animation being developed
- Pakistan finalizing US tariff deal strategy for copper investment
Other MENA+ Developments
- Algeria approves law opening mining sector to foreign investors
- Syria to host forums in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi targeting $500B investment in reconstruction
- Oman signs $498M in exploration, mining deals
- UAE banks outperform GCC with higher resilience to geopolitical headwinds
- Dubai South launches aviation supply chain zone with freezone benefits
Southeast Asia Developments
- Razer unveils Singapore centre of excellence to support AI gaming tech
- Malaysia studying need for specific laws to tackle AI issues
- Singapore initiates consultation on legal amendments enhancing use of data for public sector services
- Dunamu partners Military Bank to launch Vietnam's first crypto exchange
- HBO Max, Viu partner to launch Southeast Asia bundle
India Developments
- RBI grants Paytm payment aggregator license
- SEBI aims to further simplify regulations for foreign investors
- NPCI discontinues recipient-initiated P2P UPI payments to reduce scams
- Cabinet approves four chip plants, bringing total projects under mission to ten
- Krafton reportedly pauses BGMI tournament plans
