UAE's DIFC simplifies SPV regime, CEER localizes EV manufacturing in KSA, Zoho rolls out POS software across GCC, Vietnam drafts Investment Law amendments, India considers MDRs on UPI transactions
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Finance Ministry adopts CBUAE's Aani instant payments, Jaywan card for fee collection
- Korean self-driving tech firm Autonomous A2Z inks deal with Space42
- First phase of LEONAV-1 LEO satellite mission completes
- DIFC expands access for SPV regime
- Dubai Founders HQ, Mastercard launch initiative to grant SMEs access to $2,700 in first-year savings
- Saudi insurance spending per capita up 5% last year
- Riyadh included in Global Quality of Life Index for first time
- Tabreed inks MoU to develop first open-space cooling geothermal project
- Ceer signs local content agreement, plans locally-designed, Saudi-made EV
- 95.3% of online purchases made through local retailers
- Listed securities’ capital gains exempted from income tax
- SCZone achieves record revenue in FY 2025/26
- Egypt elected to lead Arab AI working groups
- Egypt plans investment fund for expats
- Chinese investments in Egypt now exceed $10B
- SBP caps bank charges on card payments at fuel stations
- Pakistan, Iran agree to expedite FTA talks
- Govt signs agreements with firms to launch pension scheme
- Pakistan discusses fuel price stabilization mechanism with IMF
- Consumer inflation slows to 9.2pc in July
Other MENA+ Developments
- Zoho rolls out POS software across GCC countries following Saudi launch
- EFG Hermes leads securities brokerage market in H1
- Qatari's Baladna developing $3.3B Syrian agricultural project
- beIN SPORTS reports record 6.2M World Cup viewership
- Stc pay, PayPal partner to offer Bahrain users cross-border payments
Southeast Asia Developments
- Aleph Farms plans 2027 cultivated beef launch following Singapore approval
- Malaysia plans EV sales levy to support public charging network
- Thai govt launches quantum tech hub with private sector partners
- Indonesian minister warns that smart glasses use may violate data protection law
- Vietnam drafts Investment Law amendments, to cut compliance costs
India Developments
- Tax exemptions may be extended for MNCs offering machinery to contract manufacturers
- Govt proposes mandating vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems in new cars from 2028
- Colt & RMZ plans GW-scale Vizag data center campus
- Tata battery unit plans to use domestic tech in cell manufacturing
- Proposed payment regulations may allow return of merchant discount rate on UPI transactions
