UAE to roll out Digital Dirham, KSA launches genAI training program, Oman hits $130M semiconductor FDI, Thailand's EV policy shift, India's indigenous supercomputing push
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- e& to soon start accepting AED stablecoin
- Adio, CICC partner to support Chinese firms' expansion to Abu Dhabi
- ADGM launches center to support collaboration between policymakers, researchers, industry
- Wio Bank to launch payments company next year
- Central Bank to offer Digital Dirham for free to consumers, SMEs soon
- SDAIA launches program to train Saudis in generative AI
- Zain, Groq to develop local AI inference platform
- PIF-backed Lucid flags fall in US, Europe EV demand
- Govt expects private sector to contribute 40% of $500B in upcoming infra investment
- Saudi energy firms ink oil and gas deals with Syria
- Cargas eyes expansion into Arab, African markets
- China's Kinetica 1 launches with Egyptian, UAE satellites
- Govt launches investor support, industrial feedback app
- Cabinet considering tougher misinformation laws
- Auto marketplace Biddex partners ADIB to offer auto financing
- Binance, JazzCash sign partnership to develop products in line with upcoming regulations
- Investment banks expect strong 2026 market, up to 16 IPOs in pipeline
- MOITT moves long-awaited MVNO licensing framework to Cabinet
- Ignite fund launches SAP certification initiative
- 95% of Android phones in Pakistan now assembled locally
Other MENA+ Developments
- Sirius, Crypto.com partner on ADI Chain, aiming at sovereign-grade infra
- Binance partners Botim Money to boost access to crypto services
- Japan deepens investment ties with Middle East amid US protectionism
- US House of Representatives votes to repeal Syria sanctions
- Omani semiconductor FDI reaches $130M
Southeast Asia Developments
- ComfortDelGro, Pony.ai get approval to trial self-driving shuttles in Singapore
- Vietnam bans exports of raw rare earth minerals
- Grab, Charge+ to build 5,000 EV charging points in Vietnam, challenging VinFast charging
- Line Man Wongnai postpones SET IPO, considers overseas listing
- Thailand approves EV policy shift to tackle price competition
India Developments
- Big Tech ramps up cloud, AI investments with $50B pledges
- Chief Economic Advisor expects India-US trade deal by March 2026
- India aims to have fully indigenous supercomputing systems by 2030
- RBI in discussions with banks on uniform fee disclosure
- Ola remains the only battery manufacturing PLI beneficiary
