UAE introduces child digital safety law, Saudi business AI adoption reaches 27.6%, Oman boosts entrepreneurship drive, Indonesia to restrict children’s social media access, India's NPCI sets up new subsidiary
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE introduces child digital safety law
- Pakistan seeks to boost ties by offering state-linked commercial assets
- UAE tops region for food, beverage investment
- Abu Dhabi pilots satellite-based environmental monitoring tech
- FAB underwrites $1.1B loan for Nigeria's Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
- SAMA mandates 25 free banking services
- AI adoption among local businesses reaches 27.6%
- Online electronics stores fined under e-commerce regulations for delayed deliveries
- HADAF supported employment of 65K Saudis in ICT sector in 5 years
- Neom continues to lead gigaprojects for award contracts, but total contract awards drop in Q3
- EGX expects to see record 2026 with 8 IPOs in pipeline
- Mobile phone production jumps to 10M, up from 3.3M last year
- Number of credit cards grew 61% over last four years, targeting top 10% of income earners
- EGX to extend stock market trading hours, introduce new sustainability index
- Egyptian banks see record profits in Q3
- US, Pakistan in discussions for mineral cooperation
- UAE exploring $1B debt for equity stake in Fauji Group
- Pakistan cash percentage of GDP lags peers, double India, Bangladesh
- NADRA launches digital fingerprinting, facial verification ID
- Trade deficit with Middle East surges to $5.9B following GCC trade agreement
Other MENA+ Developments
- Oman unveils plans to expand, upgrade power grid network
- OIA unveils Hamat program to support entrepreneurship
- Lebanese cabinet passes "financial gap" law, introducing IMF reform measures
- Mumtalakat-owned Silah Gulf to sell 30% stake in Bahrain IPO
- Non-oil economy now makes up 66% of Qatar GDP
Southeast Asia Developments
- Vietnam unveils National Multi-Project Wafer Coordination Center to support chip production
- Research shows Vietnam tech transfers have not grown despite export surge
- Social media platforms now automatically registered in Malaysia, shifting focus to platform responsibility
- Indonesia to begin restricting children’s social media access in March 2026
- Philippines receives three digital banking applications after opening four slots
India Developments
- IT services provider Coforge acquires AI firm Encora for $2.4B
- NPCI sets up subsidiary to grow digital infrastructure beyond payments
- Chinese makers now make up 30% of Indian EV market
- PM urges govt to identify 100 products to reduce import dependence
- Satcom services to be rolled out after Starlink, others comply with data localization rules
