UAE, Korea to pursue $30B investment pipeline, Saudi net foreign assets reach $15.6B, Syria and Visa sign digital economy partnership, Malaysia eyes tougher esports regs, Apple Pay to launch in India mid-2026
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE, Korea agree to pursue $30B investment pipeline, $35B defense cooperation
- EHC, Supermicro to scale sovereign AI modular data centers across Middle East
- UAE liberalizes pharma distribution rules, ends single-distributor structure
- Abu Dhabi ITC, Tesla begin supervised full self-driving road trials
- G42 begins recruiting AI agents into enterprise roles
- Tamasuk, Quantum Switch studying sale of data center JV's Saudi business
- Saudi economic support set to bolster Yemen govt performance
- Saudi Arabia rushes to export oil amid US-Iran conflict concerns
- NovaChargeX registers hybrid regenerative clean energy system patent in Saudi Arabia
- Net foreign assets reaches $15.6B
- Scatec, Envision Energy explore expanding renewables investments
- Egypt set to get $2.3B in funding after IMF reviews
- Egypt localizes 91% of pharmaceutical market, focused on generics
- Al Baraka Bank consortium's acquisition of Amlak Finance Egypt gets approval
- NTRA, Telecom Egypt, e& sign agreements to boost mobile services
- All three major mobile operators to bid in 5G auction
- Govt rolls out employee communication app Beep
- Technical committee formed to review Export Facilitation Scheme
- SECP tightens Shariah screening rules for PSX-KMI Index
- NA Committee defers electronic transactions bill for further consultations
Other MENA+ Developments
- Space42 to develop direct-to-device satellite connectivity with 5G non-terrestrial standards
- NielsenIQ report highlights consumer behavior during Ramadan
- Iran and US to hold new round of nuclear talks next week
- Syria, Visa sign digital economy partnership
- Fitch downgrades Bahrain's credit rating to junk status
Southeast Asia Developments
- Geely's pickup EV brand Riddara studying Thai manufacturing plant
- Chinese EV makers hike prices in Thailand amidst end to purchase subsidies
- Grab aims to triple profit with AI, new services by 2028
- Malaysia considering tougher regulations on booming esports industry
- Indonesia, tech platforms working on system to shield children from harmful content
India Developments
- Apple in discussions to launch Apple Pay in mid-2026
- Upcoming smartphone PLI scheme expected be linked to domestic value add targets
- US, India discuss trade days after tariff ruling
- TerraPay, Raenest partner to expand freelancer payments in India, Philippines
- UPI to operate in Israel as Modi concludes visit
