UAE non-oil foreign trade reaches $1T, KSA opens capital markets to foreign investors, Kuwait reshuffles cabinet, Indonesia unveils semiconductor roadmap, India plans tougher penalties for crypto disclosure lapses
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE, Japan in final stages of trade deal talks
- Abu Dhabi folds ADQ into L'imad Holding
- Non-oil foreign trade reaches $1T for the first time
- Mubadala-backed private credit firm Ruya eyes $400M fundraise
- Advertiser Permit mandatory for social media creators from Feb 1
- 3rd round of Exploration Empowerment Program launches
- TGA launches facial verification for ride-hailing sector
- Capital markets open fully to all foreign investors
- Korean consortium to export AI full stack to Aramco Digital
- Real GDP up 4.5% growth in 2025, rising to 4.9% in Q4
- Last-mile delivery firm Bosta plans EGX IPO
- Chemical, fertilizers exports increase 7.4% last year to reach $9.4B
- Alexbank, Blu EV developing microfinancing model to electrify Egypt's delivery fleet
- CBE launches Soft POS app for contactless mobile payment acceptances
- FRA issues regulatory framework to govern government insurance funds
- Pakistan sets up first Agriculture Food and Drug Authority
- Pakistan declines facing India in T20 Cricket World Cup
- Pakistan, Azerbaijan near $2B investment deal
- Pakistan says mineral exports could reach $6-8B/year with shift towards value added services
- Govt studying divestment of remaining 25% stake in PIA
Other MENA+ Developments
- Kuwait reshuffles cabinet, appoints new finance minister
- QIA to triple size of VC program to $3B
- Qatar plans 10-year entrepreneurs' residency program
- BlueFive Capital raises $3B for fund targeting US, Europe tech investments
- OPEC+ to stick with planned pause in oil output hikes for March
Southeast Asia Developments
- Mubadala, GIC to join KKR in bid to buy data center firm STT GDC
- Indonesia unveils roadmap to develop role in global semiconductor supply chain
- Indonesia allows conditional access to Grok
- Singapore to set up national space agency
- EDB invests in Revolut to support Asia expansion from Singapore
India Developments
- Tax holiday till 2047 offered to foreign companies providing cloud services from India
- Govt unveils new 2nd phase of India Semiconductor Mission after exhausting existing funding
- Tougher penalties planned for crypto disclosure lapses
- Krafton India-backed gaming studio Ginger Games launches
- Smartphone maker OnePlus, GodLike sign esports partnership
