RT6 robotaxis begin Dubai operations, Aramco partners CrowdStrike for KSA cybersecurity, Oman and Kuwait sign deal for petrochemical JV, TikTok to invest $8.5B in Thailand, India and Malaysia eye semiconductor partnership
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Etihad Rail awards $8B in contracts for Abu Dhabi-Dubai high-speed rail
- Apollo Go's fully autonomous RT6 taxis begin operations in Dubai
- G42, Cerebras unveil world's largest AI chip with 4T transistors
- Mastercard, Cybersecurity Council sign MoU to support national capabilities
- Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Orbitworks to launch satellite for monitoring projects
- Digital Cooperation Organization launches anti-online misinformation campaign
- Saudi Arabia budgets $3B in support for Yemen this year
- Tadawul introduces ETF Market Making Framework
- Riyadh Air and Mastercard announce travel payments partnership
- CrowdStrike, Aramco to collaborate on Kingdom-wide security model
- Nawy's SmartCrowd gets Dubai VARA approval for tokenized real estate platform
- Inflation to dip to 11.7% in January on stronger EGP
- DiDi Egypt partners with RiseUp Summit to support entrepreneurs, startups
- GBAuto opens Li Auto stores, adding to portfolio of Chinese EV brands
- Govt to block online gambling platforms, expanding online safety push
- Pakistan, Jordan to work on Preferential Trade Agreement
- Barrick reviewing Reko Diq project over security concerns
- 5G rollout expected to drive local phone production
- Kazakhstan’s Elaman to invest $20M in Gilgit-Baltistan gold exploration
- PM unveils major Azad Jammu and Kashmir investment package
Other MENA+ Developments
- AD Ports signs deal to operate, develop Jordan’s Aqaba Multipurpose Terminal
- Qatar MCIT, Oracle sign deal to establish new dedicated govt cloud region
- Vodafone Qatar, Qatar Development sign startup support partnership
- Oman, Kuwait sign deal for joint petrochemical venture despite Sabic withdrawal
- Lebanon to soon unveil Gulf investments in digital sector
Southeast Asia Developments
- Indonesia, South Korea to launch crossborder QR code payments by April
- TikTok to invest $8.5B in Thailand
- Grab deploys FICO across six markets to improve credit eligibility workflows
- Vietnam targets training 10,000 cybersecurity specialists by 2030
- Line Man Wongnai studying listing in US or HK
India Developments
- 18% US tariff to kick in after joint statement next week
- Deeptechs get startup status, recognition extended to 20 years
- RBI working on framework to compensate customers for digital payment fraud
- RBI raises loan limits for small businesses
- Malaysia, India working on semiconductor collaboration arrangement ahead of Modi visit
