TII launches advanced Falcon H1R 7B AI model, PIF's Lucid debuts robotaxi, QNB gets Mastercard license to offer payment solutions in Syria, Ho Chi Minh City begins first drone delivery pilot, IndiaAI startups push back on govt's equity for support plan
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE takes steps to create federal pharma regulator
- TII launches advanced Falcon H1R 7B AI model
- RBL Bank’s request for foreign ownership cap rejected amid acquisition push by Emirates NBD
- Alpha Dhabi plans $8B in international investments, considering IPOs
- Gulf Islamic Investments aims to triple assets to $10B by 2030
- Saudi Global Ports unveils $933M investment plan to compete with Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi
- Red Sea Global launches VC fund with Bunat to invest in AI startups
- PIF's Lucid debuts robotaxi with Nuro, Uber
- Mortgage lending falls to nine-year low despite foreign buyer reforms
- Mowreq vertical farming JV with Taiwan's YesHealth plans expansion into more cities
- AFS gets CBE SoftPOS license to enable use of smartphones as POS terminals
- FRA, eFinance launch first integrated digital payment network for non-banking financial sector
- Health Ministry, Philips to work on localization of CT scan machine manufacturing
- EGAS, Italy’s ENI in talks for $2B Zohr gas field investment
- Govt identifies 80 measures to overhaul startup environment in year-long review
- SEC revises Reit regulations, simplifying listing processes and improving oversight
- Industries Ministry unveils Mobile and Electronic Devices Manufacturing Policy
- PKCERT, Kaspersky partner to boost national cybersecurity capabilities
- 600 MHz spectrum to be auctioned next month
- Authorities quietly boost blocking of VPNs
Other MENA+ Developments
- QNB gets Mastercard license to offer payment solutions in Syria
- Iraq to overhaul largest state-owned lender Rafidain Bank
- VoPay launches global HQ in Qatar
- Oman telecom subscriptions grow 9.6% to 8M
- Qatar Airways unveils AI passenger assistance
Southeast Asia Developments
- Ho Chi Minh City begins first drone delivery pilot
- Johor-Singapore SEZ reaches $4.3B in investments
- Malaysia begins investigating Grok for online harms
- Philippines studying VAT rate cut with curbs on exemptions
- Philippines mandates ISO 20022 adoption across retail payments ecosystem
India Developments
- Govt considers widening four-year Esops tax deferral to all DPIIT-recognized startups
- Govt proposes Aadhaar-style digital ID for EV batteries
- $50B in iPhones shipped from India in 2025
- IndiaAI startups push back on govt's equity for support plan
- Switzerland's SGS acquires cybersecurity firm Panacea Infosec
