Network International, MBank partner to launch AE Coin payments, while over 700 companies now licensed under Riyadh HQ Program, Oman approving establishment of new international financial hub, Vietnam tightening online advertising regulations, India launches nationwide AI skills program for 1M youths
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Network International, MBank partner to launch AE Coin payments
- Economy Minister clarifies UAE granting citizenship to companies
- Maalexi to launch world’s first agricultural asset token exchange
- Yuze, Zand partner to offer digital business banking accounts to SMEs
- Abdulla Al Hamed to chair National Media Authority
- Over 700 companies now licensed under Regional HQ Program
- CMA approves amendments to open financial market to all foreign investors in Feb
- Saudi Arabia nears completion of metals exchange
- Asir launches Saudi Arabia's first drone pilot for municipal services
- National Investment Strategy's 2nd phase to roll out this year, targeting SMEs, local private sector
- Remittances reach record $37.5B in 2025
- Egypt rejects AD Ports' offer to acquire Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company
- Govt considering unified institutional body for entrepreneurship
- S&P PMI weakens to 50.2 in December, but remains in growth
- Modon awards Orascom Construction major contract in Ras El Hekma development
- PM's working group approves LFP battery for localization under upcoming policy
- Nova Minerals in talks with govt to source antimony
- SBP shortlists applicants for inaugural regulatory sandbox cohort
- Govt to penalize, withdraw incentives for non-compliance with draft mobile localization policy
- ADB urges tax reforms, simpler compliance to promote fintech growth
Other MENA+ Developments
- Oman approves establishment of new international financial hub
- QIA invests in xAI's $20B fundraising round
- Saudi Arabia tops countries developing Arabic LLMs in 2025
- Middle East crypto transactions pass $500B a year
- Qatar manufacturing contributed record $19B in 2025
Southeast Asia Developments
- Grab partners ST Engineering on drone food delivery pilot
- Bank Indonesia targets 17B QR code payments, 60M users in 2026
- EV maker VinFast doubles deliveries to 170,000 in 2025
- Vietnam tightens online advertising regulations
- Gogoro partners Castrol to launch new battery-swapping e-scooters in Vietnam
India Developments
- Large NBFCs urge RBI to allow deposits from retail investors
- India registers 49 crypto exchanges, requiring them to follow AML framework
- Govt launches nationwide AI skills program for 1M youths
- Amazon Pay expands services beyond UPI to fixed deposit investments
- Industry leaders launch 'Hundred Million Jobs' initiative, focusing on entrepreneurship
