UAE's e& to exit Vodafone with $6B stake sale, AI and tourism drive Saudi commercial registrations, DP World expands GCC logistics network, Grab plans 15x expansion of Vietnam EV charging network, Meta's new AI image-generation tool under India govt scrutiny
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- e& to exit Vodafone with $6B stake sale to French telecoms firm Iliad’s owner
- Dubai launches two initiatives to expand EV charging infrastructure
- Space42, Skylo successfully test Direct-to-Device messaging services
- Digital Dubai, Emirates Group partner to strengthen digital readiness
- Amea Power in talks with Egypt for seawater desalination plants
- Commercial registrations up 12% YoY in Q2 driven by AI, tourism
- Unifonic repositions itself as AI-native Customer Experience platform
- Kingdom supports development of e-waste rules across three countries
- KSA boosts AI and tech partnerships with Hong Kong at LEAP East
- Saudi business confidence rises for third straight month
- Remittances up 31.2% in first 11 months of FY2025/26
- CBE maintains interest rates, citing easing inflation despite regional headwinds
- Critical reactor vessel installed at El Dabaa's second nuclear unit
- Property Finder, GOEIC ink deal to ease real estate brokers’ licensing
- Huawei to bolster local operations in line with govt digital economy drive
- World Bank approves $375.9M funding for power grid project
- FBR blocks refunds of businesses not complying with digital monitoring rules
- SMEDA officially removed from state-owned enterprises list
- SBP says BISP beneficiaries to pay fees for digital wallet cash withdrawals
- Customs launches probe over abuse of Export Facilitation Scheme
Other MENA+ Developments
- Turkey, Iraq to extend oil pipeline agreement for 12 months
- Maersk resumes Suez Canal passage for Middle East-US East Coast route
- DP World expands GCC logistics network with new fleet
- Bahrain unveils new rules for shared accommodation
- QIA backs enterprise AI firm SambaNova's $1B funding round
Southeast Asia Developments
- Consumer confidence rebounds in Thailand as businesses remain cautious
- Indonesia’s fossil fuel dependence, funding gaps hinder solar push
- Tencent in talks to acquire AI startup Manus after Meta deal blocked
- Grab plans 15x expansion of Vietnam EV charging network by 2028
- Investors seek continuity in Johor-SG SEZ growth as Johor votes
India Developments
- Chinese smartphone maker Vivo gets approval for Dixon JV
- JioStar bets on generative AI to drive content discovery, commerce
- Meta's new AI image-generation tool under govt scrutiny
- US ramps up crackdown on Indian IT services firms over H-1B visas
- Instant househelp startups burn cash to capture market share
