OPEC+ to meet today as standoff nears end, while Saudis spend $270mn on delivery apps in Q1 2021
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Central Bank issues retail payment services and card schemes regulation
- Sheikh Mohammed approves Dubai International Chamber board and advisory council
- OPEC+ to meet as end of stand off nears
- Mubadala seeks over $20bn IPO valuation for Emirates Global Aluminium
- UAE exploring cooperation with Israel to become food and water security innovation hub
- Saudis spent $270mn on delivery apps in first quarter of 2021
- Insurance firm Marsh launches Saudi engineering and sustainable energy hub
- Saudi Arabia and Italy considering joint bid for 2030 World Cup
- Saudi shops now allowed to stay open during prayer times
- Aramco’s Wa’ed aims to double loans and investments in local startups by 2023
- Egypt to develop technical schools into joint schools for applied technology
- Sudan says water arriving from Blue Nile down by 50% due to GERD
- Egypt in talks with Norway's Scatec to develop new projects, including $1bn desalination plant
- Egypt among top 10 competitive MENA countries in business skills, says IDSC report
- Telecom Egypt launches VoLTE 4G voice calls service with Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei
- 37% of Pakistanis lost jobs due to Covid-19, says Planning and Development Minister
- National University of Sciences & Technology signs agreement to co-develop technology park
- Mobilink Microfinance Bank launches Dost mobile banking application
- Pakistan moves to better regulate cryptocurrency boom with new government committee
- New mobile phone app QiistPay to introduce buy-now-pay-later service
Other MENA+ Developments
- GCC tax landscape 'no longer simple, sees significant shift', says KPMG report
- S&P cuts Kuwait rating to AA-, negative outlook on lack of deficit-financing strategy
- OPEC+ sees world oil demand reaching pre-pandemic levels by 2022
- Growing private sector and investor-friendly regulatory environment positions Bahrain for rebound, says Oxford Business Group report
- Top Israeli officials' MENA and international meetings show a different Israel to world
