CBUAE provision likely to prohibit use of Bitcoin for goods and services in UAE, while Saudia buys 100 electric air taxis from Germany’s Lilium
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Amanat Holdings to push ahead with education unit IPO
- Yahsat showcases satellite health, education solutions in Zimbabwe
- CBUAE provision likely to prohibit use of Bitcoin for goods and services in UAE
- Gulf Islamic Investments invests in Gems Education
- Energy startups raised $30M in H1, surpassing 2023 funding
- Saudia buys 100 electric air taxis from Germany’s Lilium
- Kingdom cuts ozone-depleting gases to 1%
- Almarai, 30Export ink $16M deal to boost exports
- New studios, financial incentives offered to drive film industry
- Aramco completes bond sale raising $6B
- Major tender launched to import petroleum products
- CBE maintains key policy rates
- Govt targets 20% industrial sector contribution to GDP
- Telecom operators hike international call rates
- Govt seeks to woo more investments in SCZone
- ADB maintains inflation outlook at 15%
- Mobile phone manufacturers seek enabling policies to boost exports
- FBR asked to bring 4.9M affluent individuals under tax net
- FY25 GDP growth expected to reach 3.2%
- Pakistan’s population set to rise 2x by 2050
Other MENA+ Developments
- Investment banking fees up 23% YoY in H1
- Bahrain considers cutting fees for locally-owned businesses
- Plenty-Mawarid JV to invest $130M in Abu Dhabi vertical farm
- Kuwait to break ground on Durra gas field later this year
- Jordan taxi drivers struggle amid ride-hailing competition
Southeast Asia Developments
- AI Fund partners KXVC to bolster Thailand’s AI startups
- Indonesia’s GoTo launches new AI strategy
- Sea-owned neobank Maribank’s losses up 28% YoY
- Hyundai unveils 2nd Singapore-made EV
- Philippines plans new airport on South China Sea Island
India Developments
- Crypto exchange WazirX loses almost half of reserves in cyberattack
- ONDC now captures 3% of Swiggy’s, Zomato’s order volumes
- Netflix says India driving paid subscribers, revenue growth
- Edtech sector saw over a dozen acquisitions over the last year
- Tech firms may trial own age-gating measures under DPDP
