VARA issues 50th Virtual Asset Service Provider licence, Shoura council calls on CST to restrict social media usage for under-16s, Oracle opens Morocco R&D hub, Thailand to implement startup law by this year, and Japan, India to sign joint statement on AI cooperation
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE sets out rules under children's social media ban
- VARA issues 50th Virtual Asset Service Provider license to Tribe Tokenisation
- NCM launches UAE's first agentic AI weather forecasting assistants
- New CBUAE restrictions to hurt Indian bank efforts to attract non-resident dollars
- Dubai launches $4.9B package to support infrastructure, culture, investment
- Magna AI, Saudi Xerox partner on sovereign AI capacity, capabilities
- CMA opens applications for Saudi Arabia's new commodity exchange
- Shoura council calls on CST to restrict social media usage for under-16s
- Egyptian consumer brands Ariika, Lychee expand into Saudi Arabia with Beltone backing
- BlueFive Capital expands Saudi presence with Sidra Capital stake
- DP World launches Egypt's first fully-integrated distribution center
- AIQ in talks to launch Egypt petroleum AI platform
- Egypt launches Etmaen, Etmaen Ala El Akher child SIM services
- SCCT signs deal to become first container terminal to run on 100% renewable electricity
- MIHC approves EGX IPO of Misr Life Insurance
- Pakistan cuts withholding tax on international payments to 0.5% from 5% to support IT exports
- Inflation eases to 11%, but double digits keep central bank on guard
- Pakistan IPOs raised over $71M in H1 2026
- SECP launches inaugural ESG mutual funds framework
- Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to boost cooperation on science, research
Other MENA+ Developments
- German automakers explore Algeria manufacturing amidst local content rules
- India to prioritize Qatar, Bahrain bilateral deals over GCC FTA
- Oracle opens Morocco R&D hub
- Iran-UAE cargo shipping resumes
- Türkiye, Qatar partner on Es'hameil-3/Turksat-Biruni satellite communications project
Southeast Asia Developments
- Ant launches global development center in Malaysia
- Thailand to implement startup law by this year
- Indonesia asks four e-commerce platforms to collect income taxes from sellers
- World Bank elevates Vietnam, Philippines to upper-middle income status
- Singapore’s BDx Data Centers considers IPO in search for capital
India Developments
- Maharashtra, JioBLAST partner to develop gaming, esports ecosystem
- Microsoft, Singapore's Lightstorm partner to develop India-Southeast Asia subsea cable
- Adani, UAE's IHC plan $11.5B Odisha aluminium project
- Fujifilm to study chip materials manufacturing in Gujarat
- Japan, India to sign joint statement on AI cooperation
