UAE establishes AI and Data Authority, four new banks to establish Saudi operations, US and Iran sign ceasefire deal, Philippines tightens crypto rules, US Trade Representative to visit India
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE establishes AI and Data Authority
- Moody’s reaffirms UAE's Aa2 rating, expects 7% contraction in 2026
- EDGE, Safran to jointly develop advanced defense tech
- 40% employers now reject AI-bloated CVs
- Abu Dhabi in talks with Chinese greentech firms to support infra development
- Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan to cooperate on mining, mineral resources sector
- Four new banks to establish Saudi operations
- FII report finds global climate-related losses reached $320B in 2024
- PIF's KAFD DMC closes $3.2B Islamic financing deal to support Riyadh megaproject
- Saudi Arabia signs MoUs with Chinese firms on building tech, knowledge transfer
- Hassan Allam gets NTRA license to develop $400m data center
- Expat remittances surge 33.2% 10M FY 25/26
- EU to provide $801M funding to upgrade electricity grid
- ROX Motor establishes JV to locally manufacture new-energy vehicles, including for export
- Beltone, Telda partner to expand retail digital investing access
- Senate panel approves 5% tax on income earned by social media content creators
- SBP sees double digit inflation remaining over next few months
- Pakistan unveils $68B budget as economy reaches record $452B
- Pakistan govt to host US-Iran ceasefire deal unveiling in Geneva
- Punjab launches algae "trees" carbon sequestration initiative
Other MENA+ Developments
- US, Iran sign ceasefire deal
- Starlink tops internet speeds in 22 of 23 African markets
- GCC launches platform for reviews of unified Gulf laws
- Kuwait introduces 15-year residency framework for expat investors
- Value of Oman e-payment transactions grows 76% YoY, QR code payments up 134%
Southeast Asia Developments
- Philippines tightens crypto rules, bans privacy coins
- China-Indonesia cross-border QR payments turn operational
- Vietnamese Finance Ministry to introduce securities sandbox
- AT&S to invest $2.3B in Malaysia following AMD deal
- PSE seeks more ETF listings with new rules
India Developments
- US Trade Representative to visit, shape interim US-India trade deal
- Maharashtra amends green data center policy, to allow more projects outside Mumbai
- India scraps licensing rules for radio spectrum used by self-driving systems in cars
- RBI plans simpler cross-border payment approvals to support exporters
- Razorpay files papers for $600M IPO
