eSports races ahead in Abu Dhabi while taxes slow down e-com and telecom sectors in Pakistan
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE ranks 9th globally on IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2021
- AD Gaming to launch 4 eSports tournaments in Abu Dhabi
- Taxi, car-hire marketplace Karhoo launches operations in UAE
- Green Pass system in Abu Dhabi temporarily suspended
- UAE GDP projected to grow at 2.4% in 2021
- Aramco raises $12.4bn in funding for pipelines with investment from China, Mubadala
- Film studio Minimo to invest $250mn in Saudi JV
- GOSI, Public Pension Agency merger to create giant investment fund
- Courier, delivery market in KSA valued at $970mn
- STC, Nokia partner on raising telecom sector security awareness
- Egypt to cooperate with Iraq on building ICT sector infrastructure
- Infiniti to setup 6k EV charging points in Egypt in 3 years
- Egypt to begin road testing EVs in July
- New Administrative Capital monorail project to kickstart integrated transport in Egypt
- Egypt Central Bank keeps interest rates unchanged in bid to control inflation
- E-com marketplaces criticize proposed 17% sales tax on online sales
- Sindh govt. urged to reduce 19.5% tax on internet, phone services
- More than 40 fintech firms currently operating in Pakistan
- Successful 5G trials conducted in Peshawar
- Mobile phone import grew 63% to $1.8bn in 11M FY2021
Other MENA+ Developments
- Qatar: World Cup expected to add $20bn to Qatar economy
- Bahrain: Rsquare Technologies wins CBB RegTech Innovation Challenge
- Kuwait: Kuwait Oil Co. to partner with Halliburton for digital transformation
- Kuwait: Kuwait to consolidate oil companies to 3 in restructuring bid
- Iran: Ebrahim Raisi elected as next Iranian President
