AstraZeneca to establish Abu Dhabi center for rare diseases, while Lucid begins shipping first Saudi-made Lucid Air luxury EVs
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Mubadala-backed Zamp buys Starbucks brand rights in Brazil
- AstraZeneca to establish Abu Dhabi center for rare diseases
- UAE delegation seeks common AI policy framework in Washington trip
- 89% of UAE shoppers using digital tools in stores
- Abu Dhabi unifies licences across all free zones
- Lucid begins shipping first Saudi-made Lucid Air luxury EVs
- Saudi Arabia to expand oil production to 12.3M bpd by 2028
- Govt to support startups with 3-year commerce fees exemption
- Saudi Arabia, Morocco in discussions for mining partnerships
- Sinopec signs $1.1B deal to build Aramco pipelines
- Govt reaches staff-level agreement with IMF on $820M loan program
- CBE pushes InstaPay payments in discussions with Kenya Central Bank
- Made-in-Egypt brands surge amidst EGP devaluation, boycott movements
- Agricultural exports jumped 24% YoY to $2.6B in 5M2024
- Egypt-BRICS trade reaches $25B, to grow on ascension
- Pakistan, China sign new MoUs on digital, green economy
- Space agency's 2nd comms satellite PakSAT-MM1 reaches orbit
- Pakistan gets non-permanent UNSC seat, showcasing diplomatic muscle
- Govt studying extra protections on Qatari, Saudi investments
- PM rejects FBR plan to raise withholding tax on cash withdrawals from banks
Other MENA+ Developments
- China's Gotion High Tech to build $1.3B Morocco EV battery gigafactory
- Qatar Central Bank begins testing CBDC for wholesale payments
- QIA has doubled Japan investments since 2021, targets more investments
- Digibank Zand, blockchain Mantra partner on tokenization of real-world assets
- Chinese food delivery giant Meituan preparing Middle East expansion
Southeast Asia Developments
- Vingroup plans IPOs to support loss-making EV business VinFast
- Malaysia's latest digital bank Boost Bank officially launches
- Trip.com targets Malaysia, Thailand in push to become "truly global" OTA
- Malaysia targets 400 e-payment transactions per person each year by 2026
- Huawei, Midea to open region's first 5G-connected factory
