Blackstone invests $250M in UAE payments platform, Saudi PIF to unveil new strategy within weeks, GCC energy infra faces $25B repair costs, Thailand to tighten data center rules, India seeks subsea cable risk analysis
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Blackstone invests $250M in new payments platform ADGT
- Relm Group subsidiary XBase gets VARA crypto license
- Mubadala to sell liquid data center cooling firm CoolIT in $4.8B deal
- VPN adoption rate in UAE reached 85.5% last year
- Dubai Chambers, Indian counterpart to develop joint plan to promote trade, investment
- CMA approves framework to allow stock market listing of financing investment funds
- PIF to unveil new strategy within weeks, focus on mobilizing third-party capital
- Finance Minister says Iran war supply shocks exceed post-COVID impact
- FII launches Capital in Motion Index to track investment
- Humain, Turing partner to launch marketplace for enterprise-grade AI agents
- Cabinet approves $96.7B budget for FY2026/27
- Afreximbank launches inaugural cohort of Accelerator Program to promote digital trade
- Ministries tasked with accelerating power-saving measures amidst Iran war
- Egypt in discussions to bolster MSME financing with World Bank, IFC
- Mobile phone import tax exemption for expats extended to 120 days
- PTA preparing separate 5G spectrum auctions for AJK, GB
- Barrick slows Reko Diq project amidst security concerns
- FoodPanda, Punjab Revenue Authority discuss expanding digital tax compliance
- GSMA finds Pakistan has highest gender gap in mobile money account ownership
- Govt to develop Pakistan Business Portal to unify licensing procedures
Other MENA+ Developments
- New rail freight corridor to link Saudi Arabia's Eastern ports with Jordan
- UAE supports creation of international security force to reopen Hormuz
- Rystad estimates $25B cost for repairing GCC energy infra damaged in war
- Kuwaiti central bank unveils stimulus package for banking sector resilience
- UAE continues to see PE investment momentum despite regional conflict
Southeast Asia Developments
- DAMAC Digital's $150M Jakarta data center to begin operations later this year
- Indonesian regulators fast-track reforms as MSCI decision looms
- Malaysia says Iran allowing some of its ships to pass Strait of Hormuz
- Thailand to tighten data center rules over resource issues
- Siam Commercial Bank launches subsidiary to pursue Thai digital banking license
India Developments
- Govt asks telecoms operators for subsea cable risk analysis
- Google to label verified investment apps, supporting crackdown on fraud
- DPIIT, KRAFTON partner to mentor startups, support integration
- EV makers still waiting for govt to clear FAME-II dues
- RBI to hold rates until at least mid-2027 as oil risks hit outlook
