UAE and India work on CBDC link, KSA's SDAIA partners Mobily Pay, GCC banking sector sees outflows, Thai PM finalizes new coalition govt, India's Karnataka plans second tech hub
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- AWS, Microsoft Azure studying shift of Middle East workloads to India, Singapore
- India, UAE working on CBDC link to enable instant remittances
- Drone swarm tech firm Sirb AI joins Technology Innovation Institute
- EV maker Faraday Future begins deliveries of FX Super One to UAE partners
- Dubai introduces AI-powered stations to feed stray animals
- CMA approves establishment of simplified investment funds
- Mobily Pay, SDAIA partner to enable digital donations
- Saudi eLeagues launches 2026 esports season with new four-product format
- Al-Futtaim launches three new BYD showrooms in Saudi EV push
- POS spending up 4.5% to $3.8B last month
- Foreign investors sell off $2B in Egyptian debt in first four days of conflict
- Egypt to establish co-investment fund targeting high-potential companies
- FRA approves first agri private equity fund Al Ahly Green
- MoHAP partners Roche Diagnostics to establish nationwide digital pathology program
- Orascom's OtroVato, CIB strike Africa trade finance partnership
- VEON acquires TPL Insurance
- First 100% locally-made EV to launch by mid-2026
- Govt seeks to convert $5B Saudi deposit into 10-year facility, upgrade of $1.2B oil support to $5B
- Pakistan launches SME portal for local businesses to connect with international buyers
- JazzWorld offers free mobile data for travelers in Middle East
Other MENA+ Developments
- GCC banking sector could face between $111-260B in outflows, led by UAE
- US IDFC to provide maritime reinsurance of up to $20B in potential losses
- Regional airlines cautiously restore flights as airspace restrictions ease
- Singapore wealth sector sees increased interest in asset transfers from Middle East
- Tunisia, Italy plan $1.2B ELMED power link, targeting 2031 completion
Southeast Asia Developments
- Thai PM finalizes new coalition govt
- EV maker Nio enters Thailand, launching Firefly compact brand
- Gemini for Education expands to all 20 Malaysian public universities
- Airwallex expands into US, reaches $1B AUM
- National University of Singapore, OpenAI partner on AI curriculum
India Developments
- Karnataka to develop Mysuru into second tech hub with AI, robotics, genome research facilities
- Tata EV roadmap targets scale, premium push and infra expansion
- $360M Mitsui-Aoi back-end chip plant gets subsidiary
- Social media ban plans struggle to find consistent definition of 'child'
- BARC, Nielsen launch cross-media ad measurement tool, beginning with partner JioHotstar
