New AI blueprint to add $27.2B to Dubai’s economy, while PIF to provide $5B for BlackRock’s local investment platform
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- 40% of UAE customers shop around for cheapest option
- New AI blueprint to add $27.2B to Dubai’s economy
- RTA’s nol Pay app reaches 950K users
- Combined wealth of Dubai's 120 richest families, individuals hit $1T
- Banks' investments up 20.6% YoY to hit record high
- PIF to provide $5B for BlackRock’s local investment platform
- AI-powered Arabic language processing center launched
- Pharma company AbbVie opens Riyadh regional HQ
- New incubator initiative set to boost sustainable mining
- Cashless payments expected to grow 7.6% this year
- President Sisi calls for African unity at African Development Summit
- Egypt, Indonesia explore green energy cooperation
- 10% rise in value of industrial investments targeted this year
- President Sisi inaugurates first govt cloud computing data center
- Govt app for Egyptian expats to be launched soon
- Uber app to cease services; subsidiary Careem to continue ops
- E-waste management rules being developed for IT sector
- Over 500,000 mobile SIMs to be blocked over tax evasion
- Punjab drops interest-free e-bikes project
- Dubai becoming top target for Pakistani tech talent
Other MENA+ Developments
- Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network to be set up in MENA
- Europe to open first regional chamber of commerce in Riyadh
- e& reaches 173M subscribers in Q1 2024, to invest $6B internationally
- Bahrain looks to sell stake in key Saudi oil pipeline
- Oman implements new biometric data law
Southeast Asia Developments
- Thailand to start imposing VAT on imports sent via post
- Thailand set to get Microsoft’s first regional data center
- True, Alibaba Cloud to set up AI climate tech platform in Thailand
- Indonesia considers dual citizenship to woo skilled workers
- Temasek-backed PsiQuantum plans world's first commercial quantum computer
