UAE to invest $50B in Canada, US-Saudi diplomacy in spotlight, Oman to make first comms satellite, Malaysia to restrict social media for users under 16, online platforms comply with India's AI content labelling rules
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE plans $50B investment in Canada’s AI, energy, mining sectors
- IHC eyes potential acquisition of Lukoil's foreign assets
- RedBird IMI inks $650M deal for Daily Mail owner DMGT to buy Telegraph
- Dubai approves record $82B three-year budget
- National Space Industries Program launched targeting top 10 markets by 2031
- DHL to invest $150M in new Riyadh logistics hub
- Kingdom seeks fair access to critical minerals, emphasizes responsible AI at G20 summit
- Global Industry Summit launched in Riyadh
- US-Saudi diplomacy in spotlight as Crown Prince and Trump explore deals
- COP30 climate talks end without fossil fuels roadmap after Arab, China pushback
- $62M funding secured for Green Sustainable Industries program
- EGX to launch derivatives market in early 2026
- Vietnam, Egypt discuss potential free trade agreement
- FRA plans new accounting, auditing standards for SMEs
- Non-oil exports rise 19% to $40.6B in 10M 2025
- Federal cybersecurity authority to be established
- Pakistan-KSA joint business forum to be held in Riyadh in Jan
- Satellite operators including Starlink, Amazon Kuiper waiting on regulatory approval
- 5G rollout targeted in 2026 as PTA calls for mobile parts tax cuts
- Internet capacity gets boost with activation of SEA-ME-WE 6 cable
Other MENA+ Developments
- UAE launches $1B AI for Development initiative to boost AI in Africa
- Egypt eyes Pan-African digital platform to boost pharma access
- ILO report highlights enhanced wage protection systems in GCC
- Qatar Airways, Google unveil Starlink-powered Sky Studio Challenge
- Oman, Airbus ink deal to make first comms satellite OmanSat-1
Southeast Asia Developments
- Tokenization, AI gain momentum in SEA fintech sector
- Indonesia’s GoTo chief to step down amid talks of Grab merger
- Singapore’s Grab buys $410M stake in German remote driving startup Vay
- Logistics barriers, regulatory challenges hinder Philippine e-commerce growth
- Malaysia to restrict social media for users under 16 from 2026
India Developments
- US Big Tech oppose telcos Jio, Vi on 6 GHz band spectrum proposal
- Q-commerce platforms bet on higher margin categories to boost sales
- RBI probes fintechs exploiting banks’ APIs for money laundering
- Social media platforms to introduce AI content labelling in line with new regs
- SK Hynix seeks local partner to establish memory chip assembly unit
