Dubizzle Group delays Dubai IPO, KSA ride-hailing trips up 78%, MENA investments surge 53%, SEA's Grab integrates more 3rd party apps, India tackles AI and deepfakes under revised IT Rules
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Dubizzle Group delays DFM IPO amid series of mixed performances
- Dubai SME partners Plug and Play for new startup accelerator
- New skilling initiative launched targeting 1,000 Emirati family entrepreneurs
- UAE’s first carbon capture plant begins operations
- Stone Venture leads Neolix’s $600M funding round
- Honeywell expands production line in localization boost
- Delivery orders up 40% YoY to hit 103M in Q3
- Ride-hailing trips up 78%, digital car rentals up 21% YoY in Q3
- EVIQ partners Apsco to boost EV charging network
- Amazon partners Al-Othaim Markets for online grocery delivery
- FRA suspends new consumer finance, microfinance licenses for another year
- Non-oil exports surge 21% YoY to $36.6B in 9M 2025
- Suez Canal Authority inks $2B deal to set up petrochemical complex
- EU expands financial support with $4.6B package
- Cairo International Airport unveils AI-powered assistant
- Disrupt-X, Intel, and DynaSys Networks to develop AI-enabled infrastructure
- 5G rollout may be delayed further amid high operational costs
- Pakistan places 222 out of 226 on global investment resilience index
- KMC announces plans to set up Karachi EV charging network
- Cybercrime up 35% due to WhatsApp hacking, digital fraud cases
Other MENA+ Developments
- Arab countries saw $122.7B in investments last year, up 53%
- Merchandise trade among Arab countries up 16.6% to hit $250B in 2024
- IMF sees inflation slowing in 2025 and 2026 amid lower energy costs
- Gulf sovereign funds drive global surge in M&As as deals hit $3.5T
- EU to rethink corporate sustainability law following Qatar, US pushback
Southeast Asia Developments
- Grab integrates 5 third-party partner apps to expand service offerings
- Thailand's inaugural carbon capture project onboards Japan’s Mitsui
- Indonesia’s entertainment sector surges on data utilization, digital payments
- Indonesia’s Danantara considers creation of national asset manager
- Malaysia eyes foreign investments in rare earths sector
India Developments
- IT Rules amendments to boost accountability in content takedown requests
- Startup megadeals down 38% QoQ amid global headwinds
- Govt tackles deepfakes, AI-generated content under revised IT Rules
- India opposes China-led WTO investment facilitation proposal
- Online retail sales increasingly less dependent on festive season
