UAE VPN adoption highest globally, Barclays opens KSA HQ, UK to advance Gulf trade talks, US inks SEA deals, iPhones drive surge in Indian electronics exports
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- UAE VPN adoption highest globally with 6M downloads in 6 months
- MultiBank, UFC champion launch tokenized sports platform
- Mubadala Capital leads data center start-up Cruso’s $1.4B funding round
- G42 denies alleged link to Huawei, Chinese missiles
- Largest 24/7 solar PV and BESS facility inaugurated
- Barclays re-enters Kingdom with regional HQ in Riyadh
- FII attendance to help drive Hong Kong startups’ expansion in Middle East
- PIF becomes anchor investor of Albilad MSCI ETF’s Tawadul listing
- Citi becomes latest bank to open Saudi HQ
- Saudi insurers Buruj and Medgulf get approval for merger
- China may soon exempt duties for Egyptian exports
- DP World inaugurates $85M Sokhna Logistics Park
- KSA prioritizing domestic hotel space, undecided on Red Sea investments
- Nahdet Misr plans $100M waste-to-energy plant
- OPPO launches mobile phone plant as part of $50M investment push
- Air Link to open first Apple retail store this year
- Unverified digital bank accounts to be suspended amid new biometric rules
- PM names first chief of newly established Tax Policy Office
- Saudi, Kuwaiti investors in K-Electric seek $2B damages over rights violation
- PM seeks to speed up MVNO framework to woo investments
Other MENA+ Developments
- Gulf GDP grew 3.0% YoY to $466.2B in Q1 2025
- Piper Sandler acquires Mena Growth Partners for GCC push
- UK finance minister to attend FII, advance Gulf trade talks
- Qatar announced as host of next UNCTAD World Investment Forum
- Oman and Turkey boost ties with new minerals deal
Southeast Asia Developments
- US boosts trade ties with SEA partners ahead of China meeting
- Shopee growth plans may weigh on Sea’s $1T market cap goal
- Singapore launches consultation on competition guideline changes
- Singapore plans 700MW low-carbon data center park on Jurong Island
- China, Vietnam EV brands tap Philippine conglomerates for expansion
India Developments
- CAIT says e-commerce, q-commerce firms violating rules
- Govt ramps up financial sector reforms amid $17B foreign outflows
- Accel partners Prosus to co-invest in early-stage startups
- Lenskart’s IPO this week expected to net investors 5-17x gains
- Electronics exports to surpass petroleum driven by iPhones
