TII launches Falcon-Emirati LLM for Emirati Arabic, Saudi expat workers decline for first time in 2+ years, Qatar among 7 bidders seeking to host 2036 Olympics, Singapore studying stronger safeguards for high-risk AI uses, India’s RBI opens up Account Aggregator network
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- Ant, HSBC complete UAE token pilot transactions
- TII launches Falcon-Emirati LLM for Emirati Arabic
- Dell, Cyber Security Council to develop National Vault initiative
- Abu Dhabi to launch new Tamm app to support AI-native services goal
- G42's Presight targets 50% overseas revenue by 2030
- East-West pipeline oil flow hit 5.8M barrels
- Expat workforce shrinks for first time in over two years
- Fortinet, Aramco to explore localizing cybersecurity solutions
- MCIT launches Saudi Game Champions program to support game developers
- World Cup preparations hit by cyberattack, 1.5M files stolen
- eFinance, Alibaba Cloud, Nuvexa partner to expand cloud platform
- Egypt targets 10M cubic meters per day of desalination in ACWA talks
- EGX added 550,000 new investors since start of 2026
- FTSE removes Egypt from demotion watchlist
- MNT-Halan targets landmark $149M IPO
- Digital payments reach 92% of retail transactions
- 48% of MENAAP's extreme poor now live in Pakistan
- Pakistan considers shifting to standard 18% sales tax for EVs
- PTA data shows mobile data packages rising in cost
- Germany pushes Pakistan to implement reforms for GSP Plus status
Other MENA+ Developments
- QIA AI subsidiary Qai to host advanced compute capacity in MEEZA's data centers
- India, Qatar among 7 bidders seeking to host 2036 Olympics
- ADIA in discussions to invest in ByteDance via Primavera
- GCC launches project to identify 20 joint industrial investment opportunities
- Viamericas expands crossborder payments network to Morocco
Southeast Asia Developments
- Singapore studying stronger safeguards for high-risk AI uses
- Malaysia launches consultation on AI and Personal Data Protection Framework
- Revolut to launch Philippine digital bank unit
- Samsung to invest $1.9B to expand Vietnam chip packaging substrate production
- Indonesia’s Majoris rebrands under BlueFive Capital investment
India Developments
- Unified authority established for transport infrastructure planning
- RBI opens up Account Aggregator network to simplify information sharing
- India raises rates by 25 bps in first hike in four years
- Facebook trials Reels-first app in India
- AI voice firm ElevenLabs targets major investment to expand local presence
