UAE's ADGM tightens data protection rules, major PE firms to back KSA's Humain, Oman launches national payment card, Thailand issues new ride-hailing rules, Arm's new India facility to design advanced chips
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- ADGM tightens data protection rules, targeting insurance, education sector
- MGX joins Silver Lake in buyout of Intel's programmable chip unit Altera
- US AI firm Hypercycle relocates HQ to Abu Dhabi
- American University in Dubai, Penn Medicine to set up medical school
- Dubai RTA to launch battery-swapping stations for e-bikes
- Humain in discussions with Blackstone, BlackRock for billions in data center funding
- Digital wallet Barq, payments network Thunes launch international remittance service
- Saudia to offer BNPL payments in partnership with Tamara
- Cloudera to set up Saudi office in early 2026
- PIF's Elm working with banks on smart financial risk assessment product
- DP World Egypt, Elsewedy Industrial to invest $29M in cold storage facility
- Govt targets 65% private sector contribution by 2025-26
- Finance Minister working on three investor incentive packages this year
- Egypt plans six logistics centers for local products across Africa
- CI Capital, engazaat to launch $200M MEA green infra fund
- Mini-budget under consideration to fund flood recovery with levies, potentially on electronics
- Mashreq launches first full service digital bank outside UAE in Pakistan
- Punjab opens applications for new e-taxi financing scheme
- IHC declares PTA Chairman appointment illegal, seeks dismissal
- Pakistan makes record $9.3B early debt repayment
Other MENA+ Developments
- Carrefour shuts Kuwait stores amid GCC exit
- beIN launches UAE streaming service
- Money20/20 Middle East spotlights new fintech solutions, platforms
- Commercial Bank of Qatar, NPCI sign deal to enable UPI QR code acceptance
- Central Bank of Oman launches national payment card Maal
Southeast Asia Developments
- UAE launches 10M Coders Initiative in Indonesia
- EU, Indonesia to sign trade deal next week
- Malaysia to develop flying vehicles regulations
- Vietnam to update National AI Law, Strategy this year
- Thailand issues ridesharing regulations under Digital Platform Services Law
India Developments
- Arm's new Bengaluru facility to design advanced chips, including 2nm nodes
- Electric two-wheeler makers seek temporary exemption from localization norms
- Tata Motors reaches 25,000 charging points for commercial EVs
- WhatsApp introduces payments, AI support, citizen services
- SEBI to allow banks, pension funds to trade commodities
