DMCC announces new Foundations Regulations, SDAIA implements Data and AI Training Program Standards Framework, Microsoft to invest $10B+ in MENA cloud, AI infrastructure through 2030, Vietnam to ease rules for foreign retail investment, India’s Solar companies struggle with cell shortage amid China curbs
Here’s a look at today's biggest tech stories in the MENA+:
- CBUAE announces sanctions on local branches of Iran’s Bank Melli
- DMCC expands private wealth offering with new Foundations Regulations
- Emirates Foundation partners Responsible AI Future Foundation
- Airtel Money chooses London IPO in favor of UAE
- Amazon denies shifting regional operations from UAE to Turkey
- SDAIA implements Data and AI Training Program Standards Framework
- KSA sells 100M barrels of oil to Asian buyers to ease oil crunch
- Saudi Arabia Railways to boost freight capacity, upgrade rail systems
- fischer secures supply deal for $1.5B Jeddah Tower
- Aramco considers dedicated gas division, potential minority IPO
- First locally developed industrial robot launched
- 10 development partners back $520M Infrastructure Financing Guarantee Facility
- Raya Holding launches enterprise AI firm Raya Nexus
- Egypt, INTRO Holding to push ahead with $1.2B SCZone data center
- DiDi says local operations drove $376M in economic activity last year
- FBR unveils new tax rules for social media influencers
- Pakistan gets second Qatari LNG cargo amid supply crunch
- PM seeks diaspora capital, tech expertise in US visit
- Virtual asset rules in the works as govt eyes tokenized debt, real estate
- $6B worth of refinery upgrade deals to be inked today
Other MENA+ Developments
- Morocco’s centre-right PAM wins most seats in provisional election results
- OECD sees global AI boom temporarily cushioning Middle East energy shock
- Microsoft to invest $10B+ in cloud, AI infrastructure through 2030
- Nvidia says Egypt could be potential regional AI hub
- Libya eyes UN Security Council seat in 2028
Southeast Asia Developments
- Singapore accounted for 92% of SEA’s H1 startup funding
- Indonesia seeks to finalize EU trade deal as tariff incentive expires
- Waymo to enter Singapore as Grab, ComfortDelGro expand robotaxi trials
- Singapore’s A*Star to scale deep-tech ventures with expanded labs
- Vietnam to ease rules for foreign retail investment
India Developments
- Solar companies struggle with cell shortage amid China curbs
- Amazon Pay India net loss widens 33% amid rising costs
- VCs shift attention to new-age kitchen startups
- GCCs to cut up to 30K jobs this year as companies restructure operations
- Ola Electric Mobility to explore raising funds through rights issue
