Iran internet blackout estimated to cost $37M+ daily, crippling businesses and society The ongoing digital disconnection is severely stalling commerce, draining millions of dollars daily and pushing many businesses toward collapse. Iran
Interview Qualcomm sees growing demand for edge AI in the Middle East The Middle East's young population is increasingly adopting AI through mobile devices rather than data center-based solutions, Wassim Chourbaji, Qualcomm's president for the Middle East and Africa, told Al-Monitor. Wassim Chourbaji Qualcomm president for the Middle East & Africa
Iran plans to create closed internet network offering tiered access: Report The shift heralds a new era in which internet access is no longer a right but a government-granted privilege, according to FilterWatch, a US-based group that monitors internet freedom in the Middle East. Iran
Tehran jams Starlink as Iranians take risks to skirt internet blackout Iranians have turned to the US internet provider to get online amid a government-imposed network blackout that began Jan. 8. Iran
Interview Youth, strong AI adoption make MENA leading region for smartphones: OPPO Lay Ren President of OPPO MENA
Dubai to import self-driving cars Dubai will be the first international market for the US self-driving vehicle company Cruise. United Arab Emirates
Egyptians react to new app bringing dead to life A new application that allows the animation of pictures of the deceased caused controversy among religious institutions in Egypt. Egypt
UAE probe reaches Mars' orbit Hope Probe launched in July and is the first Mars mission conducted by an Arab state. United Arab Emirates
Emirati investors highly interested in Israeli high-tech, agro-tech According to estimates, $1 billion in investments between Israel and the United Arab Emirates were made in the last two months of 2020. United Arab Emirates
Hi-tech rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh heats up Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman is sparing no effort to lure business from the IT and other sectors in Abu Dhabi to the kingdom. Originals
Egypt’s future as internet cable hub at risk from proposed Google fiber optic network Google intends to build a new corridor for internet traffic via a fiber optic network for the first time between Israel and Saudi Arabia, linking Asia to Europe, which is seen as a threat to Egypt's future as a major transit point for international submarine cables. Egypt
Ex-Israeli space program head claims aliens exist and Trump is aware Haim Eshed told an Israeli newspaper that the US government had struck an "agreement" with the extraterrestrials. Israel
In a changing Middle East, Abraham Accords will usher in new era for technology Collaboration in the form of partnerships and joint ventures around technology between Israel and the United Arab Emirates could be indicative of the wider shift expected in a post-Abraham Accords Middle East. United Arab Emirates
Israel ventures into space for second time The Ramon Foundation participates in preparing the mission of Israel’s second-ever astronaut Eytan Stibbe — a first nonprofit organization to be partnered with such a mission. Originals
US warns Egypt to avoid Chinese companies on 5G connections As part of the growing conflict between Washington and Beijing over the introduction of 5G networks in the world, the US State Department warned Egypt against resorting to Chinese companies for the launch of 5G networks and called on Egyptian companies to boycott their Chinese counterparts. Egypt
UAE announces first Arab mission to the moon The United Arab Emirates seeks to become the fourth country in the world to land on the lunar surface, its leader announced today. Originals
Egyptian tech startups offer hope for economy in post-COVID world While Egypt's economy faces pressure from several factors, such as coronavirus preventative measures, a sudden stop in tourism and record-high debt levels, one bright spot in the economy is a tech boom that has continued even throughout the global pandemic. Egypt
