Newsletter: FutureVerse Gulf tech ambitions face Trump-Xi test Gulf tech powers have plenty at stake as Xi and Trump discuss US-China AI competition. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks In the Middle East, governments are pouring billions into AI ambitions as Anthropic’s own Claude chatbot comes under scrutiny for creating national security risks. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse China holds its ground in Middle East AI race Last Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt for the first time in a decade, with the trip coinciding with efforts by Beijing to expand its AI footprint in the country. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Who is Amir Yaryab, IRGC’s cyber commander in US crosshairs? The US State Department has offered up to $10 million for information on Amir Yaryab, who oversees a key part of Iran’s cyber operations. Iran
Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Economic D-day’s tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Coinbase joins UAE crypto rush By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Iran eases wartime internet blackout Internet watchdogs say the recovery remains limited, with NetBlocks reporting only partial restoration across parts of the country. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Rebuilding Syria’s digital economy Syria’s gradual return to the global financial system is opening new banking and fintech opportunities for people inside the country. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse US-Gulf tech ties face war test One year after Trump’s Gulf AI push, rising regional conflict is testing whether booming US-Gulf tech ties can withstand mounting geopolitical risks. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse MENA tightens control over online space New restrictions across MENA are reshaping access to the internet. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse NEOM’s new logistics look Saudi Arabia recasts NEOM as a regional logistics hub amid war disruption. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Iran names US tech, finance firms in new Middle East threat list Firms listed as potential targets included Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, Palantir and Nvidia, while banking giant JPMorgan and UAE-based AI firm G42 were also listed. Iran
Analysis Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know Facing a historic internet blackout, Iranians are locked in a struggle with authorities to find loopholes to get around this communications crackdown, leading to "shutdowns within a shutdown." By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse AI and the fog of war From battlefield AI to tech investment risks, the US-Israel-Iran war is reshaping the region’s digital landscape. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation A number of X accounts including Al Arabiya Breaking are now not accessible in the Gulf state as Abu Dhabi navigates regional turmoil. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: FutureVerse The Gulf’s new front: data corridors Amid a broader rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the two Gulf powers are backing rival connectivity corridors in the region. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Interview AI, cybersecurity high on Mideast priorities amid global tech rivalry: Tech Mahindra The Indian tech company's Middle East head, Sahil Dhawan, believes these three forces are reshaping business priorities in the region.
Mideast’s AI startups capture record $858M in funding during 2025, doubling share The growth represents a sizable jump from recent years, when local AI companies captured just a sliver of dealmaking, and Magnitt now predicts funding for MENA’s AI startups will easily surpass $1 billion in 2026. United Arab Emirates