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People sit in a cafe outside the Apple Store in Dubai on May 8, 2025.

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.

Traffic rolls along a main throughfare under a banner with images of past and present leaders that reads in Farsi, "Domino fall", as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said January

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."

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation

Attendees take a picture of French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe as he delivers a speech during a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum on February 10, 2018, on Saadiyat island in the Emirati capital, to launch the French-Emirati "Year of Cultural Dialogue". (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Interview

AI, cybersecurity high on Mideast priorities amid global tech rivalry: Tech Mahindra

A man and woman walk along a promenade overlooking the Burj al-Arab and Dubai skyline on January 4, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Mideast’s AI startups capture record $858M in funding during 2025, doubling share

Detailed image of Middle Eastern developer in front of desktop pc monitoring a complex network, ensuring data security and efficient computing using cloud, AI and machine learning.

United Arab Emirates

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

David Rosenberg

In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech

Visitors interact with a display by the Manufacturer's Association of Israel.

Despite slowdown, Israeli tech companies attract major investments

Big investments announced in recent weeks in Israeli start-up companies might indicate that the slowdown, the layoffs and other difficulties facing the global high-tech industry might be temporary.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk to send Saudis to space, internet to Iran

The eccentric billionaire has said he'll ask for an exemption to US sanctions on Iran to provide Spacelink internet access to the country.

Israel cyber

Cybersecurity powerhouse Israel remains open to hackers

Numbers show that Israeli institutions, ministries, municipalities and companies are increasingly targeted by attempted cyberattacks, mostly from Iranian hackers.

Rob Stothard/Getty Images

Saudi crown prince unveils national strategy for esports, video games

Investment in video games is officially forming part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative for economic diversification.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 (Artificial Intelligence) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi Arabia plans new AI center

The agreement between the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and King Abdullah University was made on the sidelines of an artificial intelligence summit in Riyadh.

A general view of the Fortescue Metals Group building on February 1, 2021, in Perth, Australia.

Egypt enlists Australian company to help develop green hydrogen project

Green hydrogen is receiving more attention in Egypt ahead of the upcoming UN climate change conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Rama Chakaki

Tech entrepreneur Rama Chakaki discusses opportunities, challenges for AI in Mideast in Al-Monitor PRO webinar

Chakaki discussed artificial intelligence’s growth in the Middle East, differences between men and women investors and much more at the Al-Monitor live webinar.

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Dubai-based firm to build offshore wind farm in UK

Many Emirati companies are working on renewable energy projects.

United Arab Emirates

A man walks past an electric car in Masdar City, outside the rich Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Oct. 7, 2015.

China’s NWTN to build electric vehicle facility in Abu Dhabi

The deal represents the UAE’s push toward green technology, as well as China’s growing influence in the wider region.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Investment in Israeli food tech doubles

Israel is quickly becoming one of the world leaders in cultivated meat, dairy and seafood products.

Qatar ammonia

Qatar to build new plant to produce blue ammonia

Several Gulf states are experimenting with blue ammonia and carbon capture technology, which has energy-related potential but a mixed impact on the environment.

S Korea nuclear

Russia, South Korea cooperate on Egypt’s Dabaa nuclear plant

South Korea has won a $2.25 billion deal to construct turbine buildings for Egypt’s first nuclear power plant in Dabaa, which Russia is currently constructing.