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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

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Breaking | Last Updated: May 6, 2022, 10:28 am

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, Dubai's Vy Capital help Elon Musk buy Twitter

Musk's takeover of Twitter has several implications for the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Liquefied natural gas ship FSRU Independence at Klaipeda liquefied natural gas floating storage and regasification unit terminal port, Klaipeda, Lithuania, April 15, 2022.

Israeli cybersecurity firm protects gas transfers between Poland, Lithuania

Waterfall deployed its system to the eastern European countries in response to the war in Ukraine. The move comes at a low point in Israel-Russia relations.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

An illustration picture taken in London on Dec. 30, 2021, shows an NFT.

Lebanese artists explore NFTs

The adoption of NFT art in Lebanon seems to be a milestone for artists.

Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX Elon Musk speaks below a computer-generated illustration of his new rocket at the 68th International Astronautical Congress 2017, Adelaide, Australia, Sept. 29, 2017.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide internet services in Bahrain, Israel may be next

Musk has already assisted Bahrain with its satellite program and has additional space-related interests in Turkey.

Crypto hacking event returns to Dubai

The UAE is emerging as a regional hub for cryptocurrency activities.

United Arab Emirates

Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on Feb. 10, 2022.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey react to Elon Musk's Twitter takeover

Musk’s purchase of the social media giant is being heavily discussed in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, where the billionaire has a complicated history with both governments.

Swvl transportation.

Dubai-based transportation startup Swvl acquires Turkey’s Volt Lines

Swvl has recently bought other firms in Europe and Latin America and has received funds to help advance the transportation safety of women in Egypt.

United Arab Emirates

Marco Bello/Getty Images

UAE crypto push continues as Kraken invades Abu Dhabi

Two other cryptocurrency exchanges have also announced moves to Dubai recently.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken on January 3, 2021, shows a general view of Egypt's High Dam in Aswan.

German bank to fund Aswan Dam, construction of solar plant in Egypt

The Aswan Dam provides half of Egypt’s power supply. Egypt is also working to increase its use of solar power.

Morocco solar

Emirati firm to build solar power plants in Morocco

Morocco is heavily dependent on imports for its energy needs, and is working to increase its use of renewable sources.

An employee works at StoreDot's headquarters in the Israeli coastal city of Herziliya on Feb. 16, 2021.

Volvo invests in Israeli electric car battery maker StoreDot

There is growing demand for electric vehicles in Israel. Like cars that run on gasoline, electric cars come with environmental concerns.

Guests attend the DHL E-Commerce forum during the Mercedes-Benz Istanbul Fashion Week at Zorlu Performance Hall on Sept.14, 2018, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Online shopping in Turkey took off in 2021

The jump coincides with growth in Turkey’s fintech sector, but e-commerce faces some challenges.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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