UAE deals with Anduril, Palantir deepen US tech footprint in Gulf defense

A new generation of Silicon Valley-linked US defense players are strengthening Gulf ties, representing a challenge to America’s legacy weapons giants in the region.

United Arab Emirates

Newsletter: FutureVerse

Gulf megaprojects meet AI

From Syria sanctions to Gulf AI, COP30, and more.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Meet the Silicon Valley-linked AI startup targeting Gulf’s costly inefficiencies 

Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, formerly a director at Silicon Valley’s Scale AI, shares how he spotted an opportunity to automate complex workflows that could reduce inefficiencies potentially worth over $10 billion across the Gulf's airports, ports, construction and the energy sector.

United Arab Emirates

Microsoft to invest $7.9 billion in UAE to scale AI with new Nvidia chips

Microsoft plans to spend over $5.5 billion on cloud and AI infrastructure and another $2.4 billion on operational expenses and local hiring in the United Arab Emirates through 2029.

United Arab Emirates

Humain’s $3B deal sets tone as Riyadh’s FII summit spotlights AI, private credit

At the 2025 edition of Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference known as “Davos in the Desert," AI is stealing the spotlight from megaprojects.

Saudi Arabia

US, UAE strike $1.8B critical mineral venture amid China tensions and Gulf rivalry 

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

Gulf investors emerge as key players in US social media giants TikTok, Snap, X

With UAE tech investor MGX set to take a stake in TikTok's US operations, investors from the Middle East could cement their role in America's social media landscape.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

PayPal bets $100M as Middle East’s Gulf fintech giants amplify competition

The move from the US payments giant comes amid a flurry of activity that has further cemented the Gulf’s fintech sector on the map for global investors — including Saudi Arabia's Tamara, which recently secured a $2.4 billion financing deal.

United Arab Emirates

Newsletter: FutureVerse

UAE partners with Nvidia on AI push

Nvidia is expanding in the Middle East with a new AI and robotics lab in Abu Dhabi, as Gulf states look to the US chipmaker to drive their tech ambitions amid US-China tensions.

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Nvidia, UAE's TII launch Mideast's first joint AI, robotics lab in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute said the new lab would be a “first-of-its-kind hub in the region for developing next-generation AI models, robotics platforms and humanoid technologies that will accelerate innovation across industries.”

United Arab Emirates

China-made flying car makes first test flight in UAE: What to know

The Chinese company is facing competition from a US firm that is currently developing an air taxi service in Dubai.

United Arab Emirates

Lebanon grants license to Musk's Starlink in bid to address sluggish telecomms

Starlink’s arrival in Lebanon could give businesses a vital lifeline, but the impact could be limited as long as access is restricted to corporate customers only.

Lebanon