Newsletter: FutureVerse Syria’s post-war tech risks A US-Iran agreement may be easing regional tensions, but risks to Middle East tech infrastructure continue to grow. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Gulf logistics startups ride Hormuz trade shift As cargo flows are rerouted across the Arabian Peninsula, overland freight networks are suddenly becoming critical infrastructure. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Explainer Saudi investors could emerge as key winners from SpaceX’s historic IPO A new disclosure from Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding ahead of SpaceX’s Nasdaq debut shows just how valuable Elon Musk's relationship with Gulf investors has become. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: FutureVerse Gulf AI bets near payoff A wave of US tech IPOs could deliver major windfalls for Gulf sovereign wealth funds. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Iran eases wartime internet blackout By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Rebuilding Syria’s digital economy By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse US-Gulf tech ties face war test By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse MENA tightens control over online space By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Twitter/X erases thousands of Israel-Hamas posts after EU disinfo warning The 27-nation bloc has also issued similar ultimatums to Meta and TikTok, imploring the companies to take fake posts about the conflict off their social media platforms. Israel
Israeli food-tech advances as Aleph Farms seeks regulatory nod for cell-based steaks With a focus on alternative protein products, Israel in recent years has emerged as a key player in the global food-tech industry. David Rosenberg In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech
China's Huawei to invest $430M in North African cloud center, developer training The Chinese tech firm has been increasing its footprint in the Middle East and North Africa. North Africa
Analysis Saudi Arabia fastest growing crypto economy globally amid regional drive The kingdom led globally with a 12% increase in crypto transaction volume reaching nearly $31 billion from July 2022 through June 2023, according to an industry report released Tuesday. By Salim A. Essaid
UAE places technology at top of COP28 agenda in Dubai The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Space Agency and COP28 signed an agreement in July to coordinate on technology-focused sustainable solutions ahead of the major climate change conference in Dubai later this year. United Arab Emirates
China’s Huawei opens cloud data center in Riyadh to grow MENA footprint The Chinese telecoms giant said in February it would invest $400 million in Saudi Arabia's cloud region over the next five years. Saudi Arabia
US denies it had 'blocked' AI chip sales to some Middle Eastern countries The US Commerce Department was quick to distance itself from the reports — but it did not directly address imposing license restrictions on certain types of chips. Legacy: Gulf
Middle East offers strong market for AI content dubbing The region is ripe for translated content as Arabic is widely spoken and there is a strong appetite for digital media due to a young population. Saudi Arabia
US-China tech rivalry hits Israel as Intel cancels Tower Semiconductor deal The companies canceled the deal after failing to obtain regulatory approval from China. Israel
Iraqi militias continue to use Telegram despite block Iraq’s state media channel switched to the Israeli-founded Viber in response to the ban. Telegram is popular with protesters and militias alike in Iraq. Iraq
Japan’s Nomura subsidiary receives crypto license in UAE The crypto sector is booming in the United Arab Emirates thanks to clear regulations on virtual assets. Legacy: Gulf
Amid internal crisis, Israel fights to retain hi-tech industry with tax benefits The Israeli government has issued a new law to encourage investment in tech startups as firms consider fleeing the country on the back of the judicial overhaul. Israel