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A model of IBM Quantum shows the three chandeliers that would be a part of the System Two installation, the System One comprises of one such chandelier, seen during the inauguration of Europe's first IBM Quantum Data Center, on Oct. 1, 2024, in Ehningen, Germany.

Saudi Arabia deploys region’s first industrial quantum computer: What to know

The announcement significantly boosts Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy away from oil by the end of the decade.

A view of Al Majdoul, a skyscraper in Riyadh, Aug. 1, 2023.

Feature

Saudi Arabia leans on AI for real estate growth as gigaprojects slow

The kingdom is increasingly announcing projects merging AI and real estate to cut costs while building smarter, data-driven, and more sustainable infrastructure.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

MOHAMED AFRAH/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Org, Saudi partner Dar Global launch crypto scheme for Maldives resort

The deal marks a notable fusion of the Trump family’s traditional real estate business and its expanding foothold in the crypto world, and arrives a day before Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince arrives in Washington.

Latest News

Analysis

Deals and data: Saudi Crown Prince brings growing AI ambitions on US visit

US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

A drone is seen during the opening ceremony of the Milipol, the international exhibition of homeland security, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, in Doha, on Oct. 31, 2016.

United Arab Emirates

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

Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder of 1001 AI.

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

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao sits on the main stage at Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) in an interview with Mike Novogratz, the CEO of Galaxy Digital Holdings.

Binance CEO takes heat at Abu Dhabi event after FTX fall

Changpeng Zhao maintained that crypto is the future, despite cryptocurrency exchange FTX filing for bankruptcy last week.

Israel’s OurCrowd invests in a $60 million AI hub in Abu Dhabi

The Israeli investment platform will build on the UAE's efforts to become a world leader in artificial intelligence and attract more futuristic technology companies to the country.

UAE tech

Abu Dhabi Global Market adopts blockchain for courts

The move comes amid other financial changes in the Gulf state. Blockchain technology is also used for cryptocurrency.

Hydrogen

UAE’s Masdar thinks Africa poised to be hydrogen hub

The African continent has a lot of potential to produce hydrogen as an energy source, but there are also many challenges, according to some observers.

Kurdcoin founder says lack of regulation crypto's big challenge in Iraq

Al-Monitor interviewed Abdurrahman Bapir, who heads Iraq’s first cryptocurrency exchange, on the appeal of cryptocurrency in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and how the crypto crash has affected the domestic market.

JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn announces Egyptian high-speed rail deal at COP27

Egypt’s railway system is notorious for safety issues and German's expertise promises to help.

An employee at "al-Gameya", a tech startup the runs an app to facilitate for strangers to create an informal money-pooling association to provide access for money in time of need, uses a computer with the official Facebook page of the application open on a web browser, at the company offices in Egypts capital Cairo on September 12, 2021. - Cash-strapped Egyptians fearful of banks have long relied on a "gameya" to access money in time of need, but now tech startups are cashing in on the practice. Such cooper

A reality check looms for Middle East's tech startups

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

An illustration picture taken in London shows a gold plated souvenir cryptocurrency Tether (USDT) coin arranged beside a screen displaying a trading chart, May 8, 2022.

Bahrain’s CoinMENA to facilitate real estate payments via cryptocurrency

The agreement with Carlton Real Estate only applies to certain coins. Cryptocurrency’s utility is increasing in the Gulf.

A member of Iraq's Electoral Commission demonstrates a digital machine that scans ballots of Iraqi voters.

Kurdistan government in Iraq hopes digitalization will bring investment

The Kurdistan Regional Government has made progress digitizing government services, but investors say more is needed to attract serious capital and spur startup growth.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C), Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (2nd R) and UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) attend the leaders summit on the second day of the COP27 climate conference, Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Center, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 7, 2022.

UAE, Egypt announce new wind farm during COP27

Wind power is growing in Egypt, which is relatively poor in oil and gas.

Russia begins production of equipment and components of Egypt’s El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Aug. 2, 2021.

Egypt, Russia commence second phase of nuclear power plant construction

Egypt is preparing to build the second unit of the Dabaa nuclear power plant about five months after establishing the first unit.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi crown prince launches electric car company

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants the oil-rich kingdom to focus more on green technology as he seeks to diversify the economy.