What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation A number of X accounts including Al Arabiya Breaking are now not accessible in the Gulf state as Abu Dhabi navigates regional turmoil. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: FutureVerse The Gulf’s new front: data corridors Amid a broader rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the two Gulf powers are backing rival connectivity corridors in the region. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Interview AI, cybersecurity high on Mideast priorities amid global tech rivalry: Tech Mahindra The Indian tech company's Middle East head, Sahil Dhawan, believes these three forces are reshaping business priorities in the region.
Mideast’s AI startups capture record $858M in funding during 2025, doubling share The growth represents a sizable jump from recent years, when local AI companies captured just a sliver of dealmaking, and Magnitt now predicts funding for MENA’s AI startups will easily surpass $1 billion in 2026. United Arab Emirates
Interview Qualcomm sees growing demand for edge AI in the Middle East Wassim Chourbaji Qualcomm president for the Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia to build giant solar power plant The plant, which will be partially owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, will have more output than other solar energy facilities in the region if all goes to plan. Legacy: Gulf
UAE’s cryptocurrency ambitions to continue despite FTX crash Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Saudi electric car company Ceer to build factory near Red Sea Ceer, which will be Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle-maker, is the latest Saudi project to help the oil-rich kingdom diversify. Legacy: Gulf
American VC fund 500 Global comes to Egypt despite tech downturn Some startups in Egypt are struggling, which is part of a wider regional trend. Egypt
Saudi Arabia approves two new AI companies Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both intent on growing their artificial intelligence sectors. Legacy: Gulf
Abu Dhabi launches new cryptocurrency hub despite downturn Despite a global slump, cryptocurrency is growing in the UAE in line with the government’s diversification goals. Legacy: Gulf
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. Legacy: Gulf
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. Legacy: Gulf
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. Legacy: Gulf
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. Legacy: Gulf
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. Iraq
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. Egypt