Newsletter: FutureVerse China holds its ground in Middle East AI race Last Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt for the first time in a decade, with the trip coinciding with efforts by Beijing to expand its AI footprint in the country. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Who is Amir Yaryab, IRGC’s cyber commander in US crosshairs? The US State Department has offered up to $10 million for information on Amir Yaryab, who oversees a key part of Iran’s cyber operations. Iran
Saudi Arabia taps China’s MiniMax for Arabic AI model The development signals that the kingdom continues deepening AI ties with China while simultaneously pursuing major US technology partnerships, keeping the Gulf state at the center of an intensifying technology race between the superpowers. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: FutureVerse LEAP’s comeback The fifth edition of the gathering offers a temperature check for the Gulf’s AI ambitions amid fallout from the US-Israel-Iran war. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Economic D-day’s tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Coinbase joins UAE crypto rush By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East's EV bet faces reality check By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse Red Sea tech risks resurface By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Israel set to top up Galilee with desalinated water from Mediterranean Some of the Sea of Galilee's water will reportedly go to Jordan following a water-sharing deal between Israel and Jordan earlier this year. Israel
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla hiring in Turkey The US electric vehicle maker already has a presence in Jordan and Israel and could soon launch in Turkey, where Musk has a good relationship with President Erdogan. Turkey
Dubai’s AMEA Power wins solar contract in South Africa Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are seeking better ties with sub-Saharan African states, including in regards to energy. Legacy: Gulf
The strength of Iran’s startup ecosystem put to the test amid protests Bijan Khajehpour In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
UAE to open facility that converts waste to green hydrogen The Gulf state already has one waste-to-energy plant and is looking to build more. Legacy: Gulf
Iraqi startup Lezzoo expands with purchase of Saydo The delivery startup is one of several in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, and the autonomous government is hoping to spur more startup growth. Iraq
Israel earmarks residential rooftops for electricity production The new strategy of the Ministry of Energy includes encouraging residential buildings to install solar panels that would then be connected to the national electricity grid. Israel
Egypt launches first city on metaverse Egypt opens the first city on the metaverse inspired by Egyptian civilization. Egypt
Egypt builds on COP27 with electric bus deal The deal follows Egypt hosting the COP27 climate change conference, during which Egypt also announced a plan to develop high-speed rail. Egypt
Middle East climate tech startups to be hot investment in 2023, but market still lags Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Another vertical farm comes to Saudi Arabia Vertical farming has great potential to help alleviate rising desertification in the Middle East, which could threaten the region’s food supply in the future. Legacy: Gulf
Globes, Statista publish list of fastest growing companies in Israel Israeli tech is experiencing a downturn even as the Israeli government is working to attract new workers to the sector. Israel