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
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
UAE’s new AI K2 Think chases DeepSeek moment in Gulf tech race The Gulf state has launched K2 Think, an open-source reasoning model designed to speedily and efficiently tackle math and logic problems. United Arab Emirates
Middle East internet slows after Red Sea cables cut: What to know Yemen's internationally recognized government accused the Houthi rebels of planning to attack underwater cables in the Red Sea in February 2024. Kuwait
After sanctions, GitHub reopens to Syrian coders in boost for digital revival Syrian developers regain GitHub access despite blocked platforms and shaky internet. Syria
World's largest illegal sports streaming site shut down after Egypt arrests Streameast, believed to be the world’s largest illegal sports streaming network, was taken down in August during a sting operation conducted by Egyptian authorities in collaboration with a US anti-piracy group. Egypt
Syria partners with Nokia to rebuild digital infrastructure after years of war The new Syrian government wants to expand internet access in the country after damage during the civil war and years of underinvestment due to sanctions. Syria
Saudi Arabia escalates Arabic AI race with new state-backed chatbot The app is available only in Saudi Arabia, but the company plans to expand across the region and eventually globally. Saudi Arabia
Lenovo’s $2B Saudi expansion suggests China to hold ground despite US push Lenovo and Huawei both continue to expand in Saudi Arabia months after US President Donald Trump's landmark Gulf tour delivered tech deals for US giants. Saudi Arabia
Iran plans 20 satellites, test launch by end of 2025: What to know Iran is seeking investment in its space agency and has made progress in developing satellites in the face of sanctions, though reliance on Russia remains a factor. Iran
Starlink targets Saudi skies as Musk’s Middle East push rolls on The satellite internet service operated by SpaceX had been on an expansion spree in the Middle East in 2025, most recently launching in Israel as it also targets a deal with Saudi Arabia's national airline. Saudi Arabia