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
Bahrain’s CoinMENA to offer crypto services in Egypt Crypto is particularly growing in Bahrain and the UAE, in part due to evasion of sanctions on Russia in the latter. Egypt
UAE bank to allow cryptocurrency trading in dirhams A bank in the United Arab Emirates will soon allow its customers to trade cryptocurrencies using Emirati currency. Legacy: Gulf
West Bank hosts first digital tourism hackathon For the first time, Palestinians hold a digital tourism hackathon to develop innovative solutions to the problems facing the tourism industry. Palestine
UAE requests bids to build another waste-to-energy power plant The Emirates recently unveiled a power plant in Sharjah that converts garbage into electricity. Some environmental groups believe such facilities are harmful due to their carbon footprint, but burning garbage also reduces landfill waste. Legacy: Gulf
Jordan increases renewable energy use Jordan does not have large oil and gas reserves, unlike other countries in the region. Jordan
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to work with France’s TotalEnergies on carbon capture The deal came during UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to France, where he strengthened energy relations with the European country. The two countries have grown closer over Libya and energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. Legacy: Gulf
Israeli startup to build quantum computing center Israel is making progress in the development of quantum computing, as are Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Israel
Israeli crypto firm Celsius files for bankruptcy Cryptocurrencies have plummeted in value this year. Israel
Iraqi company to build solar-powered street lights The Iraqi government is making efforts to develop solar energy. The country suffers from widespread power cuts. Iraq
Turkey, UAE continue to mend ties with space agreement Turkish-Emirati economic ties have gradually strengthened this year, reducing tensions between the two regional powers. Turkey
'Ethical hacking' courses proliferate in Gaza Some centers in Gaza are providing courses on ethical hacking under the pretext of helping citizens protect their online data, while in some cases hacking and piracy operations are being taught. Palestine
UAE announces measures to attract ‘digital companies’ The Emirates wants to attract more high-tech companies, especially those working on artificial intelligence. Some cryptocurrency firms are moving to the Gulf state. Legacy: Gulf