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
Sharm el-Sheikh gets $7 million to become green city for COP27 The Egyptian government, the UN Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility are aiming to transform Sharm el-Sheikh into a green city in the lead-up to the international climate conference in November. Egypt
Israeli-American crypto firm Celsius halts trading as price plunge continues The massive drop in value of Bitcoin, Ethereal and other cryptocurrencies has affected Israel, where many people own some. Israel
Robots take over Gaza classroom With the help of a team of local engineers, a school in Gaza City managed to create the first human-like robot for educational purposes using local tools and equipment. Palestine
Saudis grant digital licenses in latest diversification move The companies provide digital services in cooperation with the Saudi government. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt promotes ties with Africa via new satellite A new Egyptian satellite was recently launched as part of efforts to expand Egypt’s media presence in the African continent. Egypt
Russia launches production for Egypt’s nuclear power plant Ukraine war not stopping Russia’s Rosatom from manufacturing equipment for Egypt’s first nuclear power plant. Egypt
Dubai to build new reservoirs for desalinated water Like other Gulf states, the UAE is dependent on desalination for its drinking water. Legacy: Gulf
Abu Dhabi launches agriculture genome program Modifying plants’ genetic traits could help with global food supply issues. Legacy: Gulf
Israeli companies offer solutions for global wheat crisis Israeli agritech companies are finding solutions for the growing global wheat crisis and others. Israel
Israeli, Moroccan ministers of science and technology sign cooperation agreement Israel’s Science and Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Morocco’s Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Minister Abdellatif Miraoui made history today, concluding a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in a vast field. Israel
Can urban transport reform put brakes on Gulf's car centric culture? Modern Gulf cities built around car dependency face a net-zero pledges test. Plans to retrofit cities and weave in sustainable mobility are in the pipeline, but the car is still king. Legacy: Gulf
Abu Dhabi to partner with British Petroleum on hydrogen power The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and BP will also help Etihad Airways develop sustainable aviation fuel, which is nearly impossible to obtain at present. Legacy: Gulf