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Iran names US tech, finance firms in new Middle East threat list

People sit in a cafe outside the Apple Store in Dubai on May 8, 2025.

Analysis

Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know

Traffic rolls along a main throughfare under a banner with images of past and present leaders that reads in Farsi, "Domino fall", as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said January

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation

Attendees take a picture of French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe as he delivers a speech during a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum on February 10, 2018, on Saadiyat island in the Emirati capital, to launch the French-Emirati "Year of Cultural Dialogue". (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

David Rosenberg

In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech

Morocco solar

Emirati firm to build solar power plants in Morocco

Morocco is heavily dependent on imports for its energy needs, and is working to increase its use of renewable sources.

An employee works at StoreDot's headquarters in the Israeli coastal city of Herziliya on Feb. 16, 2021.

Volvo invests in Israeli electric car battery maker StoreDot

There is growing demand for electric vehicles in Israel. Like cars that run on gasoline, electric cars come with environmental concerns.

Guests attend the DHL E-Commerce forum during the Mercedes-Benz Istanbul Fashion Week at Zorlu Performance Hall on Sept.14, 2018, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Online shopping in Turkey took off in 2021

The jump coincides with growth in Turkey’s fintech sector, but e-commerce faces some challenges.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Robots to help Muslim pilgrims at holy sites in Saudi Arabia

The robots will explain prayer rituals in Mecca and Medina in multiple languages, according to Saudi religious authorities.

Christian Marquardt/Getty Images

Shareholder Saudi prince rejects Elon Musk’s bid to buy Twitter

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the largest shareholders of the social media giant, believes Twitter is worth more than Musk is offering.

A Moroccan passes by an advertising billboard for a sheep purchase loan ahead of Aid el-Kebir holiday on Nov. 26, 2009, in Rabat.

OPEC loans $100 million to Morocco to promote financial inclusivity

Financial technology (fintech) is expanding across the Middle East and enabling more people to use financial tools. But some cultural barriers remain.

Israel biomed

Israeli innovations in medical tech embraced worldwide

In Europe, the US, Africa, and now also in Gulf states, hospitals and healthcare systems are adopting Israeli med-tech companies' new products.

Zafrir

Quantum computing is the next revolution, Israeli cyber expert says

Israeli intelligence commander-turned-tech executive Nadav Zafrir discussed cybersecurity’s relation to terrorism, the pros and cons of remote work, machines superseding humans and more on Al-Monitor’s 'On Israel' podcast.

Cybersecurity image.

Egypt ramps up cyber, data security capabilities

Egyptian government agencies are coordinating efforts to be prepared for future cyberattacks.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 Summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi Aramco pursues diversification with artificial intelligence center

The Saudi energy giant is flush with cash from oil sales abroad.

A picture taken on Feb. 6, 2018, shows a visual representation of the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Report: One third of Israelis and Emiratis own cryptocurrency

Both Israel and the UAE have emerged as centers of cryptocurrency in the Middle East.

Intel increases footprint in Israel with acquisition of Granulate

The Silicon Valley computer chip manufacturer has acquired two major Israeli tech companies this year.