Hadatha Centre to drive Oman’s cybersecurity innovation and research
Oman has launched the Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre with Sultan Qaboos University to strengthen national cybersecurity capabilities.
Tencent applies for SAMA approval to launch WeChat in Saudi Arabia
Tencent is seeking Saudi Central Bank approval to launch WeChat in Saudi Arabia, with the application currently under review.
Every founder’s guide to startup programs powering the UAE ecosystem
A decade ago, the UAE’s startup scene was little more than co-working spaces and a handful of free zones. Today, it’s one of the...
Ripple finds a second home in Bahrain
Ripple partners with Bahrain FinTech Bay to launch RLUSD and blockchain projects, finding trust, regulation, and a new home for tokenized finance in MENA.
Bahrain seals 38 fintech deals at Fintech Forward 2025
Fintech Forward 2025 in Bahrain wrapped up with 38 major partnerships, including Google Cloud’s instant payment pilot with NBB, BisB, BBK, and BENEFIT. The event marked a turning point for Bahrain’s fintech strategy — from hype to hands-on integration — positioning the kingdom as the Gulf’s new testbed for digital banking, tokenization, and real-time finance.
Riyadh to lead global efforts in AI, Health, and education through FII 2025
Riyadh will host the 9th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute from October 27–30, 2025, under the theme “The Key to Prosperity.” With 600+ global speakers and $70B in previous investment outcomes, FII9 cements Saudi Arabia’s capital as a global center for innovation, AI, and sustainable growth.
Jordan’s Engagesoft secures $3.5 million to power AI-Driven employee engagement
Engagesoft, founded in Jordan by brothers Omar and Tareq Tahboub, has raised $3.5 million in a pre-Series A round led by Silicon Badia to expand its AI-driven employee engagement platform across MENA.
Meta updates it’s algorithm with more user control over reels
Facebook has upgraded Reels with AI-powered recommendations, “friend bubbles,” and real-time search. With 200B daily views and 3B monthly users, Meta is turning short videos into the future of social connection — but MENA creators want more localization.
Blackstone expands Middle East footprint with Lunate logistics alliance
Blackstone and Lunate launch GLIDE, a $5 billion GCC logistics investment platform targeting warehouses and industrial assets.
Saudi Developer ROSHN expands PropTech push with $350,000 hackathon for 2025
Saudi Arabia’s PIF-backed developer ROSHN launches its third PropTech Hackathon for 2025, inviting innovators to reimagine real estate through AI, sustainability, and smart infrastructure. Here’s how to apply, what’s at stake, and why it matters for the Kingdom’s PropTech revolution.