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
UAE launches sovereign open-source AI model K2 Think: What to know The Gulf state is one of the few countries in the world developing its own sovereign open-source AI model to counter the dominance of the United States and China in the sector. United Arab Emirates
Interview Qualcomm sees growing demand for edge AI in the Middle East The Middle East's young population is increasingly adopting AI through mobile devices rather than data center-based solutions, Wassim Chourbaji, Qualcomm's president for the Middle East and Africa, told Al-Monitor. Wassim Chourbaji Qualcomm president for the Middle East & Africa
Syria’s Sharaa heads to Davos, ending years of global isolation The World Economic Forum begins on January 19 and ends on January 23, hosting a cohort of around 400 political leaders. Syria
Interview Youth, strong AI adoption make MENA leading region for smartphones: OPPO Lay Ren President of OPPO MENA
Analysis Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025 By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Egypt courts investors, signs new gas deals at Abu Dhabi ADIPEC summit Minister Karim Badawi met with executives from companies including Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, UAE state energy holding company TAQA, US conglomerate Halliburton and British Petroleum. Egypt
Microsoft to invest $7.9 billion in UAE to scale AI with new Nvidia chips Microsoft plans to spend over $5.5 billion on cloud and AI infrastructure and another $2.4 billion on operational expenses and local hiring in the United Arab Emirates through 2029. United Arab Emirates
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
