Start-ups and entrepreneurship

Analysis

Gulf investors emerge as key players in US social media giants TikTok, Snap, X

With UAE tech investor MGX set to take a stake in TikTok's US operations, investors from the Middle East could cement their role in America's social media landscape.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

PayPal headquarters pictured in San Jose, California, on Oct. 15, 2015.

PayPal bets $100M as Middle East’s Gulf fintech giants amplify competition

The move from the US payments giant comes amid a flurry of activity that has further cemented the Gulf’s fintech sector on the map for global investors — including Saudi Arabia's Tamara, which recently secured a $2.4 billion financing deal.

United Arab Emirates

MURAT KOCABAS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

KFC’s Turkey relaunch tests Western brands’ resilience in Gaza boycott era

From KFC to Carrefour, the Middle East's consumer brand landscape is undergoing significant shifts as the two-year anniversary of boycotts linked to the Gaza war approaches.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

An image of Karim Attiyeh.

Meet Karim Attiyeh, youngest Arab American billionaire of Lebanese origin

Karim Attiyeh, a Lebanese-born technologist, has been named by Forbes Middle East as the youngest billionaire of Arab origin in the United States, joining the list of the 125 richest immigrant billionaires in the US.

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Analysis

Syria’s internet reboot takes shape amid outreach to Gulf telecoms

Men walk past shops selling mobile phones in the Damascus Tower market, which specializes in the smart phone business, in the Syrian capital on January 12, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

US stock plunge poses dilemmas for Gulf investors while exposing PIF, Mubadala risks

NYSE

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

China’s DeepSeek triumph sparks billion-dollar AI dilemmas for Gulf investors

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Oman’s sleepy tech sector showing signs of promise

Preparations for 44.01's first project in UAE are well underway. This DAC + mineralisation pilot with ADNOCGroup , Masdar and FNRC will be the first carbon negative project by an energy company in the Middle East.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

The AgrIsrael Sea the Future Conference, Eilat, Oct. 19, 2022.

Israel pushes aquaculture cooperation in answer to global food security

Israel’s Agriculture Minister Oded Forer talks with Al-Monitor about the first-ever international summit on food grown in the sea and the desert, held this week in Eilat.

Amazon Egypt storefront.

Amazon Egypt launches page for Egyptian handicrafts

Amazon Egypt launched a new page for thousands of Egyptian handicrafts and heritage products, with the aim of supporting and encouraging Egyptian products.

Israel Barbivai

Israel, Turkey promote increasing bilateral trade

On an official visit to Turkey, Minister of Economy and Industry Orna Barbivai met with her counterparts, advancing the re-convening of the joint economic conference.

NFT art, Israel.

NFT art, industry boom in Israel

Israel might have gotten a late start on NFT art, but it's catching up quickly with active artists and groups on all social networks.

Rodolfo Campos uses a virtual reality headset during a NASA Hybrid Reality Lab demonstration at the NVIDIA GPU Technology Conference.

Israel seeks technological cooperation with US

What Israel perceives as inflexible American demands on data security might stand in the way of establishing true technological cooperation between Israel and the United States.

Visitors interact with a display by the Manufacturer's Association of Israel.

Despite slowdown, Israeli tech companies attract major investments

Big investments announced in recent weeks in Israeli start-up companies might indicate that the slowdown, the layoffs and other difficulties facing the global high-tech industry might be temporary.

Israel cyber

Cybersecurity powerhouse Israel remains open to hackers

Numbers show that Israeli institutions, ministries, municipalities and companies are increasingly targeted by attempted cyberattacks, mostly from Iranian hackers.

AFP via Getty Images

With warming of diplomatic ties, Israel, Turkey expect bilateral trade boom

Now that diplomatic relations have improved, Israel hopes to increase and expand its exportations to Turkey in fields such as water treatment, smart agriculture and energy.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Investment in Israeli food tech doubles

Israel is quickly becoming one of the world leaders in cultivated meat, dairy and seafood products.

A display highlights Mobileye's autonomous driving technology.

Israeli automotive startups dream of becoming next Mobileye

Vying for the same success of Mobileye, which was bought by Intel five years ago for $15 billion, Israeli startups are doubling their efforts to appeal to foreign investors.

Orthodox tech

Israel's ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs ignore internet taboos

The leadership of the ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel are against the internet, but more and more ultra-Orthodox businesses find ways to be part of the digital arena.

Members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly visit the Knesset, Jerusalem, July 7, 2022.

Israel redefines ties with NATO as security provider

During a visit of a NATO parliamentary delegation, Israel showcased high tech capabilities.