Technology

Elon Musk (L) and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (C) are directed to greet the Saudi crown prince at the Royal Court in Riyadh, on May 13, 2025.

Starlink targets Saudi skies as Musk’s Middle East push rolls on

The satellite internet service operated by SpaceX had been on an expansion spree in the Middle East in 2025, most recently launching in Israel as it also targets a deal with Saudi Arabia's national airline.

Players in action during day one of the Girl Gamer Esports Festival at Meydan Racecourse on Feb. 21, 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Police to host expanded esports event amid UAE gaming push: What to know

The UAE wants to grow its esports sector as part of its economic diversification plans, mirroring a similar endeavor in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

Netflix teams up with MBC’s Shahid in Saudi Arabia: An end to streaming wars?

A new agreement between MBC Group and the US industry giant appears to signal a shift in the Middle East's streaming market, with top players opting for collaboration over competition.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 16: U.S. President Donald J. Trump talks to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he departs the Al Bateen Executive Airport on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Trump is on the fourth and final day of his visit to the Gulf to underscore the strategic partnership between the United States and regional allies including the UAE, focusing on security and economic collaboration. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Analysis

AI pivot: Trump loosens export rules, opening path for Gulf tech surge

Gulf states have been lobbying the Trump administration to loosen export restrictions on AI technology, although concerns have lingered among some within the current administration over security risks regarding China.

Jared Szuba

Samuel Wendel

By Jared Szuba , Samuel Wendel

Latest News

Meet Karim Attiyeh, youngest Arab American billionaire of Lebanese origin

An image of Karim Attiyeh.

Citing security threats, Sudan blocks WhatsApp calls: What to know

Israeli startups raise $1.6B in June as war with Iran fails to rattle investors

People visit the "EcoMotion Week" trade show on May 11, 2022, in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv.

Elon Musk calls Lebanon’s Aoun, signals plans to bring Starlink to Beirut

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday held a phone call with billionaire businessman and former senior figure in the Trump administration Elon Musk, during which the two discussed the potential of Musk entering Lebanon’s telecom and internet sectors. What happened: A statement from the Lebanese presidency said that in their phone call, Musk “expressed his deep interest in Lebanon and its telecommunications and internet sectors.” Musk also expressed his desire for his companies to “have a presence

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.

GITEX

Flying cars, 'edible' robots come together at Dubai tech exhibit

GITEX brought in more than 4,000 exhibitors from about 170 countries to demonstrate their products and share their knowledge.

Screenshot from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Financial Sector Development Program.

Saudi Arabia opens up to new fintech players

While Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector presents opportunities for entrepreneurs, VC investors and consumers, there are specific, long-standing challenges hindering the market’s full potential.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 (Artificial Intelligence) Summit in Riyadh on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi minister meets with Google, Zoom in California

The official visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to grow its industrial sector.

Holofair - metaverse location.

UAE Economy Ministry opens new office in metaverse

Developing futuristic technology is a priority for the Emirates.

United Arab Emirates

Chinese mobile phone company Oppo delegation during their meeting on Sept. 13, 2022.

Egypt seeks to attract Chinese mobile companies fleeing India

Egypt is trying to take advantage of the crisis between Chinese smartphone companies and India by providing incentives to such companies to lure them into investing in the Egyptian market.

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.

Cranes move shipping containers on a Maersk Sealand ship.

Egypt explores production of green fuels for ships

Egypt plans to cooperate with the Maersk global shipping group to establish a national network to produce and distribute green fuel for ships, depending on new and renewable energy sources, as the country gears up to host the COP27 climate summit.

University student Najd Fahd.

Saudi esports success depends on local businesses, say industry players

After Saudi Arabia released its esports strategy last week, members of the region’s local gaming industry say community players, developers and startups are key to actualizing the plan’s ambitious goals.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 (Artificial Intelligence) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi Arabia plans new AI center

The agreement between the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and King Abdullah University was made on the sidelines of an artificial intelligence summit in Riyadh.

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 man looks at his phone on the corniche in the Qatari capital Doha on July 2, 2017.

Qatar issues first digital payment licenses to fintech providers

Qatar as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are seeking to bolster their fintech sectors.