Exclusive 'Cloud First' policies give Saudi Arabia, UAE edge in AI race: Amazon exec In March 2024, AWS announced plans to invest $5.3 billion in Saudi Arabia to launch a cloud infrastructure region in the kingdom by 2026. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
How UAE AI firm's past China links stalled this US chipmaker's IPO Cerebras Systems executives had been hoping that the Trump administration would fast-track the national security review that has left the chipmaker’s initial public offering in limbo for five months, Reuters reported Tuesday. United Arab Emirates
UAE seals cloud deal with Microsoft, Core42 as Sheikh Tahnoon visits US The deal follows Microsoft's $1.5 billion investment last year in G42 to accelerate AI development. United Arab Emirates
UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon makes first US visit since Trump reelection: What to know The UAE's influential national security advisor, who chairs some of the country's most important funds and firms, will reportedly meet with White House officials and business leaders including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. United Arab Emirates
Analysis US stock plunge poses dilemmas for Gulf investors while exposing PIF, Mubadala risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Interview As AI superpowers clash, Saudi tech diplomat pushes collaboration over competition Deemah AlYahya Secretary General, Digital Cooperation Organization
Egyptian program aims to send first Egyptian into space Egypt's young but ambitious space agency is accepting applications from cititzens who would receive training to go into space as the first Egyptian by 2026. Egypt
3,000-year-old talking mummy creates dispute in Egypt Egyptians are arguing among themselves on a new study that has recreated the voice of a 3,000-year-old mummified Egyptian priest. Egypt
Death on the Nile takes a digital turn Two online platforms help families organize funerals in Egypt. Egypt
What, no connection? Internet outage further darkens life in Yemen Yemenis have long suffered a humanitarian crisis, but a severed wire makes it even worse when they can no longer connect. Yemen
Can Egypt's newest search engine root out extremism? Egypt's Islamic authority Dar al-Ifta has launched a search engine to track extremist content in the fight against terrorism and Islamophobia, but critics believe much more is needed. Egypt
Is US redesigning southern flank? Amid Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia, the United States has stepped up military cooperation with Greece, Turkey’s traditional regional rival, heralding shifts in geostrategic balances in the Balkans, the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean. Syria
Interview UAE minister draws on the past to seize possibilities of AI future In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Omar Al Olama, the UAE’s minister of artificial intelligence, laid out his country's approach to AI, stating, “We do not believe that we need to wait and be followers in the AI revolution. We need to take the lead.”
Imprisoned Hamas members end 2-week hunger strike The senior leadership of Hamas prisoners said the prisoners have ended their hunger strike after receiving assurances from the Israel Prison Service to stop using cellphone jamming devices, but Israeli media portray the strike as having little effect. Palestine
Egypt evaluates digital upgrades, prepares for more The Egyptian government is reporting advances toward achieving its goal of digital transformation in all sectors. Egypt
How Russia plans to take part in building Syria's IT sector As Syria seeks to restore some of its damaged IT facilites and build "an information society" in the country, Russian companies consider opportunities to chip in. Syria
How Iran’s startup sector can realize its potential Iran’s startup scene is rapidly growing and holds great potential, but shortcomings remain and a failure to address them will undermine the sector. Iran
Coding academy opens new opportunities for Moroccan youth 3W Academy Maroc aims at addressing youth unemployment in Morocco through accessible tech education. Morocco
