Technology

The headquarters of SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, with a Falcon 9 booster in March 2024.

Explainer

Saudi investors could emerge as key winners from SpaceX’s historic IPO

A new disclosure from Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding ahead of SpaceX’s Nasdaq debut shows just how valuable Elon Musk's relationship with Gulf investors has become.

An Iranian woman walks past a mobile phone shop at the Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 19, 2026.

Iran partially restores internet after 88-day blackout: What to know

The move comes after a nearly three-month internet blackout, marking it as one of the longest outages ever.

Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI / AFP via Getty Images

Oman enters Gulf AI race with new special economic zone in Muscat

Oman will create an AI-focused special economic zone in Muscat governorate.

Flag of Iran on a computer binary codes falling from the top and fading away.

Who is Handala, the hacktivist group US ties to Iranian intelligence?

Handala Hack Team portrays itself as a pro-Palestinian group but is widely believed to be linked to Iranian intelligence.

Latest News

Iran names US tech, finance firms in new Middle East threat list

People sit in a cafe outside the Apple Store in Dubai on May 8, 2025.

Gulf AI deals continues to lure investors despite US-Iran war

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know

Traffic rolls along a main throughfare under a banner with images of past and present leaders that reads in Farsi, "Domino fall", as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Demonstrations sparked in late December by anger over economic hardship exploded into protests widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. Limited internet access briefly returned in Iran before dropping again, a monitor said January

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation

Attendees take a picture of French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe as he delivers a speech during a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum on February 10, 2018, on Saadiyat island in the Emirati capital, to launch the French-Emirati "Year of Cultural Dialogue". (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Delegates chat near a robot during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum at the King Abdulaziz Conference Centre in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, on Oct. 30, 2019.

Analysis

Was 2024 a breakthrough year for the Middle East’s AI ambitions?

Gulf states doubled down on AI in 2024, pouring billions into tech infrastructure and US partnerships.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

This studio photographic illustration shows a smartphone with the website of Israel's NSO Group that features Pegasus spyware, on display in Paris, France, July 21, 2021.

What to make of US group acquisition of Israeli spyware firm Paragon as Trump returns

Iranian Defense Ministry

Iran conducts record space launch with largest-ever payload

Iran's space program has previously concerned the United States and its allies, who claim that its developments go hand-in-hand with those of its ballistic missile program.

Saudi PIF trims Nintendo stake from 7.5% to 6.3% in second cut of month

A filing with Japan’s Finance Ministry said the move follows the sale of more than 17 million Nintendo shares, which concluded in October.

US President Joe Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walk to the Oval Office for a meeting, where the two discussed AI and ending the war in Gaza on Sept. 23, 2024, in Washington.

Analysis

How new US AI framework could impact UAE, Saudi ambitions

The framework comes as the UAE has deepened its AI ties with the United States in recent months over a series of visits to Washington by senior Emirati officials.

Samuel Wendel

By Jack Dutton , Samuel Wendel

Visitors walk among displays at the UMEX Exhibition showcasing drones, robotics, and unmanned sytems at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2024. (Photo by Ryan LIM / AFP) (Photo by RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

What UAE's Edge expansion into space means for country's military industry

Abu Dhabi has recently seen a significant boost in its domestic defense and aerospace capabilities, thanks to its nation-based conglomerate, EDGE. This month, the group launched its new space company, FADA, marking a milestone in enhancing the Emirati’s status in the strategic space sector.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

AFP via Getty Images

Middle East startups see 34% uptick in global investors

Data firm MAGNiTT reported Tuesday that the Middle East far outperformed other markets and regions, including Africa and Southeast Asia, which saw steeper drops.

This combination of file photos created July 15, 2020, shows Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk in Washington, DC, on March 9, 2020, and Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos in Washington, DC, Oct. 22, 2019.

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon discusses AI, tech with Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk in US

His meetings came after UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed met earlier this week with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

United Arab Emirates

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

In White House visit, UAE leader seeks cooperation on Gaza and AI

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will meet with President Joe Biden in his first official visit to Washington since 2017.

United Arab Emirates

Members of the Lebanese Shiite Movement Hezbollah salute during the funeral of a comrade who was killed the previous day by the explosion of a communication device, in Adloun south of Tyre in southern Lebanon on September 19, 2024.

Analysis

Hezbollah’s exploding pagers to fuel widespread MidEast consumer electronic fears

Brazen Israel-linked attacks could presage a new age of warfare, where the Internet of Things and everyday tech can be weaponized at scale.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Hezbollah fighters carry the coffins of people killed after hundreds of paging devices exploded in a deadly wave across Lebanon the previous day, during their funeral procession in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 18, 2024. Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon on September 17, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Pager attacks shake Hezbollah; are they prelude to Israel-Lebanon deal?

Despite US warnings about the unintended consequences of war with Hezbollah, Israel's leaders claim the extent and intensity of the fire can be controlled.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An engineer holds a CPU chip against the background of a motherboard.

Israel’s Tower Semiconductor, Adani Group invest $10B in Indian microchip project

India is trying to position itself as a leading microchip producer, encouraging foreign companies to set up manufacturing facilities in the country.