Newsletter #08
Mohammed Azim Ansari
Ex-IDC, BCG, e& | FinTech | Digital | Tech | Strategy | Consulting | Advisory | Analytics | Growth | Market Research | KSA Vision2030 | Startups | Entrepreneur | Consultant
Latest MENA News
Latest Local & Regional News?
stc Group, an engine of digital transformation in the MENA region, announced that its subsidiary TAWAL has officially began operations in Europe. TAWAL completed acquisition of United Group’s telecom tower assets in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia. TAWAL now owns and operates over 4,800 sites across Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia, providing operation services to its new clients in these countries. This acquisition represents the second step of TAWAL’s expansion plan following the launch of TAWAL Pakistan in 2022. The total towers portfolio of TAWAL is now exceeding 21,000 towers across five countries.
?
Egyptian beauty services booking platform Glamera has successfully obtained the fintech license “SoftPOS” from Saudi Payments, the major payment system in Saudi Arabia, established by Ministry of Finance under the supervision of Saudi Central Bank. It? will unlock new horizons of growth and deliver an unparalleled customer experience in the Saudi market.
In a bid to support small and medium enterprises and fintech companies, the cutting-edge cybersecurity company sirar by stc and Fintech Saudi, a catalyst for the development of the financial services technology industry in Saudi Arabia, signed an agreement for the provision of a discounted digital signature service package.
Careem Pay has integrated Mastercard Send to enable customers in the UAE to access near real-time payments into their Careem Pay wallets, making it quicker and more convenient to use the Careem app to transfer money and access daily services.
?
MyFatoorah, a leading payments' platform, has obtained licences from the Central Banks of six regional countries, including the Acquiring licence from the UAE Central Bank. The payments platform introduced its 'Payments Without Borders' concept, aimed at enabling seamless cross-border payment acceptance.
Mashreq, the MENA-based financial institution, has successfully expanded into Pakistan – marking a significant milestone in its strategic expansion plans and underlining its commitment to driving digitisation and financial inclusion in high-growth markets. The bank is committed to playing a vital role in Pakistan’s digitisation efforts and financial development, particularly in the sectors of small and medium enterprise (SME), payments, and inclusion.
TAWAL, the leading ICT infrastructure service provider in the Kingdom, has been awarded the highest international standard certification in the telecom industry, the TL9000. TAWAL is the fifth ICT company that receives TL9000 in the GCC. The Certification is developed by the Telecoms Industry Association (TIA QuEST) to meet the unique ICT supply chain quality requirements of the worldwide telecommunications industry.
The Dubai Central Laboratory of Dubai Municipality uses robots equipped with X-Ray technology and advanced AI capabilities. The robots conduct automated chemical analyses and tests on a range of construction materials, including different types of cement.
Intigral, the media and advertising arm of stc Group, has emerged as a trailblazer in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, redefining the digital entertainment landscape through its groundbreaking Master Aggregator strategy.The visionary approach has given birth to two flagship OTT platforms, Jawwy TV and stc tv, ushering in an era of unparalleled digital entertainment.?
?
Artificial intelligence is set to contribute $135 billion to the Saudi economy in 2030, making the Kingdom the biggest beneficiary of the technology in the Middle East, according to global consultancy firm PwC. A report from the company noted that AI could add $320 billion to the region's economy, equivalent to 11 percent of gross domestic product.
For the third consecutive year, Abu Dhabi ranked as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023, according to the IMD Smart City Index. The study evaluated current infrastructure and digital services available to residents, relying on variables related to residents' perception and interaction with government efforts in five main pillars: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities (work and education system), and governance.
?
Riyadh has staked its claim to become one of the world's top ten cities by 2030. Ahead of a major international real estate event, Cityscape Global, to be held in the city in September, Riyadh has announced plans to double in size, increasing its population from 7.5 million to 15 million.
The Diriyah Company and Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in cybersecurity and technological infrastructure. This strategic partnership is aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and advancing technological capabilities.
stc Bahrain has taken a new step in enabling advanced technologies by launching IPv6, an upgrade from IPv4, the primary version of Internet Protocol. The upgrade is a crucial step in meeting the increasing demand for IoT and digital products in the billions, allowing for a more efficient technology for internet users.
领英推荐
Saudi-based Integrated Telecom Company (Salam) has signed a deal with Khazzan Information Technology (Edgnex Data Centres by Damac) that designs, builds and operates data centers across the kingdom, along with Cinturion Corp, a global provider of integrated submarine and terrestrial capacity-based network solutions and Emaar, The Economic City (EEC) – the master developer of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) – to explore opportunities in the field of telecom and digital infrastructure.
?
The UAE’s Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and Mastercard signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and readiness in the region. An initial focus of the effort will be dedicated to battling financial crime, securing the digital ecosystem, and driving inclusive growth in the UAE and beyond.
The scams that were monitored included posting attractive and illogical prices in advertisements and unlicensed websites to attract the tenant for the rental unit, and then pressurizes him with the factors such as time and huge demand.
Cityscape Global will host thousands of investors to promote Saudi real estate sector. Cityscape Global will kick off in Riyadh from September 10 to 13, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and organised by Tahaluf under the theme “The Future of Living”. The exhibition will bring together homebuyers, property experts, designers and local and international real estate developers.
KNET announces the launch of the SoftPOS App, targeted toward business owners, and developed to keep pace with technological advancements in the Fintech industry at regional and international levels. This is in line with KNET’s mission to enhance the e-Banking experience for customers, which in turn contributes towards building a social culture that keeps pace with the evolution of digital transformation.
Seamless Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fintech Saudi to forge a strategic partnership that will endorse the anticipated event, which will take place in September 2023. Fintech Saudi will be the official Strategic Fintech Partner for the two-day event
Building on its long-term partnership with Tencent Holdings Limited, the official developer of WeChat, Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, is offering WeChat Pay acceptance on its POS terminals across the UAE enabling Chinese visitors to transact seamlessly, safely and securely via their WeChat Pay mobile wallet.?
?Latest Global News
PayPal is set to launch a US dollar-denominated stablecoin, PayPal USD, to address the emerging potential of regulated stablecoins for payments in Web3.
Payments titan Mastercard has formed a CBDC Partner Programme to "foster collaboration" in the space with the participation of key players.
India's central bank is to integrate AI-powered conversational payments on the country's Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Roger, a new digital bank targeting new military recruits and backed by Citizens Bank of Edmond, has launched across the USA.
Malaysian operator Maxis has finally launched 5G services on August 15 after state-owned 5G wholesaler Digital Nasional Berhad signed access agreements with the nation’s operators.
Google Cloud NetApp Volumes is the only first-party fully managed cloud file service in Google Cloud to fully support Windows, Linux, SAP, and VMware workloads.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday launched a SR750 million ($200 million) fund for early investment in local and international high-tech companies, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The initiative is part of a strategy announced for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
The Saudi delegation's participation includes meetings with a number of countries and private-sector companies with the aim of enhancing partnership and cooperation to support the digital economy and enhance innovation in the Kingdom.