Bahrain
Bahrain MPs call for a joint GCC AI plan to spur regional growth
At a recent Bahrain government meeting, local MPs introduced a proposal pushing the BAH government to work with its GCC partners on a single strategy for AI. The proposal calls for stronger backing for AI training to build a local workforce, along with clear laws that encourage new ideas while keeping risks in check, in turn helping Gulf states stay ahead in an industry that is rapidly growing…Read more
Kuwait
Microsoft announces AI powered Azure Region for Kuwait
Tech giant Microsoft has announced plans to establish an AI-powered Azure Region in Kuwait. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035, which focuses on transforming the country into a financial and trade hub both regionally and internationally, while attracting more international investment. Through the country’s Cloud First Policy, the government seeks to promote AI and cloud infrastructure investment, further enhancing Kuwait’s position in the GCC’s digital transformation race. H.E. Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs, commented, “this partnership with Microsoft is a transformative milestone towards utilising AI technologies to drive economic diversification and enhance the nation’s position in innovation, trade, and investment.”…Read more
UAE
Adnoc signs $340mn AI contract with Abu Dhabi’s AIQ
Adnoc has awarded a $340mn contract to AIQ to introduce autonomous AI, or agentic AI, across upstream operations. Spanning 3 years, the agreement involves deploying EnergyAI, software that uses agentic AI, to analyse large amounts of data across Adnoc’s operations. The partnership is part of a broader industry trend towards energy companies increasingly using AI to try to maintain competitiveness and meet sustainability goals…Read more
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia propels 5 startups into the Unicorn Club, with 35 more on the way
The KSA startup ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth, fuelled by ambitious government initiatives (aligned with Vision 2030) and a thriving investment environment. For example, the Tomoh programme injected over 2.5bn SAR in investments last year, while the Monsha’at government authority supported over 100,000 SMEs in 2024 through training, upskilling, and funding programmes. The recent emergence of unicorn startups in the Kingdom, companies valued at over $1bn, serves as a significant indicator that this growth is far from slowing down. Five Saudi startups have officially entered the Unicorn Club, with 35 more poised to join soon. These startups span key sectors such as AI, fintech, and other high-potential industries that foster a culture of innovation and digital transformations…Read more
Riyadh’s AI push to lead Middle East data centre growth
According to JLL, Saudi Arabia’s efforts to digitise its economy and position itself as a hub for AI are set to make Riyadh the next leading market for data centre growth in the Middle East over the next three years. The capital is expected to experience a 37% CAGR in its data centre capacity footprint (MW) through 2027 – almost double the forecasted growth of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and well above the global average of 15%. Saudi Arabia’s large population, tax incentives, government initiatives, and strong commitment to AI and technology position it to quickly become the regional leader. As a result, we are witnessing an influx of global companies choosing to establish operations in the Kingdom, including tech giants like Microsoft, AWS, and Google, all of whom have committed to building data centre capacity in KSA. Additionally, the recent partnership between Groq and Aramco to develop an AI inferencing centre further underscores the growing momentum…Read more
Middle East
Syntys enters the MENA market, poised to lead digital infrastructure growth
Carved out from Ooredoo, Syntys (formerly known as MENA Digital Hub) has entered the Middle East and North Africa’s digital infrastructure landscape, quickly establishing itself as a trusted partner for hyperscalers, AI-driven businesses, and colocation wholesalers. Syntys launches with existing data centre assets in five MENA markets and, having already secured $552mn in funding last year from Qatari banks, aims to scale its capacity to over 120MW, supported by an initial capital of $1bn. The digital infrastructure provider has also partnered with Iron Mountain, leveraging the company’s deep expertise in hyperscaler data centres to strengthen MENA’s role as a digital hub and promote the growth of AI-enabled data centres in the region. Syntys’ launch paves the way for a new era in MENA’s digital infrastructure landscape.…Read more