Saudi Arabia
KSA telco Go signs data centre MoU with Syrian Government
Saudi Arabian telecom company Go (Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications) has signed an MoU with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Technology to support the country’s digital recovery. The agreement outlines plans to help establish a national data centre, boost digital government services, promote AI and IoT adoption, and develop cloud computing services. This move follows the end of Syria’s civil war and comes amid broader efforts, including $6.4Bn in Saudi support and lifted US sanctions, to reintegrate Syria into the global economy…Read more
UAE
Abu Dhabi startup targets orbital data centre pilot
Abu Dhabi-based startup Madari Space plans to launch its first space-based data centre in low-earth orbit by Q3 2026, aiming to prove the viability of storing and processing data in space. Founder and CEO Shareef Al Romaithi says the mission, backed by the UAE’s space agency and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, will serve as the launchpad for commercial operations. The company sees orbital data centres as a sustainable alternative to carbon-heavy terrestrial ones, especially amid growing demand from AI and Earth observation applications. Long-term, Madari aims to scale into the emerging cislunar economy…Read more
Middle East
Trump’s AI strategy offers opportunity for Gulf nations
AI stakeholders in the Gulf have welcomed a new US framework under President Trump aimed at expanding American leadership in AI. The AI Action Plan, released last week alongside three executive orders, streamlines approvals for domestic data centres and promotes the global export of full-stack US AI technologies, encompassing chips, infrastructure, models, and software. Analysts say the plan gives institutional backing to recent multi-million-dollar tech deals with Gulf nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, signalling a shift from transactional partnerships to long-term infrastructure and standards alignment. Gulf partners are advised to prepare for tighter US oversight on licensing and compliance. The UAE has already expressed readiness to deepen AI cooperation under the new policy…Read more
Interesting News
Morocco
Morocco to invest $5Bn in 5G project
Morocco has announced an $8Bn investment to roll out 5G nationwide, aiming to cover 85% of the population by 2030 as part of its ‘Morocco Digital 2030’ strategy. The plan will begin in late 2025 with major cities receiving early coverage. With a mobile subscriber base of 57 million and a 90% internet penetration rate, well above the African average, Morocco is positioning itself as a digital leader. The initiative also includes updates to the National Frequency Plan and expanded fibre-optic infrastructure, aligning with the country’s preparations for hosting major global events like the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup…Read more
Huawei looks to rival Nvidia with ‘CloudMatrix’ AI servers
Huawei is challenging Nvidia in the AI server space with its new CloudMatrix 384 system, unveiled at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Designed as a domestic alternative to Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72, currently barred from China due to US export restrictions, the CloudMatrix uses 384 of Huawei’s Ascend 910C chips across 16 racks. While these chips offer only around 60% of the performance of Nvidia’s older H100s, Huawei claims the system delivers 300 petaflops of compute, outpacing Nvidia’s offering in aggregate memory and bandwidth. However, CloudMatrix consumes significantly more power and faces potential US sanctions, with the Commerce Department warning of penalties for firms using Huawei’s AI hardware globally. Huawei’s next-gen Ascend 920 chip is expected in late 2025, as the company aims to cement its role in China’s AI infrastructure amid Nvidia’s partial return to the market…Read more