Wego partners with Saudi Ministry to launch digital Umrah booking platformWego, the leading travel app in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched a strategic partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to introduce a fully integrated digital Umrah platform …Read more
Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 Year of AI as DeepFest Returns to RiyadhDeepFest returns to Riyadh this August as Saudi Arabia officially designates 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence, a national initiative championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to cement …Read more
Generative AI memes reshape 2026 FIFA World Cup fan engagementThe 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off on June 11 in Mexico City, has become the internet's largest meme factory due to the unprecedented integration of generative AI tools for creating and …Read more
In episodeQualcomm unveils export-compliant AI data-center chip for ChinaQualcomm has unveiled a data-center AI chip specifically designed for China that complies with U.S. export restrictions from the ground up, eliminating the need for regulatory exemptions or waivers. …Read more
Nearly 400 local newspapers sue OpenAI and Microsoft for training AI on their articlesNearly 400 local newspaper publishers, representing the largest coalition of regional papers ever assembled, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft alleging the tech giants systematically stole …Read more
Qualcomm acquires AI startup Modular in $4 billion deal to strengthen its AI softwareQualcomm has agreed to acquire AI software startup Modular in an all-stock deal valued at nearly $4 billion to strengthen its AI software stack and developer tooling across devices and edge …Read more
In episodeOpenAI unveils Jalapeño, its first custom AI chip designed to slash inference costs by 50%OpenAI has unveiled Jalapeño, its first custom AI chip designed specifically for large language model inference, marking a strategic shift into proprietary hardware developed in partnership with …Read more
Saudi Arabia shifts AI focus from investment to practical deployment.Saudi Arabia is shifting its artificial intelligence strategy from high-profile investment pledges to practical implementation, skills development, and widespread deployment across economic sectors …Read more
Bank of Japan raises interest rate to 1.0%, the highest level since 1995The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate to 1.0%, the highest level since 1995, following a unanimous 7-1 board vote to hike rates by 25 basis points as it moves to normalize monetary policy …Read more
Bank of England holds rate at 3.75% as persistent inflation delays cuts to 2027The Bank of England has held its key interest rate at 3.75% for the fourth consecutive meeting, signaling that UK inflation will remain stubbornly above the 2% target for an extended period as …Read more
Oil Prices Drop Below $70 as Middle East Shipping Fears EaseOil prices dropped below $70 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate futures hitting a low of $69.63 and Brent crude falling 4.2% to $73.83, marking the lowest levels since before the Middle East …Read more
Osool & Bakheet Launches $190M Fund for Luxury Hotel in Al-Khobar, Saudi ArabiaOsool & Bakheet Investment Company has launched a $190 million private real estate fund, the Ashad Al Hamra Hotel Development Fund, to acquire land and develop a luxury hotel in Al-Khobar, Saudi …Read more
Qatar Startup Exits Outpace Global Average as Venture Funding DoublesStartup exits in Qatar are accelerating faster than the global average, with companies reaching an exit in nine years compared to the global average of 11.2 years, according to the Startup Genome …Read more
In episodeSaudi Arabia allows foreigners to own real estate in major cities starting 2026Saudi Arabia has launched a landmark policy allowing foreigners to own real estate in designated zones within major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, triggering sharp volatility in Tadawul-listed real …Read more
Accenture Cuts Revenue Growth Guidance to 3%-4% as Tech Spending SlowsAccenture lowered its full-year revenue growth guidance to 3% to 4%, cutting the top end from its previous 4% to 5% outlook, a move that has significantly tempered confidence in enterprise technology …Read more
Google faces new UK damages claim over anticompetitive shopping searchGoogle is facing a new damages claim in the UK, arguing that its updated shopping-search remedy successfully restored competition after European regulators previously found it had abused its market …Read more
Michigan pension fund sues Microsoft over hidden AI costs and slowing Azure growthMicrosoft is facing a securities class action lawsuit filed by a Michigan pension fund alleging the company misled investors about slowing Azure cloud growth, rising AI infrastructure costs, and the …Read more
Oracle cuts 21,000 jobs globally in shift to AI integrationOracle has eliminated approximately 21,000 jobs globally over the past year, a reduction of nearly 13% of its workforce, as the cloud computing giant explicitly attributes the cuts to the integration …Read more
Saudi Arabia Closes Riyal-Denominated Sukuk Issuance to Support Vision 2030Saudi Arabia’s National Debt Management Center has closed a riyal-denominated sukuk issuance split across six tranches, marking a key step in the country’s ongoing local debt program. This move …Read more
Revora Raises $2 Million to Expand Its AI E-Commerce Platform in Saudi ArabiaSaudi-headquartered AI commerce startup Revora, formerly known as MyAlice, has raised $2 million in a seed round co-led by i2i Ventures and Oraseya Capital to accelerate its expansion in Saudi Arabia …Read more