SumUp has introduced the Solo Lite card reader in the UK and Europe, offering small businesses a low-cost, portable payment device with Bluetooth connectivity, long battery life, and seamless integration with the SumUp app and Business Account.

N26 has introduced a debit card for children aged 7 to 17, allowing parents to manage spending, limits, and activity via the N26 app, supporting early financial independence within a secure, digital-first family banking ecosystem.

Incard has secured £10m in Series A funding led by Smartfin to expand its financial operating system, helping fast-growing digital companies centralise banking, payments, spend management, and AI-driven financial workflows across the UK and Europe.

Invest Qatar will showcase the country’s startup ecosystem at Web Summit Qatar 2026 through the Startup Qatar Pavilion, highlighting business setup support, funding access, and partnerships that help global startups scale into the region.

Africa’s growing data center market is transforming power investment, supporting cloud adoption, job creation, and technology ecosystems, with South Africa and Kenya emerging as regional hubs for digital infrastructure.

Up to $500 billion in value could be unlocked across the GCC by 2030 through real-world asset tokenization, with private markets, equities, and real estate leading adoption as regulation and infrastructure mature across the region.

ADX teams up with Saal.ai to create an AI-driven market data platform, enhancing real-time distribution, analytics, and governance. The initiative strengthens UAE financial infrastructure, promotes innovation, and improves accessibility for investors, brokers, and market participants.

Property Finder raised $170 million from Mubadala, a UAE sovereign fund, and BECO Capital, reinforcing its leadership in MENA’s property market and accelerating AI-driven innovation across the real estate journey.

CrowdStrike, in partnership with AWS and NVIDIA, selects 35 global startups for its 2026 Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator, offering mentorship, technical support, and funding to advance AI-driven cloud security innovations and prepare them for market impact.

Dubai SME has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Al Tadawi Healthcare Group to expand procurement access, commercial visibility, and growth opportunities for Emirati-owned SMEs. The partnership offers tailored procurement, discounted commercial spaces, and priority supplier opportunities, supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and strengthening the UAE’s SME ecosystem.

BARQ Systems, iOCO, and PortfolioTech have formed a strategic alliance to help MENA governments and enterprises modernize public services through secure, scalable cloud solutions, addressing legacy systems, cybersecurity challenges, and digital transformation needs.

DXC Technology and Ripple are partnering to help banks adopt secure digital asset custody and blockchain-based payments, enabling regulated institutions to scale tokenization, custody, and programmable payments without disrupting core banking systems.

Saudi Arabia’s public relations industry is adopting performance-driven, AI-enhanced communication strategies. W7Worldwide exemplifies this shift, blending smart analytics with cultural insight to measure impact, build trust, and elevate corporate reputation under Vision 2030.

Freedom Bank Kazakhstan expands its SuperApp with an embedded eSIM miniapp, enabling instant activation of global mobile data — including unlimited plans — bringing seamless connectivity and digital banking together for modern, mobile users.

1337 Ventures opens applications for Inno4Her 2026, a hybrid accelerator supporting women-led and FemTech startups across Southeast Asia. The program offers mentoring, investor access, and hands-on guidance to scale solutions in women’s health and wellness.

Taranis Capital has introduced an invitation-only Global Investor Newsletter to provide sophisticated investors with curated updates on fund activations, sector-specific intelligence, and regulatory milestones across Data Centres, Biotech, Disruptive Technology, Green Biotech, and Real Estate. The newsletter ensures investors remain informed and strategically aligned as Taranis Capital scales its global platform.

MBZUAI and AWS launch a multi-year collaboration to boost AI research, technical training, and startup growth in the UAE. Initiatives include a Strategic Research Program, GenAI Academy hackathons, and support for MBZUAI’s incubation and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Careem grew its Everything App in 2025, expanding services, cities, and AI-powered personalization. Highlights include faster deliveries, international remittances, Careem Plus savings, and new partnerships, creating earning opportunities and simplified experiences for millions across the UAE.

Saudi Arabia hosted high-level delegates at WEF 2026, highlighting Vision 2030 initiatives, AI and digital infrastructure investments, advanced manufacturing, health collaborations, and upcoming global summits, driving international partnerships and economic transformation.

Riyadh Air has signed an MoU with Huawei to build a next-generation digital ecosystem, enhancing booking, loyalty, and travel experiences. The partnership supports smart aviation innovation and strengthens the airline’s expansion across China and global markets.

G42-backed Core42 has announced Dublin as its European headquarters, strengthening support for enterprises and governments seeking secure, high-performance AI and sovereign cloud infrastructure as demand for large-scale AI adoption accelerates across Europe.

MBZUAI has opened applications for its first Ph.D. cohort in Human-Computer Interaction, starting Fall 2026. The program focuses on human-centered AI, spanning human-AI alignment, multimodal interfaces, brain-computer interaction, and responsible, accessible system design.

Snowflake has made its AI Data Cloud generally available on AWS’s UAE region, enabling secure, low-latency, AI-powered data insights while supporting data residency, governance, and enterprise AI adoption aligned with the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031.

HP’s Threat Insights Report reveals cybercriminals using polished animations, fake updates, and purchasable malware to evade detection, highlighting the need for advanced endpoint security and threat isolation to protect users.

Astra Tech’s botim has integrated Microsoft Azure’s Voice Live API, enabling real-time voice AI for seamless communication and fintech services, reinforcing its evolution into a fintech-first, AI-native platform in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi School of Management collaborates with Saal.ai to integrate AI-driven decision intelligence into management education, equipping future leaders with data-powered tools to enhance governance, strategy, and institutional performance across UAE sectors.

Xero Launches AI-Powered Analytics for Small BusinessesHashgraph Ventures has committed $1 million to the Hedera Africa Hackathon, supporting 13,000 developers and 1,300 startups across 20+ cities, accelerating Web3, AI, and blockchain innovation for economic inclusion in Africa.

Msheireb Museums, Earthna, and the German Embassy Doha hosted the second session of the Doha Climate Talks at Bin Jelmood House, focusing on financial approaches that promote climate-conscious development. Experts from Qatar and Germany discussed policy, investment priorities, and innovative financial tools, including AI-driven methods to measure and convert environmental improvements into tradable assets, advancing sustainability and ESG objectives in the region.

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with the UAE Presidential Court and the Gates Foundation, has launched a pioneering digital advisory hub for agriculture. The initiative aims to support over 43 million smallholder farmers worldwide with AI-driven insights on crops, pests, soil, weather, and markets, strengthening productivity and resilience against climate change.

A new study of 2,000 UK couples reveals that 74% speak different ‘money languages’, creating tension in 66% of relationships and delaying key milestones like home ownership and starting a family. Starling Bank’s research highlights seven distinct money languages, offering guidance on improving financial compatibility and communication for stronger, long-term partnerships.