Author: Akin Naphtal

Orange Jordan has announced its support for a social innovation space for young people in Aqaba, Jordan, through a partnership with the Jordan River Foundation. The initiative is part of Orange Jordan’s role as a responsible digital leader and seeks to empower 1,500 young men and women in the region through digital innovation skills and active citizenship. The space will offer free digital resources, including tools for exploring new technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), under Orange FabLab. The aim is to encourage collective and interactive work and active learning and to stimulate youth to find innovative…

ConsenSys, a Web3 company, has announced that MetaMask, the world’s leading self-custody wallet and MoonPay, the top web3 infrastructure firm, have expanded their services in Nigeria. Users of MetaMask in Nigeria can now buy crypto using instant bank transfers directly in the MetaMask mobile app and the Portfolio Dapp. This move will create a more efficient, cheaper and faster experience for customers. Buying and selling crypto in Nigeria is challenging, with around 90% of attempts to buy crypto with a credit or debit card failing. However, the inclusion of localized payment options like instant bank transfers will improve this situation,…

Intellect Global Consumer Banking (iGCB), the consumer banking arm of Intellect Design Arena Limited, announced that Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt has chosen its CBX Retail (CBX-R) platform to power its Digital Banking. The bank which is on a high growth trajectory will be offering contextual experience to more than a million Retail and Business customers across Egypt. An increased focus on digital financial inclusion by the government, rising internet penetration and fintech players have contributed to an increase in Digital Banking in Egypt. To make the most of the trend, banks must aim to uncomplicate digital user journeys and…

Oman Investment & Finance Company ‘Khedmah’ has signed an agreement with Dhofar Insurance Company to enable and collect utility bill insurance premiums. The agreement will allow Khedmah app users to choose the type and amount of insurance they prefer and access the newly launched bill insurance service, which is optional and designed to enhance the overall customer experience and ensure flexibility and ease of access. Users can access the service through the Khedmah app, select their preferred insurance type and pay the installments through the app. Once registered, users will receive a text message confirming the successful collection of their…

BIGO Technology, a Singapore-based technology company, has announced its plans to help Singaporean startups and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in expanding their operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company, which established its MENA hub office in Jordan’s Amman city in 2019, has committed to empowering SMEs as part of its efforts to develop the technology ecosystem. BIGO’s initiative to assist Singapore SMEs in establishing themselves in the MENA region includes the use of BIGO’s co-working space and facilities in its MENA office for up to six months, business matchmaking and networking opportunities and logistical support for…

Bahrain’s Legislation & Legal Opinion Commission (LLOC) has collaborated with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) to introduce a mobile app that allows users to access legal eServices. The app’s launch was announced during a press conference that took place on March 19th, with LLOC President Counselor Nawaf Abdullah Hamza and iGA Deputy Chief Executive of eTransformation, Dr. Zakariya Ahmed Al Khajah, in attendance. The Bahrain Legislations Mobile App was created to make legal eServices more accessible to the public. It is available for download on the eGovernment App Store bahrain.bh/apps. The aim of the app is to promote legal…

The new board of Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) has been inaugurated by Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo and the Senate ICT Committee, led by Chairperson Sen. Allan Chesang. The officials expressed their commitment to fast-track the development of the Konza Technopolis for the benefit of Kenya’s budding digital economy. During the inauguration, CS Owalo explained to the new board members how the project fits into the government’s digital economy agenda, which involves rolling out 100,000 km of fiber optic cable, 25,000 hotspots and 1,450 digital village hubs while reaching out to global…

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, based in the United Arab Emirates, has launched a new tactical radio extender over satellite solution (T-TAC) in collaboration with Cobham Satcom. T-TAC is designed for government and enterprise markets and is a beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications solution. It enables operators on land, sea and air to communicate seamlessly, making it easier for personnel to communicate in remote or isolated locations where the use of line-of-sight systems is difficult due to long distances or obstacles between on-site teams and their headquarters. The lightweight solution is built with low power consumption hardware and is suitable for comms-on-the-move or comms-on-the-halt.…

RAK Digital Assets Oasis is set to become the only free zone in the world exclusively dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies that operate in innovative and emerging sectors like blockchain, the metaverse, utility tokens, virtual asset wallets, NFTs, DAOs, DApp and other Web3-related businesses. The free zone will launch in the second quarter of 2023 and aims to attract both local and foreign investments, while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. RAK Digital Assets Oasis will benefit from the vast experience of its corporate leaders. Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, the CEO of RAK ICC and a member of the Board…

Indian clinical beauty technology startup, makeO, has acquired Smileneo, a licensed regional teledentistry platform for direct-to-consumer teeth straightening in the MENA region, in one of the first-ever acquisitions of a GCC venture capital-backed startup by an Indian company. The acquisition is one of the first examples of closer startup ecosystem cooperation between the MENA and India, catalysed by the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February 2022. Founded by Dr Jonathan Doerr, Smileneo provides safe and effective doctor-prescribed and monitored clear aligners to straighten teeth for beautiful smiles. Launched in 2020, Smileneo has served thousands of patients through a…