Egypt Innovation Week 2025 attracted over 50,000 participants and 1,500 startups across Egypt. 
The Annual Investors Congress brought together 150 investors and facilitated cross-border partnership discussions. 
Government officials highlighted increased investment and expansion of digital innovation centres across Egypt. 
Major companies like Meta and Huawei supported, showing corporates&#8217; collaborative shift towards innovation. 
Egypt is now shaping global innovation, moving from local interest to international partnerships.

BRIDGE partners with Meta for the inaugural summit in Abu Dhabi, December 2025. 
The event aims to bring innovative digital experiences and storytelling tools to over 60,000 attendees. 
Meta will offer workshops and panels to explore connecting through augmented and virtual reality. 
The partnership aligns with UAE&#8217;s strategy and boosts the global content economy ecosystem. 
Registration is open at worldmediabridge com for those keen on media innovation.

Nestlé Egypt is launching the Sustainability 101: Think Business Summit this December. 
The summit aims to redefine sustainability as a genuine business driver, focusing on grassroots innovation. 
Key discussions highlighted collaboration among governments, corporates, and communities for tangible regenerative models. 
Nestlé seeks to share its vision, involving engazaat and People of Now for broader impact. 
The summit promises actionable projects that may shift sustainability from &#8220;nice to have&#8221; to &#8220;must do.&#8221;

Sprints partnered with Microsoft Ambassadors for a summer camp offering free digital training. 
Over 35,000 applications were received for courses in DevOps, AI, UI/UX, and more. 
Certificates co-branded with Microsoft add significant value to graduates&#8217; job prospects. 
Sprints aims to close the skills gap and empower young talent in the MENA region. 
The initiative highlights the impact of collaboration on shaping future opportunities.

Southcomp Polaris hosted a partner summit in Tunis, engaging around 60 Libyan channel partners. 
The event focused on cloud and cybersecurity, aiming to boost digital transformation in Libya. 
Benoit Malraison emphasised long-term partnership building and sustainable growth in the region. 
Technical workshops and networking sessions aimed to balance knowledge-sharing with engagement. 
Southcomp Polaris plans similar initiatives across Africa, fostering trust and collaboration.

Dubai&#8217;s Futurists X Summit 2025 attracts global leaders in science and technology. 
Professor Brian Cox&#8217;s keynote discussed black holes&#8217; insights into humanity&#8217;s future. 
Discussions ranged from geopolitics to AI&#8217;s role in transforming work and healthcare. 
Leaders were urged to adapt policy frameworks to match rapid technological advances. 
The summit emphasises Dubai&#8217;s role in shaping global direction and inspiring collaboration.

Egyptian startup Suplyd reaches the final stage of Africa’s Business Heroes 2025 competition. 
Suplyd offers a digital platform for more efficient restaurant and cloud kitchen procurement. 
Suplyd exemplifies Egypt&#8217;s growing digital infrastructure beyond a simple ordering app. 
Finalists compete for $1,5 million, with potential to transform African entrepreneurship. 
Despite challenges, foodtech in Africa gains recognition alongside healthtech and fintech.

Entrepreneurs showcased their innovations in Riyadh, thanks to events organised by VMS and KAPITA. 
The VMS Bridge Program helps startups from emerging markets enter Saudi Arabia&#8217;s innovation ecosystem. 
Real partnerships between Baghdad and Riyadh are fostering growth for MENA startups. 
The Dutch government supports these initiatives, working alongside local partners. 
VMS offers bespoke guidance, helping startups navigate the challenges of scaling internationally.

Riyadh will host the first-ever Money20/20 Middle East in September 2025. 
This influential event attracts global leaders, policymakers, startups, and 600 investors. 
Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Vision 2030 emphasises digital transformation and fintech as economic priorities. 
Events will feature panel debates, hands-on demos, and big names like Mastercard and Visa. 
The gathering aims to establish the Middle East as a hub for fintech innovation.

KPMG launches its annual Global Tech Innovator Competition for UAE tech startups in 2025. 
The contest offers UAE startups a chance to pitch to top industry investors globally. 
Eligible startups must be tech-focused, UAE-registered, and less than seven years old. 
Winners represent the UAE at global finals, gaining international exposure and opportunities. 
KPMG supports tech innovators, enhancing UAE&#8217;s reputation as a dynamic innovation hub.

Meta has launched the Meta AI app for Android and iOS in the MENA region. 
The app consolidates AI interactions, featuring a personal, intuitive and social experience. 
Users can manage devices and share AI prompts for creative interaction. 
Some features available in the US and Canada, like &#8216;full-duplex&#8217; speech, aren&#8217;t yet in MENA. 
The app offers cross-platform integration and customisation for a tailored AI experience.

Salesforce showcased its Agentforce platform at GITEX Africa 2025 in Casablanca. 
Agentforce, rapidly growing since 2024, revolutionises business tasks with intelligent AI agents. 
The new Agentforce 2dx anticipates business needs and integrates smoothly into processes. 
African businesses using Agentforce achieve ROI five times faster, cutting costs significantly. 
Local partners highlight innovative AI projects and the platform&#8217;s transformative potential.

Dubai&#8217;s du partners with Microsoft to build a hyperscale data centre worth 2 billion dirhams. 
The project aligns with du&#8217;s vision of making the UAE a global digital hub. 
The centre will enhance data processing, storage, and cloud solutions in the region. 
Specific timeline and tech details are yet undisclosed, marking a major commitment to digital transformation.

Dubai AI Week began with Sheikh Hamdan highlighting AI as vital to Dubai&#8217;s future. 
AI is seen as infrastructure for adaptive services and forward-thinking governance in the city. 
Dubai will assess government and education sectors based on AI integration and contributions. 
Experts and global companies gather to explore AI applications in various fields. 
The event underscores Dubai&#8217;s commitment to leading global AI innovation and competitiveness.

Egypt and Microsoft signed an MoU to advance Egypt&#8217;s AI Strategy from 2025 to 2030. 
The initiative aims to train 100,000 professionals in AI skills for a resilient economy. 
Key areas include modern infrastructure, data governance, and improved regulatory frameworks. 
This collaboration aligns with ethical global standards and supports responsible AI development. 
The initiative is expected to inspire similar technological ventures across Africa.

The latest Forbes Middle East ranking highlights influential real estate leaders in the region. 
Hussain Sajwani of DAMAC Properties tops the 2025 list, with his wealth doubling last year. 
UAE executives dominate the list, with 42 out of 79 influential figures based there. 
Five billionaires, including Mohamed Alabbar and P,N,C Menon, collectively hold $19,3 billion. 
Forbes plans &#8220;Building the Future&#8221; summits in Abu Dhabi and Tripoli to discuss real estate trends.

The Aurora Tech Awards 2025 celebrated innovative women-led startups in Cairo. 
Over 2,000 teams applied from 116 countries, narrowing down to ten finalists. 
Founders pitched to investors, offering cash prizes and vital networking opportunities. 
Local support grew as inDrive partnered with Entlaq for nurturing startups. 
Top prize went to Nigeria&#8217;s Solape Akinpelu for HerVest, promoting financial inclusion for women.

Qatar will invest $7,5 billion in Egypt, highlighting stronger bilateral economic ties. 
Leaders emphasised enhancing cooperation and integration to achieve mutual economic goals. 
They jointly expressed support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. 
Support for peaceful resolutions in regional conflicts was reaffirmed by both countries. 
Qatar backed Egypt&#8217;s culture by endorsing Dr Khaled El Enany for UNESCO.

Batelco by Beyon is the Strategic Partner for the 8th Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2025. 
The summit will focus on &#8220;Building the Future – Smart Cities, Sustainable Growth.&#8221; 
Batelco will showcase innovations, especially 5G and IoT solutions for urban transformation. 
CEO Maitham Abdulla highlights commitment to expanding modern urban living solutions. 
Bahrain is positioning itself as a leader in smart city technologies and sustainability.

Dubai will host its first AI Week in April 2025, attracting around 10,000 participants. 
Organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the event boasts 180 top speakers. 
An educational programme will engage Dubai&#8217;s youth in AI hands-on experiences and career insights. 
Key activities include the AI Retreat, AI Forum, and the International AI Challenge. 
Events cater to a range of interests, from digital health innovation to robotics and startup networking.

At the &#8216;She Can&#8217; conference, Dr Rania Al-Mashat highlighted initiatives to empower Egyptian women entrepreneurs. 
Significant investments in women&#8217;s education, healthcare, and employment are expected to reach 300 billion pounds. 
&#8216;She Trades Egypt&#8217; and &#8216;She Leads&#8217; projects aim to enhance market access for female entrepreneurs. 
The &#8216;Gender Gap Accelerator&#8217; project seeks to reduce economic inequalities between men and women. 
Online &#8216;Hafiz&#8217; platform connects private sector and startups with international funding and mentorship.

Standard Chartered Bahrain launched the sixth edition of &#8220;SC Women in Tech&#8221; starting 22 April 2025. 
The programme aims to support female entrepreneurs in Bahrain through partnerships with key institutions. 
Over 50 women-led startups benefited in the past, with significant funding granted. 
This year, ten teams will receive training, networking opportunities, and prize money up to USD 35,000. 
A new collaboration involves QuickDine and Payment International Enterprise to enhance payment services.

Marrakech will host GITEX AFRICA Morocco 2025, promoting digital innovation across the continent. 
Over 1,450 exhibitors and 45,000 visitors from 130 nations are anticipated at the event. 
The European Innovation Council and International Finance Corporation will facilitate investor-startup networking. 
Global giants like Cisco and Salesforce will explore African digital potential for the first time. 
GITEX aligns with Morocco&#8217;s digital ambitions under King Mohammed VI&#8217;s leadership.

Dubai&#8217;s Crown Prince commenced his first official visit to India, marking diplomatic progress. 
A ceremonial welcome at Palam Airport highlighted the significance of India-UAE relations. 
Meetings with Indian leaders focused on expanding cooperation in crucial sectors. 
In Mumbai, a business roundtable aims to explore infrastructure, energy, and innovation investments. 
The visit underscores strengthening economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties between the nations.

Donald Trump plans a Middle East trip in May for a major investment deal. 
He&#8217;s targeting a $1 trillion investment, including military equipment sales to UAE and Qatar. 
Geopolitical issues like Ukraine&#8217;s war and Gaza tensions are expected topics. 
The trip aims to expand the Abraham Accords and strengthen regional relationships. 
Details are still being finalised, but the White House confirms ongoing preparations.