First.tech and ELM Join Forces to Boost UAE-Saudi Digital Interoperability

First.tech has teamed up with Saudi Arabia’s ELM in a move that could make digital life across the UAE and the Kingdom feel a lot less like a bit of a faff. The two sides have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore how their systems could talk to each other more smoothly, especially in areas like insurtech, fintech and govtech. It’s all about secure data exchange, simpler access to services and, ultimately, nudging the region closer to proper cross‑border digital interoperability.

What caught my eye here is how both countries are pushing hard on digital transformation, and this agreement neatly ties into that momentum. I remember chatting with a young founder at an Arageek community event last year who joked that half his week was spent chasing paperwork between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. If efforts like this one pan out, people like him might finally get a breather. That said, big cross-border tech projects don’t always land spot on, so I reckon the real test will be how quickly these ideas translate into tools that ordinary residents actually use.

According to the announcement, the MoU lays the groundwork for joint initiatives that could streamline everything from public‑sector services to private‑sector transactions. Citizens, residents and even visitors are expected to see faster access to digital services, while companies could find cross‑border processes a little less tangled. And believe it or not, smoother digital workflows can make a huge difference for trade facilitation and day‑to‑day business operations across the region.

Karl Kondal, Chief Strategy Officer at First.tech, framed the deal as a step towards a more connected digital ecosystem linking the UAE and Saudi Arabia, saying the shared goal is to simplify the user journey and open new doors for innovation. On the flip side, partnerships like this always come with plenty of behind‑the‑scenes integration work, but the ambition is clear enough: create smarter, more accessible services that fit the pace of life in two fast‑moving economies.

Overall, it’s a partnership worth watching, even if the road ahead might be a bit bumpy—well… I mean, regional tech collaboration usually is. But if it delivers on its promise, plenty of people will be chuffed to bits, and startups across our region might finally stop losing hours to needless red tape.

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