Software, telecommunications and digital infrastructure
An analysis published by Modern Diplomacy examines how Gulf sovereign wealth funds navigate emerging Asian markets amid changing interest rates. According to Global SWF data, about 45 percent of Middle East sovereign capital deployed in 2026 targeted the US, while 10 percent went to China and Hong Kong. Gulf investors are balancing long-term Asian partnerships against broader global allocations.
UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Al Olama cited Kazakhstan's Astana AI Film Festival as an example of how artificial intelligence is transforming content production during his address at the AI Everything global summit in Abu Dhabi. Al Olama stated that AI has sharply lowered barriers to entry in entertainment, enabling single individuals to handle tasks previously requiring large teams and multimillion-dollar budgets. The minister also noted that the rapid adoption of AI creative tools will require governments to reassess copyright and regulatory frameworks.
UK-founded AI transformation firm Nextgen has moved its global headquarters to the UAE, setting up Dubai as its primary base. The company, which has previously expanded into China and India, cited growing demand among regional enterprises to scale AI operations into production. Nextgen reports having over 75 specialists across five offices and more than 200 AI use cases deployed.
Kenyan digital bank Cloud9 has secured an undisclosed investment from crypto accelerator Alliance, bringing total funding to $1 million, Disrupt Africa reported. The platform operates on stablecoin rails to facilitate cross-border settlement for African merchants importing goods from hubs including China and Dubai. Cloud9 plans to use the capital to expand trade payment corridors, roll out physical and virtual cards, and grow its user base.
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