Middle East/Africa: IoT Public Policy Index
- May 26, 2026
- William Payne
The UAE Cyber Security Council has deployed Abu Dhabi-based QuantumGate’s Crypto Discovery Tool (CDT), to transition the country toward post-quantum cryptography. The African Development Bank Group and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) have launched a technical assistance programme, the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP – Mission 300 Phase I). At a UN Economic Commission for Africa Conference, the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (the Africa Club) has urged a departure from traditional funding methods toward blended finance models, co-financing, and structured capital deployment to accelerate Africa’s digital and technological transition. Armenia’s parliament has approved new biometric identity legislation to align the country’s national identity infrastructure with EU standards.
UAE Sovereign Crypto Discovery Tool
The UAE Cyber Security Council has deployed Abu Dhabi-based QuantumGate’s Crypto Discovery Tool (CDT), to transition the country toward post-quantum cryptography. The tool automates cryptographic asset discovery and risk analysis across critical national infrastructure, feeding directly into the National Cybersecurity Index.
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African Development Bank Sustainable Energy programme
The African Development Bank Group and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) have launched a technical assistance programme, the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP – Mission 300 Phase I). SEforALL will provide training, peer exchange, and monitoring support to national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units over the next year. The programme supports the larger Mission 300 initiative, a joint commitment between the World Bank and the AfDB to connect 300 million Sub-Saharan Africans to electricity by 2030.
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African Multilateral Financial Institutions Digital Funding
At a UN Economic Commission for Africa Conference, the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (the Africa Club) has urged a departure from traditional funding methods toward blended finance models, co-financing, and structured capital deployment to accelerate Africa’s digital and technological transition. Leaders emphasised that unlocking innovation across the continent depends on establishing complementary investments in robust energy grids, connectivity, and supportive regulatory frameworks.
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Armenia passes Biometric Identity Law
Armenia’s parliament has approved new biometric identity legislation to align the country’s national identity infrastructure with EU standards. The new law requires all citizens over the age of 16 to to carry official identification cards and introduces biometric travel documents compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
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South Africa: Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) Phase 1 RFP
The South African Department of Electricity and Energy has confirmed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first phase of the ITP program. This multibillion-rand project involves the construction of 1,164 km of 400kV transmission lines, featuring integrated smart grid sensors and IoT-enabled substations for real-time grid management.
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Saudi Arabia: Smart Technologies for National Tendering (Etimad)
The Saudi Ministry of Finance’s “Etimad” platform has integrated new AI and smart technology modules to proactively match vendors with commercial activities. Current active tenders on the platform include smart city maintenance and IoT-driven logistics infrastructure for SMEs as part of the 2026 fiscal year procurement cycle.
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Nigeria: Satellite IoT Licensing for Industrial Automation
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has finalised the operational framework for three global satellite operators, including Satelio. This enables the procurement of satellite-based IoT terminals for remote industrial sites (oil, gas, and mining) where traditional ground-based connectivity is unavailable.
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Kenya: Data Warehouse System for Health & Public Services
Kenya has issued a procurement notice for consultancy services to select a Data Warehouse System. This system is intended to centralize data from various public sectors, including health and education, to support smart city data analytics and mHealth initiatives.
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Israel: National Cybersecurity Draft Bill
Israel’s new National Cybersecurity Bill mandates that “essential organisations” (energy, health, transport) must update their procurement contracts to include stringent IoT security and reporting standards. This is triggering a wave of private-sector audits and technology refreshes across Israel’s critical infrastructure.
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Saudi Arabia: Designation of 2026 as the “Year of AI”
The Saudi Council of Ministers has officially declared 2026 the “Year of AI” to accelerate Vision 2030 goals. The country’s programme includes the channelling of funds towards advanced infrastructure and AIoT in national infrastructure, smart cities, the industrial sector and the energy sector. The initiative includes a $9.1 billion investment plan focusing on six pillars: skills, policy, investment, innovation, infrastructure, and ecosystem growth.
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India: Industrial Captive Power Generation
The Indian Ministry of Power has amended rules to simplify captive power generation for industries. The update allows corporate groups and subsidiaries to be treated as single entities, facilitating easier investment in renewable self-generation projects. The move is likely to increase demand for lightweight industrial sensors and IoT.
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Egypt to commission 3 GW Solar and 600 MW Battery Storage
The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity has announced plans to add 3 GW of solar capacity and 600 MW of battery energy storage (BESS) before summer 2026. This is part of a strategy to meet a projected 7% growth in national grid demand, and is coupled with the country’s smart city, industrial modernisation and smart logistics strategies.
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Madinah launches Sustainable City call
Authorities within the Saudi Arabian city of Madinah, one of the two most important religious centres in Islam, have launched an “innovate” competition for a sustainable university city. The call includes: renewable energy and consumption efficiency, resource and water management, Zero Waste, sustainable and smart transport, quality of educational environment and buildings, circular economy and university life, digital transformation, and responsible consumption.
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India: Launch of AI in Healthcare Frameworks
India’s Health Minister has launched the “Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India” (SAHI) and the BODH platform for benchmarking health data. These initiatives establish the first ethical governance roadmap for population-scale AI deployment in Indian pharmaceuticals and clinical research.
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Pakistan: Introduction of Cyber Security Act
Pakistan’s IT Minister has announced the drafting of a new Cyber Security Act and the creation of a dedicated regulatory authority. The move is designed to protect rapidly digitizing government services and financial systems from advanced persistent threats, including to IoT systems deployed in the country’s national infrastructure.
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India Launches Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0
India’s Union Budget 2026–27 has introduced ISM 2.0, a programme that shifts industrial focus from assembly to high-value manufacturing and “full-stack” Indian Intellectual Property (IP). The government has allocated ₹8,000 crore for the fiscal year to incentivise domestic production of semiconductor equipment and chemicals.
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India announces agricultural data AI tool
As part of the Indian Government’s new “AI as a Utility” policy, the Government has announced Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI platform designed to integrate agricultural data for real-time farm management.
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India: 21-Year Tax Holiday for Cloud Sovereignty
To transform India into a global data hub, the Indian Government has proposed a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign companies providing cloud services, provided they use Indian data centres. This “Data-in-India” mandate aims to localise international data traffic and spur domestic fibre optic and power sector growth.
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Israel Publishes Draft National Cyber Protection Law 2026
The Israeli government has released a draft bill to formalise its cybersecurity framework, mandating baseline protection standards for “essential organisations” in energy, healthcare, and water. The law grants the National Cyber Directorate binding powers to issue instructions during severe attacks and imposes fines for non-compliance.
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UAE Accelerates Smart Grid Transformation with Digital Twins
The UAE is modernising its national electricity infrastructure by integrating digital twin technology and AI to monitor systems in real-time. This shift from “repair-and-fail” to predictive “monitor-and-prevent” models aims to stabilise the grid as more renewable energy is introduced.
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Dubai’s “Virtual Engineer” AI System Announced
The CEO of DEWA has announced the development of the “Virtual Engineer,” an AI system set to go live in June 2026 to manage power plant operations. The system will offer autonomous efficiency calculations and predictive failure alerts for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
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Saudi Arabia Launches Global Quality of Life Index (QoLI)
At the World Economic Forum, the Saudi delegation, in partnership with UN-Habitat, introduced the Global Quality of Life Index. This tool uses AI and urban data to measure the success of smart city initiatives under Vision 2030, moving focus from “spectacle” to “liveability.”
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Turkey’s Industry 5.0 Centre Becomes Operational
As part of its 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy, Turkey officially operationalised its Industry 5.0 Centre to promote AI and 5G integration in manufacturing. The centre aims to modernise over 60,000 factories and integrate them more closely with European supply chains.
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South Africa Budget 2026: Energy Security and Grid Expansion
The proposed South African budget prioritises a new “Credit Guarantee Vehicle” backed by the World Bank to unlock private investment in transmission. The budget allocates R2 billion for a nationwide smart meter rollout to improve demand visibility and municipal revenue management.
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Nigeria Re-issues Internet Code of Practice 2026
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has re-issued the Internet Code of Practice as mandatory guidelines, covering traffic management and digital platform governance. The code includes a 90-day “gestation period” before full enforcement of cybersecurity and data protection rules across the sector.
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UK-funded “African Language Hub” for AI Accessibility
Announced at the AI Impact Summit in India, the UK and Canada are funding the Masakhane African Languages Hub to enable AI to function in 40 African languages. This initiative aims to make AI more inclusive for up to 700 million people across the continent.
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Egypt Launches National Active Mobility Strategy 2025–2034
The Egyptian government, supported by ITDP Africa, has launched a national framework to transform urban mobility by prioritising walking and cycling. The strategy introduces national design standards for “complete streets” and digital tracking for integrated multimodal transport systems.
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Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA) Digital Transition
Kenya’s new Social Health Authority has begun the full transition to digital registration and phone-dependent payment systems for healthcare access. While aiming for universal health coverage, the rollout has sparked debate over the accessibility of digital systems for rural populations.
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Egypt’s Port and Logistics Regulatory Authority Formation
The Egyptian government has announced the formation of a Logistics Regulatory Authority to oversee the automation of Suez Canal-related industrial zones. This authority will manage the digital transformation of booking and tracking for seven new international logistics corridors.
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Africa AI4D Compute Hub Established at University of Cape Town
As part of a £58 million programme, the UK and Canada have established a new AI for Development (AI4D) Compute Hub in Cape Town. This hub will provide African innovators with the high-performance computing power needed to develop local AI solutions for agriculture and health.
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US-Israel Partnership on AI
Israel has become the first country to sign a joint statement with the US under the “Pax Silica” initiative to secure critical technology frontiers. The partnership focuses on joint research, energy technologies, and the protection of sensitive supply chains in AI and quantum computing.
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Israeli Regulatory Sandbox for Healthcare AI
Israel’s Ministry of Health has launched a “Regulatory Sandbox” to allow companies to pilot high-value AI solutions within the healthcare system under controlled ethical and safety guidelines. This programme aims to shape future regulatory pathways for personalized medicine and diagnostics.
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UAE “AI for Development” Initiative for Africa
UAE has launched a $1 billion initiative to provide African nations with access to compute power and AI models to solve local development challenges. The programme includes partnerships with the African Union to foster digital infrastructure and skills.
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Pakistan revises Regulatory Framework for IoT and SRD
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a revised framework for Short Range Devices (SRD) and Terrestrial IoT. The update simplifies licensing for smart city sensors and industrial IoT devices to accelerate the adoption of smart technologies.
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South Africa gains $13.7bn grid pledge
The International Partners Group led by the UK has confirmed a total pledge of $13.7 billion for energy grid transformation to South Africa. The update highlights progress on 14,000 km of new transmission lines in South Africa and the upcoming launch of the Wholesale Electricity Market in April 2026.
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IRENA Innovation for Smart Energy Systems
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has published report to provide a toolkit for policymakers to use AI in grid modernization. It highlights “Dynamic Line Rating” and “Battery Swapping” projects in Malaysia, Uganda, and Rwanda as models for emerging economies.
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World Bank: Global Economic Prospects 2026 – Industrial Policy Focus
The World Bank has released its semi-annual report with a special focus on the rise of “Green Industrial Policy” in developing nations. The report warns of fiscal risks but encourages the use of targeted subsidies for renewable energy manufacturing in the MENA and Africa regions.
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UAE: Adoption of National Encryption Policy
The UAE Government has adopted a framework mandating government entities to transition from traditional encryption to post-quantum cryptography. The UAE National Encryption Policy aims to secure national data infrastructure against future quantum-computing threats and establishes standards for safe digital integration across federal bodies.
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Saudi eHealth Expansion
The Saudi government has detailed a $65 billion privatisation plan for healthcare, reorganizing providers into 21 insurance-centred “health clusters.” A significant portion of this investment is dedicated to expansion of e-health services and smart health infrastructure to increase private sector participation to 65% by 2030.
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“Unified UAE Numbers” AI Data System launches
The UAE Government has unveiled “Unified UAE Numbers,” an AI-powered national data ecosystem designed to support high-level decision-making. The system integrates diverse national datasets to provide predictive analytics for urban planning, industrial growth, and social services.
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Qatar: GovAI Program for Public Sector Transformation
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) has expanded its GovAI Programme, a national initiative to accelerate AI adoption across government. The programme facilitates deployment of AI use cases, such as the “AI Tourist Companion” and smart contracts for labour regulation compliance, in alignment with Qatar’s Digital Agenda 2030.
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Tunisia: Healthcare Modernisation and Digital Hospital Platform
Tunisia’s Ministry of Health has outlined a modernisation strategy for 2026, centring on the launch of a national digital hospital platform. This infrastructure will enable real-time data sharing, tele-diagnosis, and remote consultations to address regional disparities in medical access and improve coordination between public hospitals.
Bahrain: Government Open Data Policy 2.0
Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has launched the updated Open Data Policy 2.0 to enhance transparency and innovation. The update introduces machine-readable formats like JSON and GeoJSON and establishes a new licensing framework to encourage entrepreneurs and researchers to use government data for smart city and IoT applications.
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Côte d’Ivoire: Bilateral Global Health MOU and Digital Surveillance
Côte d’Ivoire has signed a landmark Global Health MOU involving a $450 million domestic investment to modernise health supply chains and data systems. A significant portion of this funding ($125 million) is dedicated to “frontline health systems” and digital epidemic surveillance to ensure faster detection and containment of outbreaks.
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Israel invests NIS 44mn in agritech AI
The Israeli Government is investing NIS 44 million to create data repositories to support the development of AI for smart agriculture. The initiative is part of the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Programme.
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Morocco launches first African smart grid
Morocco has launched the first smart grid platform in Africa. Funded by the African Development Bank, the platform is a keystone in the country’s modernisation agenda. Morocco has also established the first smart grid research and testing centre, in the city of Benguerir.
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Tunisian Medical Smart City moves to next stage
Tunisia is planning a healthcare-focused smart city in the City of Kairouan. The country is currently carrying out a feasibility on the proposed Aghlabides Medical City. This is now close to completion, the city has announced. The country has signed a MoU with the Chinese Government on its development.
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Jerusalem launches Parent Companion smart app
The City of Jerusalem has launched a ‘Parent Companion’ smart app to track the location of their children’s transportation in real-time. It also provides updates on pick-up and drop-off times, and immediate communications with transport teams.
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South Africa aims at 5G driven growth
The Government of South Africa has held an investor summit in London to attract international investment in its vision for 5G-driven economic and technological growth in the country. The Government is pointing to the country’s rapid growth of digital infrastructure, networking, e-commerce and cloud computing, and 4G and 5G roll-outs.
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Casablanca city-wide environmental monitoring
The City of Casablanca has launched an urban cleanliness programme employing a network of cameras across the entire city. The administration is deploying 1,300 smart surveillance cameras across the city’s various districts to improve cleanliness and sustainability.
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Kenya launches first phase of Technopolis
The Kenyan Government has launched the first phase of the Konza Technopolis smart city project, a keystone of the government’s Vision 2030 plan. The science and technology park, dubbed “Silicon Savannah,” aims to become a regional hub for research, innovation, and digital services.
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Almaty implements AI surveillance
The City of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, is implementing a smart city infrastructure based on AI. The basis of the developments are a surveillance system of over 50,000 cameras, linked to AI video analytics platform TargetEYE. By the end of 2025, the Government aims to have implemented 70,000 connected cameras in the city.
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Turkey enters 5G age
Turkey has held its first auction to sell 5G spectrum across the country. In October, the Government sold eleven distinct 5G frequency packages, allocating a total of 400 MHz across both 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.
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Congo-Brazzaville extends broadband to countryside
The Government of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) has launched around twenty high-speed internet connectivity sites in rural areas. The initiative, announced during a visit to Brazzaville by a World Bank delegation for the Africa Region, aims to democratise internet access throughout the country and bridge the digital divide.
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Agadir smart city plan published
A smart city plan for Agadir, Morocco, has been published by engineering firm Arup. The plan supports Agadir’s shift toward a low-emission, climate-resilient future, and was commissioned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Arup’s planning including participation from local authorities, municipal departments, civil society, education and NGOs. The plan provides a 15-year strategy for transformation.
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Astana smart city project to boost public safety
Capital of Kazakhstan, the city of Astana is advancing a smart city project to make it “one of the safest and most technologically advanced cities in the region”. The initiative involves an investment of 53 billion tenge (US$99 million) and introduces AI technologies to monitor traffic, enhance security, and integrate city services into a unified management system.
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Morocco prepares for 5G launch
Morocco is preparing for the commercial launch of 5G, which is scheduled for November 2025. The new mobile service has been estimated as adding $6 billion to the country’s economy by 2030. The Government anticipates that 5G will spur added growth of between 1.5% to 2% of GDP through IoT, industrial applications, connected health, precision agriculture and digital education.
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Ashdod tests crosswalk that detects pedestrians
Israel’s National Smart Transportation Testing Centre in Ashdod is testing a crosswalk that can detect pedestrians and alerts drivers. The system is already part of a pilot programme that is being tested in Katzrin, in the north of the country. The pilot is scheduled to run until April 2026.
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Saudi Arabia GTA agreement with Uber
The Saudi Ministry of Transport and the country’s General Transportation Authority (GTA) have signed an agreement with Uber to introduce autonomous vehicles to the country. The first trips of autonomous vehicles via the Uber app are expected by the end of 2025.
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Addis Ababa intensifies coding initiative
The City Administration of Addis Ababa is intensifying efforts to turn the city into a major global centre for coding and programming. The City is expanding a coding programme to train young people, and is extending both university collaborations and private-public partnerships with businesses. The effort is part of an effort to transform Addis Ababa into a smart city by 2030 with a revitalised economy based around international technology services.
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Agadir adopts Smart Command Centre and AI chatbots
The City of Agadir in northern Morocco has adopted an integrated smart control centre as part of the city’s digital transformation programme. The aim is to improve provision of city services to all users. The smart control centre includes an AI chatbot that can converse with users across WhatsApp and other social media channels. The aim of the project is to centralise and improve management of all interactions between the city and its residents, tourists, agencies, and businesses.
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Kazakhstan to launch Smart City by end 2025
Kazakhstan is preparing to launch a “smart city” project in the capital, Astana, by December 2025, aiming to digitize urban infrastructure using artificial intelligence.
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African Parliament issues Smart Tech declaration
The Pan African Parliament, the legislative body of the African Union, has issued the Lusaka Declaration to strengthen and expand pan-African AI, digital health and smart manufacturing frameworks and create harmonised data governance, data integration, cross-border exchange and industrial resilience across the continent.
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UNESCO, AU, Smart Africa promote inclusive data governance
UNESCO, the African Union and Smart Africa have convened a regional consultation to shape a data governance framework to support and strengthen Africa’s digital and data transformation.
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Israeli GDPR comes into effect August 2025
Israel has enacted privacy legislation inspired by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). The new privacy regime, which amends the 1996 Israel Privacy Protection Law (“IPPL”), will take effect on August 15, 2025.
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Bangladesh signals shift to data localisation
Bangladesh’s new Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) would restrict cross-border transfers of personal data without government approval. The draft law will establish a Data Protection Office (DPO) to oversee governance and enforce safeguards, requiring “adequate protection” in recipient countries.
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Turkish cybersecurity law comes into force
Turkey’s Cybersecurity Law No. 7545 has come into force. Its scope applies to all public institutions, private legal entities, professional associations, and individuals operating in cyberspace. The Cybersecurity Directorate, established in January 2025, has been designated as the primary authority for regulating and auditing the cybersecurity sector. It assumes the powers of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority and the Digital Transformation Office.
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Saudi Road Code introduces AV V2X
Saudi Arabia’s new Saudi Road Code has come into effect. The code includes smart communication technologies along roadways designed to interact with autonomous vehicles. Adoption of these technologies is forecast to grow, especially in smart cities such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project.
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- Roads General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- 2025: Hands Off the Wheel as Saudi Arabia Goes Driverless
Egypt to launch national smart cities strategy
The Government of Egypt is preparing to launch its national smart cities strategy that will combine the joint efforts of three separate government ministries. The new strategy brings together the ministries of Communications and Information Technology, Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Local Development. It also brings in international development partners the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the World Bank Group. The government sees this as representing a major step forward in its smart city strategy.
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Lebanon to institute smart government
The Prime Minister of Lebanon has described establishing smart government in the country as a “necessity”. Nawaf Salam told a conference in Beirut: “For Lebanon, digital transformation is not a luxury, but a necessity”. Both Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told attendees that digital transformation would help drive corruption out of the country’s administration.
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Ramat Gan aims to be Israel’s AI capital
The city of Ramat Gan has set its sights on becoming the capital of AI within the country, a global leader in the development of Artificial Intelligence. From this summer, the city government is establishing summer camps dedicated to AI and supporting technologies that will be held in schools and colleges throughout the whole city. The city is funding the summer camps with 1 million shekels.
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Saudi Arabia long-range AI-based cameras
Saudi Arabia’s Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) together with the country’s Ministry of the Interior have enhanced the country’s camera surveillance Hajj system designed to protect pilgrims to the Mecca and Medina Holy Sites. The new cameras can track individuals and vehicles across large areas over several kilometres.
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DRC signs MoU with Huawei to digitise rural areas
The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei to launch a “smart village” pilot project. The project aims to pilot how to bring smart city technologies to villages in rural areas of Africa, and will include digital health and digital education technologies.
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Abu Dhabi sustainability, smart cities deals with Japan
The Abu Dhabi-Japan Economic Council, held recently in Tokyo, has resulted in a range of agreements that will see firms from Abu Dhabi and Japan collaborate on the development of sustainability and digital integration for smart cities. The move is part of Abu Dhabi’s focus on developing non-oil industries.
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Uttar Pradesh MoU with Australia on Smart Energy
The Government of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the country, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Smart Energy Council of Australia and the Hinduja Group to reskill and expand the state’s energy workforce to support the state’s goal of achieving 22 GwH in solar power.
Saudi Arabia launches Smart Mobility Sandbox
Saudi Arabia’s transport ministry has launched a “Future Mobility Sandbox” to advance smart transport solutions in the kingdom. The project is the result of a collaboration between the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. It will cover 1.56 square kilometres within the KAUST campus and serve as a platform for testing the latest innovations in land, air and sea transport.
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Addis Ababa aims for Smart City
Ethiopian capital city Addis Ababa is aiming to achieve smart city status, according to statements by its mayor, Adanech Abiebie. The city is making technological preparations to transition. It aims to become a regional hub for technology and innovation.
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Riyadh launches first WiFi-7 in MENA Region
Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District Development (KAFD) and Huawei have launched the first Smart WiFi-7 service in Saudi Arabia. It is the first WiFi-7 service in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). KAFD is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading smart city projects.
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Bahrain and UAE review smart city initiatives
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have held talks aimed at collaborating on their smart city projects to promote growth and accelerate initiatives. The talks have including greening cities, and knowledge sharing.
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Incheon Mumbai talks, IIT Roorkee city lab
Korea’s Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) has held talks about joint developments of its smart city infrastructure model with Indian cities and has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. The cities include the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, a planned smart city in north India. IFEZ and the Indian Institute of Technology will construct a new smart city lab at Songdo.
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Amman to enhance urban resilience
Amman, capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is holding a series of workshops to plan greater urban resilience and advance its status as a smart city. The workshops, part of a voluntary review process, are being held together with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
For more information: أمانة عمان تنظم ورشة تحضيرية لمناقشة الاستعراض الطوعي الثاني للمدينة
South Africa collaborates with UAE on smart infrastructure
South Africa is collaborating with UAE on the development of smart cities, sustainable infrastructure, and transportation. The collaboration is being led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE and the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure of South Africa.
For more information: UAE and South Africa Strengthen Cooperation in Sustainable Infrastructure and Transport – SolarQuarter
NEOM to advance Industry 4.0 with AI gigafactory
Saudi smart megacity initiative NEOM is to build an AI gigafactory. The AI data centre will cost $5 billion and be hosted in Oxagon, an Industry 4.0 smart manufacturing hub within NEOM. The AI data centre will support development of advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities within the NEOM complex.
For more information: Saudi Arabia’s Neom Signs $5 Billion Deal for AI Data Center – Bloomberg
Abu Dhabi partners NU Singapore on Smart Cities
UAE capital city Abu Dhabi is partnering the National University of Singapore to advance the city’s digital transition. The collaboration will focus on climate-resilient design, liveability research, mobility solutions, and data-driven governance. Singapore’s NUS has particular expertise in the areas of sustainable infrastructure, advanced data analytics, and green technology integration.
For more information: Department of Municipalities and Transport partners with NUS Cities to advance Abu Dhabi’s smart city transformation
UN hosts African Smart Cities forum
250 city and government officials from across Africa are attending a UN-hosted forum on Smart Cities in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The UrbanShift Africa Forum will see the release of a Roadmap on Sustainable Finance Action and Advocacy for Global South cities. The forum is being organised by C40 Cities.
For more information: African city leaders unite in Nairobi to drive green and resilient urban future – C40 Cities
Morocco launches Industry 4.0 initiative
Morocco has launched its first Industry 4.0 initiative. The Fez Smart Factory Initiative is a public-private partnership that aims to transform the industrial landscape of the Fez-Meknes region. One objective is that the Fez-Meknes region becomes the national Industry 4.0 beacon, initiating the digital transformation of manufacturing throughout the country. The initiative is supported by the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Digital Development Agency and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
For more information: Fez Smart Factory : le premier jalon de l’industrie 4.0 est posé – LesEco.ma
Cameroon launches 4 smart campuses
The Government of Cameroon in West Africa has launched a project to construct four smart campuses in the country’s capital of Yaoundé. With a budget of $8 million, the project aims to promote e-government and train public officials in the use of IT. The campuses will be established at four sites: the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM); the National School of Posts, Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies (SUP’PTIC); the Higher Institute of Public Management (ISMP); and the Ministry of Civil Service. The project is the result of a partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency. It forms part of the Cameroonian Government’s digital transformation strategy aimed at modernising the public administration.
For more information: E-gouvernement : le Cameroun lance un projet de construction de 4 smart campus – We are Tech
Mohammed bin Salman City MoU with Samsung
Saudi Arabian smart city Mohammed bin Salman Non-Profit City “MiSK City” and Samsung Electronics Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further cooperation in smart city technologies. Samsung is already engaged in development of smart city technologies and platforms in the Saudi Arabian city.
Cameroon plans Smart Meter rollout
The Government of Cameroon is planning the rollout of 15,000 smart meters and 17,000 metering points in public and government buildings in the central African state. The project, announced by the country’s minister of Water and Energy, also involves the country’s main electricity distributor Eneo.
For more information: Électricité : 15 000 compteurs intelligents pour un Cameroun plus économe – AITN
Egypt National Smart City strategy
The Egyptian Government has launched a new National Smart City strategy, and announced that it is about to agree to the establishment of fourteen new smart cities. Currently, work is underway on building 24 new smart cities in the country. The Government is looking to establish new partnerships to support building the next wave of planned smart cities.
For more information: Egypt is working on designs of 14 new smart cities
Senegal adopts smart mobility for Dakar
The Government of Senegal has decided to deploy an intelligent transportation system in the country’s capital, Dakar, one of Africa’s largest cities. The Government has also contracted with Chinese firm Huawei to deliver the new ITS technology. The new system will include an urban control centre and road surveillance, to be provided by the Chinese firm.
For more information: Le Sénégal s’oriente vers un transport intelligent pour une mobilité sécurisée – We are Tech
Riyadh to adopt IoT infrastructure
The financial district of Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh has signed an agreement with IoT Squared to enhance its smart city infrastructure with advanced IoT. The King Abdullah Finance District (KAFD) is looking to implement renewable energy, smart grids, and incident management. The district, which forms a formal smart city within the capital, is also looking to integrate IoT enhanced public security devices.
For more information: KAFD to integrate IoT into its infrastructure | Al Eqtisadiah
Egypt holds talks with China on Smart Cities
Egypt’s Minister of Housing and Urban Communities, Sherif El-Sherbiny, has held talks with China’s Minister of Housing Ni Hong at the 12th World Urban Forum to discuss closer cooperation between Egypt and China on smart city development.
For more information: China and Egypt announce Smart City collaboration – Youm7
Sharjah adopts AI-based City zoning
The City of Sharjah, third most populous city in the UAE, has adopted spatial AI to accelerate smart city development based on zoning. The new system aims to improve the quality of life in Sharjah by analysing geographic data and providing innovative urban plans. Sharjah, with a population of 1.8 million, is a centre of industry and education, with a leading Arabian university, and is responsible for 7.4% of UAE GDP.
For further information: Sharjah launches AI-powered zoning system to improve smart cities | AI Portal
Rwanda begins construction of Kigali Smart City
Rwanda has begun a $2 billion round of construction of its planned Kigali Smart City. The new city is aimed to become a centre for AI, science, technology, engineering and mathematics in Africa. Major universities are planned within the new city, with many already participating in the Smart City ecosystem. The city’s first tenant was Carnegie Mellon University, with others following. Once completed, the 61-hectare smart city project will be worth over $2 billion and create over 50,000 jobs, while over 2,600 students are expected to graduate each year from universities in the new city.
For more information: Rwanda: Kigali Innovation City, un projet pour stimuler la transformation numérique de l’Afrique | Le360 Afrique
Togo seeks help for national AI strategy
Togo is seeking to develop a national strategy for AI to support its aim of digital transformation and boosting its digital economy. The country’s government has launched a call for experts, business leaders, consultants and researchers in AI to participate in the project.
For more information: Le Togo recherche des experts pour plancher sur une stratégie nationale en Intelligence Artificielle – Togo First
Senegal adds AI to Emerging Senegal Plan
Senegal has boosted its Emerging Senegal Plan that seeks the digital transformation of the country’s economy with plans to construct an AI data centre in the West African nation. The country’s Minister of Digital Affairs has held talks with Meta Vice President Nick Clegg, and has allocated 7 billion CFA francs over the next two years to construction. The government seeks to make AI a lever for economic growth.
For further information: Sénégal : Le pays de la Teranga mise sur l’intelligence artificielle pour accélérer son développement économique
First Africa-US Smart Cities Lab
Wits University, South Africa, has hosted the first Africa-US Smart Cities Lab. The African Centre for the Study of the United States hosted the lab in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Wits Innovation Centre, Waterfall City Management Company, Steyn City, Itana and the South African Cities Network.
More information: The African Centre for the Study of the United States Hosts the Inaugural Africa-US Smart Cities Lab – allAfrica.com
Congo approaches Indian companies for Smart City development
The Republic of Congo has approached a number of Indian companies to help it develop smart cities. The approaches were made at the India-Africa Conclave, with Ashoka being one company approached by the Congolese delegation. The Conclave is an annual event organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
More information: Conclave Inde-Afrique: Le Congo tourné vers la fintech et les villes intelligentes – Digital Business Africa
Addis Ababa plans Smart, Compact City
Ethiopian capital city Addis Ababa has announced a new long-term urban development plan that includes increasing resources available to the city and preparing for smart city and compact city model development. The latter is a sustainable urban planning model that promotes high residential density combined with mixed land uses. Addis Ababa is being supported by Washington DC based non-profit World Resources Institute, which is providing technical support for the initiative.
More information: Addis Ababa City Launches New City Development Strategy –
Jordan launches Aqaba City Master Plan
Jordanian Special Economic Zone Aqaba has launched a master plan and road map for development of the port city. Aqaba has been working closely with the Japan International Cooperation Agency since 2022 on urban redevelopment of the city, including smart city applications. Aqaba is a major economic hub in Jordan with close links also to neighbouring Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is Jordan’s only port city as well as a major industrial hub and tourist centre. The master plan aim to transform Aqaba into a regional centre for logistics, business, innovation and tourism linked closely also with the economies of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
More information: Launching the Master Plan for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone – Al-Sabil
$15bn Smart City proposal in Uzbekistan
The Tashkent region in Uzbekistan is planning the construction of a $10-15 billion smart city. Spanning 1,600 hectares, the proposed smart city aims to integrate advanced infrastructure and technology. Key features of the project include government buildings, medical and educational facilities, and industrial zones, designed to create a self-sustaining environment conducive to economic growth.
More information: Toshkent viloyati hokimligi
Ahmedabad seeks city data observatory
The City of Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat has set a three-month deadline for the submission of a blueprint for a centralised data observatory for smart city initiatives. The observatory must have a strong data governance framework to enhance data-driven decision-making processes in the city.
More information here: Smart City Meeting: Smart City Meeting Held | Ahmedabad News – Times of India
Saudi Arabia seeks Chinese funding for Neom
Media outlets report that Saudi Arabia is seeking Chinese funding to salvage its ambitious Neom project. French tech magazine JVTech reported that Saudi presentations to gain investment to save the $500 billion desert smart city gained at best mixed responses in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
News report:
Iraq restarts Bismayah New City, $17 billion for road & rail construction
The Iraqi Government has announced that it is restarting the USD 10 billion construction of Bismayah New City after a two-year hiatus . Korean engineering and construction firm Hanwha is the primary contractor for the Bismayah New City project. The Iraqi Government has also announced plans to build a further 15 new cities across the country, and a USD 17 billion programme of new road and rail construction.
올해 첫 해외건설 수주지원단, 이라크 비스마야 신도시 재개 및 후속 15개 신도시 개발 수주 지원 : 스마트시티 종합포털 – SMART CITY KOREA
Kenya: Smart City Konza gets triple boost
The Kenyan Government is hoping that new funding will galvanise its flagship smart city project, Konza Technopolis. A partnership with the Government of Korea through the two countries’ Economic Innovation Partnership Programme has led to funding for Konza, a key part of Kenya’s national development plan, Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia expands size, scope of NEOM Smart City
The Saudi Government has expanded the scope and size of the NEOM Smart City programme, the $500 billion smart city under construction in the country’s north west as part of the country’s Saudi Vision 2030 national strategy. The project has been expanded with the addition of Leyja, a site on the Gulf of Aqaba coast at the northern tip of the Red Sea. The site will provide an ecotourism destination with the landscape designated as a nature reserve. The NEOM smart city currently covers 33 times the land mass of New York City.
The official announcement is here.
Oman unveils first of eight smart cities
The Sultanate of Oman has unveiled the first of eight planned smart cities the country is planning as it begins a strategic shift from an oil-based economy. The Sultan Haitham City will be the first of the planned smart cities, to be built in the wilayat of Seeb, several miles northwest of Omani capital Muscat.
The official Omani Government announcement is here.
Egypt expands smart city target to 38
The Government of Egypt has expanded the number of smart cities it plans to build by 2050 to 38. The announcement was made by Egyptian prime minister Mostafa Madbouly at a conference inaugurating the new Egyptian Administrative Capital, the first of the smart cities to be opened. The new cities will include New Mansoura City in the Nile Delta region, Al Galala City in northeast Egypt and New Aswan City in southern Egypt.
A news piece on the announcement is here
Morocco sets out smart green city strategy
Morocco has announced a new urban development policy that includes adoption of smart technologies, especially aimed at supporting more sustainable cities. The strategy announced by Housing and City Minister Fatima Zahraa Al-Mansouri includes policies to develop eco-neighbourhoods, eco-cities, urban agriculture, city densification and urban renewal.
The official Government report on the policy launch can be found here.
