News

4 Smartphones Coming To The Middle East This Spring

These are some of the best smartphones making their way to the Middle East over the next few weeks.

Published

4 years ago

March 17, 2022

4 smartphones coming to the middle east this spring

The recently introduced iPhone SE 3 is just one of many new smartphones that you should consider if you’re in store for a new device this spring. Let’s take a look at four Android smartphones coming to the Middle East as early as next week.

Samsung Galaxy S22/S22+/S22 Ultra

samsung galaxy s22 series

Since the end of February, buyers in the Middle East have been able to pre-order Samsung’s latest generation of its flagship devices. While not a whole lot has changed over the S21, the end products still represent the very best that Samsung and the Android ecosystem have to offer. The three models differ not only in size but also in terms of features, with the S22 Ultra being the only model that comes with the S Pen.

The Galaxy S22 will be available starting March 20 at $890 USD for the standard model, $1,050 USD for the S22 model, and $1,300 USD for the beefed up Ultra model.

Nokia G11 & G21

nokia g21 smartphone

Even though the Nokia G11 costs almost ten times less than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ($136 USD versus $1,300 USD for the top model), they both have a similar 5,000 mAh battery, enabling them to run for approximately three days on a single charge. The G21 also has a large battery, but it costs $174 because of its slightly better specifications.

The G11 will be available in the Middle East at the end of March, while the G21 has just recently been made available.

Huawei P50 Pro & P50 Pocket

huawei p50 pro and p50 pocket

The Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket are the latest and greatest Android smartphones from the Chinese smartphone maker, and they’re both available for pre-order in the Middle East at the time of writing this article. Just like all other Huawei Android smartphones, they don’t come with Google apps pre-installed, but there are many online tutorials that explain how to install them manually.

You can expect to pay $1,100 USD for the P50 Pro, and $1,400 USD for the P50 Pocket.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11/11S/11 Pro/11 Pro 5G

xiaomi redmi note 11 series

The entire Redmi Note 11 series of Xiaomi smartphones will be available in the Middle East by the early April, offering many attractive mid-range models with above-average specifications. The two top models even have a super-fast 120 Hz screen refresh rate, a feature that is highly sought-after by mobile gamers.

The Note 11 and Note 11S have a refresh rate of 90 Hz, which is decent but not super-impressive these days. The Redmi Note 11 base model will start at $200 USD.

Related Topics:Huawei Nokia Samsung Xiaomi

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Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.