News

HP Invests In Saudi Tech, AI, And Education To Boost Regional Growth

The tech giant is committed to expanding local manufacturing, AI R&D, and education initiatives, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program.

Published

1 year ago

February 12, 2025

Nour Nasir

hp invests in saudi tech ai and education to boost regional growth

Global tech manufacturer HP is doubling down on its commitment to Saudi Arabia with a series of strategic initiatives known as “Made in Saudi”. The investments align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and focus on technology manufacturing, artificial intelligence, research & development, and education.

One of the company’s key moves is the establishment of a large manufacturing facility in Riyadh, aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s tech industry. Additionally, HP is launching an AI and R&D Center of Excellence (CoE) in Dhahran, designed to give the Kingdom a competitive edge in the global tech market. The center will drive advancements in data analysis, robotic process automation, and smarter decision-making.

HP is also prioritizing education, rolling out multiple programs to help develop the skills of young Saudis. By 2027, the company aims to create thousands of new jobs, giving local talent a vital role in the country’s economic transformation away from the oil sector.

“At HP, we see tremendous potential in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have made strategic AI investments to fuel further growth in the region,” said Enrique Lores, President and CEO of HP Inc. “Building on our trusted brand and the strength of our portfolio, we are committing to manufacturing, education, and research initiatives that drive innovation and help expand HP’s global reach, bringing even greater opportunity to the MEA region”.

Also Read: Dubai’s RTA Unveils Solar-Powered “RailBus” Transit System

A strong network of government partnerships has also helped HP roll out several global education initiatives, such as the HP Cambridge EdTech Fellowship and HP IDEA. So far, the programs have benefited over 600,000 people, and by 2027, they are expected to reach more than 6 million students and teachers in Saudi Arabia.

HP also continues to back the Kingdom’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy (NGES). In June 2024, the company opened the HP Gaming Garage Lab at the Saudi Electronic University, shortly after, HP’s online courses earned micro-degree status from the National eLearning Centre (NeLC) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).

HP’s significant investments in Saudi Arabia show a considerable commitment to the Kingdom’s digital transformation, and will surely help to boost the company’s presence across the wider Middle East.

News

Dirham-Backed Stablecoin DDSC Enters Live Phase In UAE

Central Bank approval moves the dirham-backed token into deployment, targeting regulated payments and settlement flows.

Published

4 days ago

February 13, 2026

Nour Nasir

dirham-backed stablecoin ddsc enters live phase in uae

The UAE has cleared the launch of DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin now entering live operation after approval from the Central Bank. The move pushes the project beyond its pilot phase and into the country’s regulated financial system.

The token is backed by a consortium led by IHC, Sirius International Holding and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), framing it as an institutional instrument rather than a consumer crypto product. DDSC was first announced in April 2025, but regulatory clearance now allows deployment and integration across approved channels.

DDSC runs on ADI Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain built by the Abu Dhabi-based ADI Foundation. The infrastructure is designed for governance and performance requirements expected by large institutions, linking blockchain settlement with existing compliance and oversight frameworks.

The focus is practical, targeting treasury settlements, high-value payments, trade and supply-chain transactions, and programmable financial flows for regulated entities. FAB plans to offer access to the token through approved platforms for its clients, keeping the rollout inside controlled banking environments.

“DDSC marks a defining milestone in the UAE’s digital finance journey,” said Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC. “With the Central Bank’s approval and our transition into live operation, we are delivering trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure that strengthens resilience, accelerates innovation, and expands what is possible in regulated digital payments”.

Also Read: Basatne Debuts ORBT Platform For Digital Refunds In UAE

FAB says the project reflects how stablecoins can sit within traditional finance when risk controls are built in from the outset. “This milestone underscores that stablecoins can be integrated responsibly into the financial system when built to meet rigorous regulatory and risk requirements,” said Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, Group Head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking Group at FAB.

The launch reinforces the UAE’s strategy of pushing digital finance through regulation instead of open-ended crypto experimentation. Stablecoins in this model are positioned less as trading assets and more as programmable extensions of national currency, aimed at institutional scale and government use cases.