News
Qatar’s Capital Aims To Become A Regional Technology Hub
With next year’s Web Summit, Doha hopes to energize its budding startup ecosystem.
On May 4-7, 2024, Qatar will become the first Middle Eastern country to host one of the world’s largest technology conferences. Web Summit, founded in 2009, is among the most popular expos on emerging digital technology and venture capitalism and is expected to draw 7,500 participants, as well as legions of journalists and investors.
Hosting the Web Summit event is highly significant for Qatar, as digital transformation and technology are at the center of the country’s national and global ambitions, with the sector contributing over $3 billion annually to GDP. Officials and investors alike hope that the conference will help to cement Qatar’s position as an important Middle Eastern startup and tech hub.
“Qatar has proved during the World Cup that it can host world-class events. The world now sees Qatar as a sports and tech powerhouse that is not only interested in investing in technology externally but also to accelerate digitization locally,” says Jamal Bdeir, Small and Medium Business Lead, Middle East Cluster, at Microsoft.
The summit should open up an array of opportunities for local startups. At the same time, the Qatar Science & Technology Park will allow international tech firms to learn more about the country’s wide-ranging entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports new businesses using a mixture of tax reductions and modern legislation.
Also Read: Saudi Scientists From KAUST Find New Way To Store CO2
Besides attracting big tech firms, the upcoming Web Summit has created a considerable buzz in Qatar’s local startup space. Many Doha-based startups that haven’t had the opportunity to showcase their solutions on the global stage will now gain a worldwide platform without having to worry about physical travel.
Ramzan Al Naimi, the founder of local startup hub the Innovation Café, is an enthusiastic supporter of the event, noting: “The conference provides Arab youth and local talent the opportunity to connect with global companies and experts in the technology field, learn from them, and access job and training opportunities”.
The widespread optimism surrounding the event seems to be well-founded. Lisbon has greatly benefited from being a host city and local technology hub, drawing several investors and upcoming startups to Portugal due to the buzz created by the Summit conference.
News
Nano Banana 2 Arrives In MENA For Google Gemini Users
Google brings its latest image model to Gemini and Search, adding 4K output and tighter text control for regional users.
Google has opened access to Nano Banana 2 across the Middle East and North Africa, pushing its newest image model into everyday tools rather than keeping it inside the exclusive (and expensive) Pro tier.
The rollout spans the Google Gemini desktop and mobile apps, and extends to Google Search through Lens and AI Mode. Developers can also test it in preview via AI Studio and the Gemini API.
Nano Banana 2 runs on Gemini Flash, Google’s fast inference layer. The focus is speed, but also control. Users can export visuals from 512px up to 4K, adjusting aspect ratios for everything from vertical social posts to widescreen displays.
The model maintains character likeness across up to five figures and preserves fidelity for as many as 14 objects within a single workflow. This enables visual continuity across scenes, iterations, or edits — supporting projects like short films, storyboards, and multi-scene narratives. Text rendering has also been improved, delivering legible typography in mockups and greeting cards, with built-in translation and localization directly within images.
Also Read: RØDE Adds Direct iPhone Pairing To Wireless GO And Pro Mics
Under the hood, the system taps Gemini’s broader knowledge base and pulls in real-time information and imagery from web search to render specific subjects more accurately. Lighting and fine detail have been upgraded, without slowing output.
By embedding the model inside Gemini and Search, Google is normalizing advanced image generation for a mass audience. In MENA, where startups and marketing teams are leaning heavily on AI to scale content across languages and borders, that shift lands at a practical moment.
The move also folds creative tooling deeper into search itself, so that image generation is no longer a separate workflow. It now sits right next to the query box.
Nano Banana 2 Arrives In MENA For Google Gemini Users
GluCare Rebrands To Metabolic, Dropping Diabetes-Only Identity
Apple’s March 4 Event Rumored To Put New Macs In Play
Google Adds Arabic AI Music Creation For Ramadan
