News

Tesla Brings Cybertruck To Qatar In Latest Regional Push

The move comes after slowing demand in the U.S. and China, and the Gulf states continued push to roll out broader decarbonization plans.

Published

10 months ago

October 6, 2025

Joanna Melki

Tesla

Qatar joins Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the first markets outside North America to get the angular, futuristic pickup. Orders are open through Tesla’s website, with local Supercharger points, pop-up showrooms, and service centers set to support early buyers.

Deliveries are due in March 2026. Prices start at QAR 384,990 (about $105,750) for the All-Wheel Drive model and QAR 434,990 (about $119,000) for the higher-performance Cyberbeast.

The move comes as Tesla looks beyond slowing demand in the U.S. and China. Gulf states are building out charging networks and courting global EV brands as part of broader decarbonization plans. “The Middle East is becoming a critical test bed for premium electric mobility,” said one regional analyst.

Tesla’s regional buildup has been steady. The Cybertruck launch in Saudi Arabia earlier this year also marked a quiet reset with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund after years of strained ties. The company has since expanded its Supercharger coverage across Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, giving the region one of Tesla’s densest charging networks outside Europe.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Sets 2027 Target For AI-Run Government

Globally, Tesla has built more than 46,000 Cybertruck vehicles since late 2023. The company posted record deliveries in Q3 2025, largely driven by U.S. buyers racing to secure vehicles before the federal EV tax credit expired in September. Analysts expect overseas demand to help offset a likely dip in U.S. sales as that incentive winds down and competition from BYD, Zeekr, and Lucid intensifies.

For the Gulf, Qatar’s addition strengthens Tesla’s hold in a region intent on electrifying transport under Vision 2030 and similar national drives. With governments investing in battery assembly and EV workforce training, the Cybertruck’s arrival signals a tougher, more competitive phase for the Middle East’s high-end EV market.

News

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.