News
Web Summit Expands With New Middle East Event In Qatar
Thousands of attendees from around the world will gather at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in March 2024.
Today, the world’s largest technology conference, Web Summit, announced the launch of a new event in the Middle East, titled Web Summit Qatar, to be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in March 2024.
The tech expo will be the first of its kind in Qatar, and will bring together thousands of entrepreneurs and investors from around the globe, as well as the next generation of startups disrupting the tech landscape.
The Middle Eastern event is part of Web Summit’s ongoing strategy to widen its reach into new regions and economies, and will provide a wealth of opportunities to connect the global tech community.
After receiving bids from several regional cities, Web Summit chose Doha as the new event’s host. Web Summit plans to deepen existing relationships in the region through Web Summit Qatar, which will run for at least five years.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
“Web Summit in Lisbon has become the world’s largest technology conference, and our ambition is to make Web Summit ever more global. Establishing a new event in the Middle East is part of that broader plan for Web Summit,” says CEO of Web Summit Paddy Cosgrave.
Qatar’s technology sector is evolving rapidly, with a thriving start-up scene supported by both the government and the private sector. The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2021 ranks Qatar 28th globally for its capacity for innovation, ahead of other countries in the region. Qatar is a heavy investor in its technology infrastructure, with projects focusing on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cybersecurity.
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
