Kaspersky has announced that it has received a Regional Headquarters License (RHQ) in Saudi Arabia from the Kingdom’s Ministry of Investment.

This license shows Kaspersky’s commitment to improving cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia’s economic sectors and strengthens the company’s presence in the country.

The main objective of the Regional Headquarters is to provide comprehensive support for the operational activities of the Kaspersky group of companies in the MENA region, ensuring sustainable business development in Saudi Arabia and the region.

The focus will be on strategic development, threat research and analysis, and the delivery of region-specific services such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), powered by the Saudi-based SOC, and ICS CERT.

More on Kaspersky:

Kaspersky operates in 200 countries and territories with 34 offices in over 30 countries. In 2022, Kaspersky opened a new office in Riyadh, adding Saudi Arabia to its ever-expanding worldwide network of offices. In 2023, Kaspersky opened its first Transparency Center in Riyadh to serve the entire Middle East region.

With several ongoing and planned initiatives to ensure future readiness with a digital-first approach, the adoption of technologies like 5G, IoT, and artificial intelligence by the Kingdom will potentially increase cybercriminal interest in targeted attacks and cyber threats.

To support the Kingdom’s efforts to build a strong cybersecurity infrastructure, Kaspersky launched the Cyber Generation training and internship program in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

The educational program is designed to increase cybersecurity awareness, enable skills and knowledge sharing, and defend against evolving cyber threats.

Andrey Efremov, Kaspersky’s Chief Business Development Officer, said, “This is a significant milestone on our roadmap for growth in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom is rapidly transforming into an economic hub for the region.”

He added “I am very proud that we are part of this transformation, and that our business in the Kingdom is developing successfully. This step will further enhance our ability to better serve customers, partners, and organizations across the region.”

The post Kaspersky receives a Regional HQ license in Saudi Arabia. appeared first on ByMENA.

On February 6th, 2024, AD Ports Group announced that its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, has acquired a Majority stake, 60% equity in Dubai Technologies, a Dubai trade and transportation solutions developer.

The total purchase consideration for the 60 percent shareholding amounts to AED 28 million.

The company recorded revenues of AED 70.5 million and EBITDA of AED 8.4 million for FY2023.

The company has created a platform for managing port operations called Minato®. In addition, they have developed four transportation platforms and nine customized solutions for digitally-focused government agencies at the regional level.

These solutions have been developed in-house by the company’s 300+ team members who work collaboratively across the UAE and India.

Minato® is a technology that port operators are currently using across the globe. It includes an advanced digital twin technology that is sought after in the port industry. Its addition to Maqta Gateway’s existing single window offering for port digitalization will be highly beneficial.

Furthermore, the gradual implementation of Minato® across all international ports managed by AD Ports Group will lead to cost synergies for the company.

The company’s transportation platform includes fleet management, passenger transportation, smart driving analytics, and waste transportation management.

This can be utilized by the group to improve logistics efficiency in both hinterland and industrial zones’ operations.

Maqta Gateway, a company specializing in digital trade solutions, has acquired to broaden its portfolio in this area. This move will also extend its in-house capabilities, realize cost synergies, and strengthen its position as a developer of digital trade solutions.

The offshore development expertise of the acquired company will be of value as Maqta Gateway expands internationally. Additionally, Maqta Gateway has set up an R&D hub in Vietnam, following its acquisition of TTEK Inc.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, the Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated that the company has recognized the importance of keeping up with advanced technologies and utilizing innovative solutions to reimagine the future of trade on a regional and global scale.

This aligns with the vision of their leadership. The recent acquisition of new technologies reflects the company’s plans to enhance AD Ports Group’s position as a provider of integrated digital trade solutions to core markets and increase self-reliance on critical technologies for their business.

The post Majority stake in Dubai Technologies acquired by Maqta Gateway appeared first on ByMENA.

Founded in April 2023, Lumi AI aims to revolutionise the ways that organisations interact with data. In creating accessible and utile data, Lumi AI uses technology which transforms imprecise prompts into AI-friendly instructions.

“We’ve engineered Lumi to seamlessly convert plain language into invaluable business insights, democratising access to data and enabling a future where everyone can make informed, strategic decisions,” Lumi AI CEO, Ibrahim Ashqar, tells StartupScene.

Lumi AI’s team includes notables from the data and AI industry and leaders from multinational corporations, as well as renowned consulting firms. This recent funding will enable the company to increase its reach and vision of providing AI-powered data analysis to a broader number of companies.

The post DUBAI-BASED TECH STARTUP LUMI AI CLOSES FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING appeared first on ByMENA.