分类： technology

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is positioning itself as a regional leader in digital sovereignty, leveraging open-source technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to build secure, scalable, and locally governed digital infrastructure. This strategic shift was prominently showcased at GITEX Global 2025, where global open-source software provider SUSE played a pivotal role in highlighting the UAE’s ambitions. SUSE introduced its SUSE Rancher Prime platform, designed to enable organizations to manage AI workloads across hybrid and multi-cloud environments while adhering to national data regulations. The company also collaborated with industry giants such as Dell Technologies, Intel, Cisco, Pure Storage, and e& to demonstrate scalable AI adoption using open-source infrastructure. Ismail Ibrahim, SUSE’s Sales Director and General Manager for CEMEA, emphasized the importance of infrastructure that is ‘sovereign by design,’ ensuring transparency, security, and national control. The UAE’s focus on digital sovereignty aligns with its broader goal of becoming the Middle East’s AI hub. SUSE is actively working with local partners to develop reference architectures and best practices, facilitating the transition from pilot projects to full-scale deployments. Security remains a top priority, with SUSE offering tools to monitor performance, protect data, and defend against AI-driven cyber threats. As the UAE and Saudi Arabia emerge as priority markets, SUSE is aligning its open-source platforms with national digital agendas, underscoring the importance of open collaboration and trusted technology in building resilient, future-ready infrastructure.

China’s Ministry of State Security has unveiled a series of cyberattacks orchestrated by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) against the National Time Service Center in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Since 2022, the NSA has targeted the center, which is responsible for maintaining Beijing Time, a critical component of China’s national infrastructure. The attacks, if successful, could have disrupted network communications, financial systems, power grids, transportation networks, and even space launches, according to the ministry’s investigation. The National Time Service Center plays a pivotal role in providing precision time services essential for sectors such as communications, finance, electricity, transportation, mapping, and defense. The ministry warned that such cyberattacks could trigger international time chaos, with far-reaching and unpredictable consequences. The NSA reportedly exploited vulnerabilities in a foreign cellphone brand’s messaging service in March 2022 to gain control over mobile devices of center staff, stealing sensitive information. From April 2023, the NSA repeatedly infiltrated the center’s computer systems using stolen credentials. Between August 2023 and June 2024, the NSA deployed a new cyber warfare platform with 42 specialized tools to target the center’s High-Precision Ground-Based Timing System. The attacks were often timed during late-night to early-morning hours in Beijing, using virtual private servers in the US, Europe, and Asia to mask their origin. The US also employed tactics like forging digital certificates and using strong encryption to erase evidence. Following the discovery of these attacks, the Chinese national security agency guided the center to enhance its cybersecurity measures. The ministry accused the US of pursuing cyber hegemony, violating international norms, and targeting critical infrastructure worldwide. It also highlighted the US’s use of technical bases in Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan to launch attacks while maintaining plausible deniability. The report concluded that the US, despite its accusations of a ‘China cyber threat,’ is the true ‘hacker empire’ and the primary source of global cyberspace instability.

China has leveled serious allegations against the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), accusing it of orchestrating cyberattacks on its National Time Service Center. The Ministry of State Security disclosed these claims in a WeChat post on Sunday, following an investigation. According to the ministry, the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in the messaging services of an unspecified foreign mobile phone brand in 2022, targeting devices of the center’s staff to steal sensitive information. Additionally, the U.S. agency allegedly deployed 42 types of advanced cyberattack tools to infiltrate the center’s internal network systems between 2023 and 2024, with attempts to breach a critical timing system. The ministry asserted it possesses evidence but did not disclose it publicly. The National Time Service Center plays a pivotal role in generating and distributing China’s standard time, as well as providing timing services to critical sectors such as communications, finance, power, transport, and defense. The ministry has reportedly issued guidance to the center to mitigate risks. China also criticized the U.S. for hypocrisy, stating that it accuses others of cyber threats while engaging in similar activities itself. This accusation comes amid escalating tensions between the two nations over trade, technology, and Taiwan. Western governments have previously alleged that hackers linked to the Chinese government have targeted officials, journalists, and corporations. The U.S. Embassy has yet to respond to these allegations.

As the Middle East accelerates its digital transformation, low-code and no-code platforms are emerging as critical tools for modernization. At GITEX 2025, Nintex showcased its platforms as a vital enabler for governments and enterprises across the region. These platforms allow organizations—from federal agencies to banks and telecoms—to develop internal workflows and customer-facing applications in hours rather than months. This rapid development capability is particularly valuable in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is a cornerstone of national strategy. Initiatives such as ‘zero tax, zero bureaucracy’ and AI-first citizen services demand agile, scalable solutions, which low-code platforms effectively provide. One of the significant challenges in deploying AI is fragmented data. Nintex addresses this by automating processes that unify information across systems, creating a robust foundation for AI-driven insights. Samir Akel, VP of Nintex, emphasized the importance of operational readiness, urging businesses to transition from manual to measurable workflows. ‘Leaders across the region want measurable AI results this quarter,’ Akel stated. ‘If your processes are broken, your AI will be too.’ Akel highlighted the Middle East’s potential for rapid AI growth, with IDC forecasting AI spending in the META region to reach $7.2 billion by 2026. However, he cautioned that without mature processes and clean data, AI efforts may fall short. Nintex is also addressing concerns around data sovereignty. While global trends once favored cloud-first strategies, the company notes a resurgence in on-premise deployments, particularly in the Middle East, where security and control are paramount. Nintex’s platform supports both cloud and on-premise models, offering flexibility based on regulatory and operational needs. Looking ahead, Nintex is advancing into ‘agentic business orchestration,’ where AI not only supports workflows but also generates them. This vision includes AI engines that can suggest e-forms, recommend process flows, and integrate seamlessly across government authorities to deliver unified citizen services. With over two decades of partnerships in the region, including collaborations with the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority and Khalifa University, Nintex is positioning itself as a key player in the Middle East’s digital future, bridging legacy infrastructure with next-generation automation and AI.

At Gitex Global 2025, MongoDB emerged as a key player in the Middle East and Africa’s (MEA) digital transformation, aligning its strategy with the region’s accelerating AI ambitions and data sovereignty initiatives. The event marked a significant shift from AI experimentation to enterprise-grade deployment, with MongoDB positioning itself as a foundational platform for building intelligent, secure, and compliant applications.

MongoDB showcased its latest innovations, including context-aware embedding models and self-managed vector search, designed to meet the growing demand for production-grade AI solutions. These tools enable organizations to scale AI applications across sectors like smart cities, healthcare, and education. The company’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, which integrates MongoDB deployments with AI assistants like GitHub Copilot and Claude, further simplifies developer interactions with data using natural language.

Anders Irlander Fabry, MongoDB’s Regional Director for MEA, emphasized the company’s alignment with the region’s evolving tech landscape. He highlighted MongoDB’s diverse offerings, from the open-source MongoDB Community edition to enterprise-grade solutions and MongoDB Atlas, its fully managed cloud database. These are complemented by professional services, training, and consulting aimed at maximizing the value of data infrastructure.

Fabry noted the region’s phenomenal momentum, citing MongoDB’s rapid growth from fewer than five employees to over 25 in just two years. This growth reflects the urgency with which organizations are embracing digital transformation, driven by Gulf governments’ investments in technology as a pillar of economic diversification.

To support this transition, MongoDB is investing heavily in developer enablement, offering user groups, events, and free onboarding sessions. Fabry envisions explosive growth for MongoDB and the broader AI ecosystem in MEA, with the technology stack creating tens of thousands of jobs and redefining industries.

With its flexible architecture, regional presence, and focus on AI-readiness, MongoDB is well-positioned to capitalize on MEA’s digital future, making its timing at Gitex Global 2025 particularly strategic.