2Africa plugs into the UAE

The 2Africa submarine telecoms cable has been integrated into e&’s UAE SmartHub data center via its carrier and wholesale arm, according to a press release. The move brings the world’s largest subsea cable system, which is set to connect over 33 countries across its 45k-km system, into live service locally. The 2Africa network is already present across Europe, Asia, Africa, and our neck of the woods. It has a capacity of 180 Tbps, and its arrival in the UAE aims to boost connections for data centers and hyperscalers.

Why it matters: The move reinforces the UAE’s role as a regional traffic hub, not just a transit point. As JLL has previously noted, Dubai’s edge lies less in headline MWs and more in dense connectivity that supports low-latency, cross-border data flows as AI workloads scale and data-localization rules tighten.

ZOOM OUT- The UAE is being stitched more tightly into global data corridors. From e&, the 1.4k-km Al Khaleej subsea data cable linking Bahrain to the UAE and other Gulf states is slated to go live in 2Q 2026, and the 11k-km ICE IV cable connecting Southeast Asia to the Gulf is expected in 4Q 2027. State-owned telco du also partnered with Peace Cable International Network to extend its open-access system into the UAE via the Peace Gulf Extension, after already activating a 275-km UAE-Oman fiber link connecting Dubai with Barka and Salalah.

Crypto risk, paid in crypto

Crypto-denominated ins. lands in UAE: Dubai Ins. is partnering with Abu Dhabi-based digital asset insurer Soter Insure to roll out ins. policies priced and settled in BTC and ETH, alongside traditional fiat options, according to a press release.

The pitch: Eliminate the asset-liability mismatch in traditional crypto ins. by matching claims to the underlying asset and stripping out price-volatility risk. The move builds on Dubai Ins.’ launch last month of a crypto-enabled digital wallet with Zodia Custody, allowing premiums and claims to be settled directly in digital assets. It also positions the insurer among the region’s first to offer in-kind crypto coverage as institutional adoption scales.

InvestSky expands into Saudi

UAE fintech expands into Saudi Arabia: The UAE-based fintech InvestSky expanded into Saudi Arabia after securing a Financial Technology Experimental Permit from the Kingdom’s Capital Market Authority, according to a press release. InvestSky is partnering with Saudi investment player ANB Capital as part of the expansion.

The details: The move allows Saudi-based investors to trade both US and local equities through a platform designed to simplify market access for retail users. The firm said it is also looking to partner with other Saudi-based firms following the ANB Capital collaboration.

The expansion comes on the back of a USD 4 mn seed round led by Riyadh-based venture capital firm Emkan Capital, bringing InvestSky’s total funding to USD 7.4 mn, following a USD 3.4 mn pre-seed funding round in 2023. The capital will be deployed to scale regional operations and target investors from previously underserved retail segments in the region.

Khazna Data Centers is pulling data center operations in-house as it scales

The G42-owned operator launched Khazna NexOps, a centralized, in-house operations unit that consolidates core data center management and integrates AI-driven monitoring, predictive maintenance, and climate intelligence, according to a statement (pdf). The unit — marking a shift away from vendor-led operations toward a standardized internal model — has a team of over 230 specialists and oversees more than 30 live sites.

Expansion is the backdrop: Khazna is targeting more than 1 GW of additional AI-ready capacity by 2030, pushing beyond the UAE with up to 200 MW planned in Saudi Arabia, a 500 MW project in Italy with Eni, and new sites in Egypt and Turkey, while doubling down at home, as we previously reported.

Domestically, Khazna controls 71% of existing UAE data center capacity and is investing USD 1.3 bn in five new facilities, adding 210 MW, including two 30 MW sites in Mafraq (AUH4) and Masdar City (AUH8) due in 2H this year, and the 100 MW QAJ1 Ajman facility expected by December.

ThrowMeNot bags USD 550k in pre-seed funding

UAE-based smart commerce platform ThrowMeNot raised USD 550k in a pre-seed round led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana Al Maktoum, according to a press release. The capital will enable the eco-conscious online food marketplace to expand its team and scale delivery and fulfillment operations throughout the UAE. The startup has plans to expand across MENA.

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