$302m AI surge in MENA; UAE’s Digital Dirham; Precision medicines

Assalamualaikum,

Across the OIC, nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Qatar are making a strategic push toward personalized healthcare and long-term medical independence by spearheading precision medicine through genomics, AI, and biotech innovation. 

Continuing in the same vein, halal pharma has the opportunity to streamline trade, lower costs, and accelerate innovation across Muslim-majority markets as the OIC develops the world’s first unified standards for medicines, vaccines, and nutraceuticals.

Meanwhile, the UAE has completed its first government transaction using the Digital Dirham via the mBridge platform, marking a significant milestone in its drive toward a fully integrated digital economy.

And finally, AI startups in the MENA region attracted a record $302 million in venture funding during the first half of 2025, accounting for 17% of total VC investment. The UAE and Saudi Arabia collectively captured over 70% of this flow.