Middle East

A major undersea internet cable in the Red Sea has experienced a technical fault, causing widespread disruptions in connectivity across India, the Middle East, and parts of East Africa. The outage has impacted broadband services, international data transfers, and cloud-based operations for businesses and consumers alike. Telecommunications providers have reported slower speeds and intermittent service, while firms reliant on cross-border digital infrastructure are grappling with delays.

SpiceJet, one of India’s prominent low-cost carriers, has announced a strategic interline partnership with Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain. The collaboration is designed to streamline passenger travel, offering seamless connectivity across destinations in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. The agreement will allow travelers to book multi-leg journeys on a single ticket, simplifying transfers and expanding route options.

Darwinbox, a leading HR tech startup, has successfully concluded its third employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) buyback, disbursing Rs. 86 crore among over 350 employees. The move underscores the company's emphasis on cultivating a culture of ownership and rewarding its workforce. The buyback spans employees across 11 international offices, including India, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. This initiative follows Darwinbox’s recent capital infusion of USD 140 million in March 2025, which brought global investment firms Partners Group and KKR on board.

Redington Ltd, a prominent technology solutions provider, has announced significant leadership changes set to take effect on July 1. Rajat Vohra, currently Chief Sales Officer, will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer for India operations. Meanwhile, Ramesh Natarajan, the current CEO, will assume broader responsibilities as CEO for India and Middle East markets. These appointments reflect Redington’s strategic intent to bolster regional integration, deepen customer engagement, and sustain growth momentum.

Paytm has appointed Ramana Kumar as the Chief Executive Officer for its Middle East operations, signaling a strategic push to expand its footprint across the UAE and neighboring markets. Kumar, a seasoned fintech executive with over two decades of experience, will spearhead efforts to customize digital payment solutions for the region, leveraging Paytm’s proven technological platform. His leadership comes at a time when the Middle East is experiencing rapid adoption of digital payments, presenting significant opportunities for innovation and market growth.

Airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are set to receive a massive investment of USD 240 billion over the next decade, with the aim of boosting passenger and cargo capacity. According to Airports Council International (ACI), the investment will support the modernization of existing airports and the development of new ones, creating an additional 1.24 billion passenger capacity and 71 million tonnes of cargo capacity. This infrastructure development is expected to foster significant economic growth, with a projected threefold increase in passenger traffic by 2053.