AGP Executive Report

Saudi Food Tech: Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority launched the kingdom’s first Food Composition Database, aiming to standardize nutrition data for local foods and support digital health tools. Agri Trade: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to target $3B in agricultural and food exports over two years, prioritizing rice, red meat, fruits and water-efficient farming tech. Digital Welfare: Egypt rolled out a first-phase digital foster-care application system, letting citizens apply online and track verification and approval through linked government databases. Payments in Syria: Visa and Mastercard began international card transactions in Syria, a step toward reconnecting the country to global payment networks after the US removed Syria from its terrorism-sponsor list. R&D & Industry: Türkiye reported record July exports of $25.62B and tested the ground-launched ÇAKIR cruise missile against land and maritime targets, signaling more flexible precision-strike capability. Defense Cooperation: Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are set for their first high-level committee meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul. Health Tech: BridgeBio presented long-term analyses for acoramidis in ATTR-CM, including imaging-based findings suggesting potential reversal of disease progression. Education Rights: Syria’s University of Rojava criticized limits on Kurdish-language instruction, warning it could harm scientific and academic learning.

Renewables Deal: Türkiye’s President Erdoğan approved a Turkiye–Saudi framework for renewable projects, including 1,000MW solar plants in Sivas and Karaman and a second phase adding 3,000MW. Medical Training Tech: Students tested a 360-degree VR animation to teach drug absorption, with about half saying it changed how they understand how tablets move through the body. Archaeology & Science: Egypt’s Saqqara mission reported a remarkably intact tomb of priest Wahtye (4,400 years old) and bone studies suggesting possible malaria in the family; separate work also points to an ancient “shark graveyard” in Egypt’s desert. Digital Government in Egypt: Egypt launched a mobile app for real estate transaction tax services (online registration, card payments, and faster clearance) and began digitising foster-family applications. Energy & Infrastructure: Iran connected a new 290MW steam unit to its Dalahoo plant by reusing turbine exhaust heat, boosting output without extra fuel lines. Regional Security Tech: Turkey’s homegrown drones are spreading across the Arab world, with recent reports of Akinci drones appearing in Yemen and Libya. Geopolitics Meets Tech: The US updated travel advisories for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, citing Iran-linked security risks.

AI in Medicine: A correction to a stroke-risk “Strokebot” study updates a key SHAP-based ranking figure, underscoring how small publication fixes can shift clinical trust. Biotech & Circular Farming: Researchers report a heat-loving fungus that turns rotting rice straw into industrial enzymes and bioactive molecules via fermentation. Energy Storage Research: Iranian scientists developed dual-purpose electrode materials aimed at improving both microbial fuel cells and supercapacitors for renewable power storage. Renewables & Industry Policy: Iran’s government says it will prioritize economic problem-solving, domestic production, and reducing dollar reliance while pushing tech and education. Iraq Tech & Energy Infrastructure: Iraq is accelerating plans for a Basra–Haditha–Fishkhabur pipeline with a link to Syria’s Baniyas, targeting up to 2.25M bpd export capacity. Maritime Tech Watch: Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic rose sharply week-on-week, though it remains well below pre-war levels. Health Tech: A Turkish study finds dermoscopy features that can flag aggressive basal cell carcinoma risk, pointing to better early forecasting in clinics. Israel/UNRWA Control Dispute: Reports say Israel’s withdrawal from the Qalandiya Training Center didn’t end effective control, with surveillance and renovation work continuing. Science Discovery: Paleontologists found an ancient shark “graveyard” in Egypt’s desert, adding multiple extinct species to the record. Turkey Archaeology: Ground-penetrating radar in Türkiye’s Noah’s Ark search detected underground anomalies and cavities for further analysis. Regional Tech Diplomacy: China and Egypt mark 70 years of ties with cooperation spanning clean energy, digital infrastructure, aerospace, and agriculture.

Iran-US sanctions & banking pressure: The US Treasury rolled out its first “secondary” Iran sanctions, naming UAE branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr and cutting them off from US dollar access, as Washington expands “Operation Economic Outcast.” Middle East energy security: With the Strait of Hormuz still a flashpoint, Iran and the region are pushing new revenue-sharing and shipping arrangements, while the war’s ripple effects keep oil and fuel costs volatile. Regional defense diplomacy: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signals unity and peace, even as attention turns to who might join next. Iraq & dollar leverage: Analysis highlights how US control over Iraq’s oil-revenue dollars could be used to squeeze Iran’s trade partners without collapsing key allies’ economies. Health & biotech: The FDA cleared a first-of-its-kind, nonmedication PTSD treatment that personalizes magnetic stimulation using brain activity patterns. Agriculture science: Researchers identified how a plant RNA-editing regulator (SIZ1) helps Arabidopsis survive heat stress—useful for future crop resilience. Deep tech in Qatar: Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund QIA closed multiple deep-tech bets in 10 weeks, including satellite, semiconductors, and autonomous freight. Public safety tech: Virginia Tech opened a counter-drone test and research center to improve detection and tracking of aerial threats. Archaeology: Kurdish authorities reported Parthian-era tomb discoveries near Erbil-Koya, adding to the region’s growing archaeological record.

Saudi Arabia–Syria Tech & Transport Deals: Saudi Transport minister Saleh Al-Jasser wrapped a Syria visit with four agreements and MoUs spanning roads/rail, civil aviation connectivity, postal services, and port/logistics cooperation. Riyadh’s Digital Push: Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Digital Innovation District, aiming to pull in global talent and firms around AI, cybersecurity, cloud, IoT, blockchain, and robotics. Egypt Digital Identity: Egypt rolled out a national biometric verification and e-signature platform to power safer, streamlined access to digital government services. Türkiye Manufacturing Finance: Türkiye unveiled a 250 billion lira employment-linked financing package for manufacturers, with grace periods and employment-linked rate support. Medical Tech Market Signals: New reports project fast growth across respiratory disposables, remote patient monitoring patches, rigid endoscopes, reusable laparoscopic instruments, respiratory protection, and renal denervation devices. Iran Sanctions Clash: Iran urged countries to reject US sanctions under “Operation Economic Outcast,” calling them illegal and warning of retaliation. Energy Shock to Renewables: Coverage on the Iran war’s six-month impact highlights higher fossil-fuel costs and how the pressure is accelerating renewable investment.

AI Stocks Surge: Nvidia’s upbeat forecast reignited tech on Wall Street, lifting the Nasdaq and S&P 500 as AI-linked software and cybersecurity names also jumped. Sanctions Pressure on Iran: Iran urged the UN to condemn new US “economic terrorism” sanctions under “Operation Economic Outcast,” while US moves keep tightening across digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping. Hormuz Uncertainty: Oil prices slid as markets weighed US reluctance to revive earlier Iran talks and ongoing Strait of Hormuz disruption risk. Regional Tech & Learning: Qatar’s National Museum of Qatar and ExxonMobil launched a STEAM festival to drive hands-on science learning for children. Syria Reconnects to Payments: Visa and Mastercard processed Syria’s first international card payments in 15+ years after the US removed Syria from its terrorism sponsor list. Saudi Defense Cooperation: A “Makka Joint Defense Agreement” among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye points to NATO-style collective security, with more military tech cooperation expected. Healthcare Innovation Markets: New reports highlight growth in lab and medical device sectors, from sample prep and scientific instruments to wound-care dressings.

Syria Reconnects to Global Payments: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made the country’s first Visa card payment in 15 years in Damascus, signaling technical re-entry into international card networks after the US removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism list; the Central Bank has also moved to let licensed banks and electronic-payment firms work with Visa and Mastercard. Iran War Economic Pressure: Multiple reports frame the six-month Iran war as a costly stalemate, with the US shifting from strikes to wider sanctions targeting oil, finance, digital assets, tech, gold, aviation and shipping—raising pressure on Iraq’s energy and trade ties with Tehran. UNRWA Under Fire: Egypt condemned an Israeli raid on UNRWA’s Kalandia Training Centre in East Jerusalem as a violation of humanitarian law, warning it could disrupt services for millions of refugees. MENA Energy Push: Middle East Energy 2026 in Dubai spotlights soaring demand and grid complexity, with Rystad projecting MENA capacity and electricity demand to more than double by 2050. Saudi Media Goes Gaming: MBC Studios launched MBC Game Studio to develop “1001 Threads of Mizan,” backed by Saudi PIF’s stake in MBC Group. Health Tech Funding: CEPI pledged up to $16.5m to advance Minapharm’s Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidate into early human trials. Tech Markets: Nvidia’s strong results lifted global tech stocks, while investors stayed cautious ahead of major Fed remarks.

Strait of Hormuz Talks: Iran and Oman agreed a phased framework for a temporary shipping corridor plus mine-clearing, but Iran says the Strait won’t reopen unless the US accepts its conditions—keeping global oil logistics on edge. US Sanctions Push: Washington launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” adding nearly 60 Iran-linked blacklists across tech, aviation, shipping, gold and digital assets, while Iran calls it “economic terrorism” and demands compensation. Energy Shock Watch: Qantas reported a 19.8% profit drop, blaming a $610m fuel hit tied to the Middle East conflict. Syria Financial Reset: Syria’s removal from the US terror sponsor list is expected to unlock SWIFT-linked banking and investment, with officials pointing to upcoming electronic payments upgrades. AI in the Region: Tencent Cloud partnered with TruKKer to expand Saudi cloud operations and roll out an AI coding assistant for DevOps. Ancient Science: Egyptian paint analysis found unexpected plant proteins (including sesame and moringa), shedding light on ancient materials and craft choices.

Strait of Hormuz Talks: Iran’s deputy foreign minister says Tehran and Oman agreed a temporary 7-mile shipping route, but warns the strait won’t fully reopen until the US delivers on a lapsed interim deal—leaving global energy transit still constrained. US Sanctions Push: Washington’s “Operation Economic Outcast” targets Iran’s tech, shipping and digital assets, with Treasury warning trading partners and firms they face penalties. Cybersecurity in Critical Infrastructure: The FBI is probing a ransomware breach at Kansas water-utility tech maker Micro-Comm, underscoring how PLC-linked attacks can disrupt water operations and how Iran-linked cyber concerns are spreading. Iraq Currency Plan: Iraq’s central bank denies printing new dinar notes with zeros removed, saying any change would require legal, regulatory and technical steps. Middle East Tech & AI: Egypt pilots “Karnak Chat,” a locally deployed Arabic conversational AI built for digital sovereignty. Defense Industry Collaboration: Nigeria urges Turkey to move beyond buyer-seller deals toward joint production and tech transfer at a defense forum.

Strait of Hormuz Diplomacy: Iran and Oman agreed on a temporary navigational corridor and joint mine-clearing talks, while Iran’s deputy FM stressed the strait remains “militarily closed” and won’t reopen “tomorrow,” aiming for a new permanent setup within 30–60 days. US-Iran Economic Pressure: Washington’s “Operation Economic Outcast” expands sanctions across digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping, with Treasury targeting Iran-linked crypto and $100M oil-payment networks; China hit back, saying unilateral sanctions shouldn’t disrupt its Iran ties. Shipping Disruption: A US naval blockade has left at least 13 empty Iranian-flagged tankers idling near Sri Lanka as crude exports stall, while Iran blacklisted 45 tankers for Hormuz “violations.” AI Security Funding: Israeli-founded Alice raised $140M to protect AI systems and agents from manipulation, reaching $100M in annual recurring revenue and securing billions of users. Saudi Nuclear Deal: Trump sent a civil nuclear agreement to Congress, but says it only moves forward if Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Syria Investment Signal: Syria’s removal from the US terrorism list is expected to ease banking and investment access, though it still faces FATF grey-list constraints.

Iran Sanctions Push: The US Treasury unveiled “Operation Economic Outcast,” expanding sanctions on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities and warning of secondary penalties across digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping—sparking fresh anxiety as Iranians queue for petrol. China & Qatar Push Back: Beijing warned it will defend its interests against “illegal unilateral sanctions,” while Qatar criticized the move and said it’s still mediating to revive talks. Syria Sanctions Relief: Washington removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list and also delisted Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, with Damascus calling it a major opening for reconstruction and investment. Saudi AI Infrastructure: Mistral AI and Humain signed an agreement to build sovereign AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, focusing on localized frontier models for cybersecurity and voice. Health Research Boost: Saudi Arabia’s SNIH and Sanofi set a framework to strengthen national health research capacity, including genomics, precision medicine and digital health. Energy & Water Tech: Russia’s Rosatom says it may discuss building a large desalination plant at Egypt’s El-Dabaa nuclear power site. Tech & Markets: Investors rotated back toward tech stocks as oil and yields eased, even as Iran tensions kept markets on edge. Israel Tech Security: Alice, an Israeli AI trust and safety firm, completed a $140m financing round.

Sanctions Shock: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” warning countries and companies to cut ties with Iran or risk being cut off from the dollar system; the campaign targets five sectors—digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping—and follows new secondary sanctions threats. Currency Pressure: Iran’s rial slid to a record low on the open market ahead of the announcement, underscoring how the economic squeeze is already biting. Market Spillover: Asia stocks slipped and oil prices fell as investors digested the sanctions push and braced for major tech earnings, with Nvidia in focus. Syria Re-entry: The US officially delisted Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and removed HTS from its terrorist list, signaling a push toward reintegration and investment. Regional Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia and France backed Palestinian statehood and urged Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territory, while also calling for conditions for a Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian access. AI in the Gulf: A new report says the UAE is moving from AI pilots toward broader orchestration, with agentic AI adoption rising but still limited in fully autonomous workflows.

Egypt Digital Banking: Egypt’s central bank approved a framework for remote account opening and eKYC onboarding, letting customers verify identity, sign terms electronically, and update data online—pushing digital finance beyond branch visits. Ancient Science: Egypt’s Western Desert yielded a “shark graveyard” with at least seven Cretaceous shark species identified from fossil teeth, adding detail to the region’s ancient marine ecosystem. Middle East Cyber & Power: Reports say Iran-linked hackers shut down a UK power plant for days, while other coverage highlights cyber threats to critical infrastructure across the region. Iran Sanctions Pressure: Iran’s rial hit a record low as the US prepares more sanctions under an “economic D-Day” push, with ripple effects for trade and markets. Israel-Syria-Turkey Tensions: Israel’s strikes and Syria border dynamics keep raising the risk of a wider clash, with Turkey watching closely as Syria becomes a sensitive overlap point. Defense Tech in Space: Israel plans offensive space capabilities, including satellite defense and space-to-Earth strike systems, as part of a multiyear budget plan. Aviation Training: flynas broke ground on a Riyadh training center (SAR 200m) for pilots and cabin crew, targeting a 2028 opening. Healthcare Market Signals: New research forecasts growth in endoscopy, HLA typing for transplants, and other med-tech segments—pointing to continued investment in diagnostics and transplant matching.

Healthcare Tech: Turkmenistan is finishing an AI-enabled International Scientific and Clinical Oncology Center in Ashgabat, adding digital patient networks, radiotherapy and even radiopharmaceutical production. Maritime Innovation: The U.S.-Egypt Ports Infrastructure and Maritime Innovation Forum in Cairo pushed port upgrades, trade resilience and tech cooperation. Telecom & 5G: Saudi stc and Huawei completed a commercial MB² microwave deployment, cutting antenna counts and speeding multi-direction 5G links. AI Adoption: Singapore’s AIMX 2026 convened 60+ countries to move AI from pilots to real enterprise deployment across sectors like healthcare and logistics. Cyber & Energy Security: Reports say Iranian-linked hackers shut down a UK power plant for days, underscoring grid vulnerability. Geopolitics Meets Tech: Syria and Israel held U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan to reduce strikes and revive a security framework, while Iran’s sanctions fight continues to rattle regional markets. Energy & Industry: Egypt is courting ADNOC Drilling for expanded onshore and offshore work, aiming to boost domestic oil and gas output.

Cybersecurity & Energy: UK energy bosses were briefed after Iranian-linked hackers shut down a British power plant for four days, prompting talk of tighter reporting rules for operators. Iran-US Economic Pressure: Iran’s security chief warned any country joining the US “economic war” could face “seismic” retaliation, as Washington prepares new sanctions. Energy & Resources: Iran announced a new South Pars gas deposit (21 bcm) while also citing reduced output from attacks on the field. Regional Security Architecture: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan’s Mecca Defense pact reportedly invited Iran to join, raising the stakes for a wider collective-defense framework. Tech & Policy: Qatar’s MoEHE says it’s using technology and teacher training to build a future-ready education system, with 2026 academic gains reported. Science & Research: Israeli and Chinese teams studied Cretaceous amber insects and found a bizarre “bendy straw” feeding organ, shedding light on how prehistoric insects accessed plant tissues. Local Tech/Business: TravelDistro launched a single API-first travel marketplace for Türkiye, aiming to simplify bookings across tickets, hotels, eSIM and more. Education & Society: Singapore plans broader childcare support and lower preschool fees, while also emphasizing safeguards for tech adoption. Workplace Safety: Two workers were injured in a control-room explosion at a Turkish steel plant; authorities are investigating the cause.

Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: Iranian-affiliated hackers allegedly shut down a UK power plant for four days, prompting UK cyber authorities to investigate and raising alarms about attacks on energy systems. Middle East Security & Shipping: Iran granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after Baghdad requests, while Iran’s security chief warned countries joining the US “economic war” could face retaliation. Defense Industry & Tech: Iran marked Defense Industry Day with claims of expanded missile and defense production, including footage from an underground missile facility. Energy & Regional Infrastructure: Egypt’s Arab Contractors and Elsewedy Electric inaugurated Tanzania’s $2.9B Julius Nyerere dam and hydropower project, a major grid and water-flow boost. Digital Connectivity in Iraq: Earthlink says Starlink could extend internet access to remote Iraqi areas as fiber rollout faces permit delays in parts of the country. Archaeology in Turkey: Excavations at Tralleis uncovered a large Roman cold-pool used by trainees, adding to Turkey’s “Legacy for the Future” heritage push. Finance in Qatar: Commercial Bank was named Qatar’s Best Wealth Management Bank at the TAB Global Middle East Awards 2026.