Middle East

Omdia reports the Middle East (excluding Turkey) smartphone market rebounded strongly in Q3 2025, with shipments up 23% YoY to 15.1 million units. Growth was driven by demand for mid-tier 4G and affordable 5G devices. While Saudi Arabia saw a slight dip, UAE, Iraq and Rest of Middle East experienced strong growth. Samsung led the market; TRANSSION, Xiaomi, HONOR and Apple also saw gains. Omdia forecasts slower growth in 2026 due to rising component costs.

BIO-key (BKYI) announced a significant deployment of its biometric and multi-factor authentication solution with a major Middle East defense organization. This deployment, aimed at securing critical infrastructure, marks a strategic expansion in the region. BIO-key’s partnership with Cloud Distribution facilitates in-country delivery. While the customer remains unnamed, the contract is noted as one of BIO-key’s largest in the region’s security sector. The deal excludes reliance on mobile devices or hardware tokens. Financial details remain undisclosed.

President Trump declared an end to the Middle East conflict, boosting market optimism despite earlier trade tariff concerns. A potential de-escalation with China and JPMorgan’s $10B investment in strategic sectors, including AI, further fueled market gains. Broadcom’s partnership with OpenAI on custom chip development challenges Nvidia’s dominance in the AI chip market. Additionally, the U.S. offered Argentina a $20 billion currency swap to address liquidity concerns before elections.

Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) solidified its strategic role in Gulf infrastructure during President Trump’s Middle East visit, securing key projects like Saudi Arabia’s $7 billion King Salman International Airport and NEOM’s AI-driven THE LINE. With $1+ billion regional revenue in 2024, a 7,000-strong local workforce, and dual expertise in defense (e.g., cybersecurity) and smart urban development (including Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure), the firm leverages its 60-year regional legacy and digital innovation to align with GCC states’ Vision 2030 goals. Its hybrid civil-defense business model capitalizes on the Gulf’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure boom while navigating geopolitical and regulatory complexities.