Tech News
Msheireb Museums Announces Participation in Major Grant Collaboration with HBKU on QRDI-Funded Digital Citizenship Project
International Museums Day panel discussion explores the role of museums in academic research
Msheireb Museums and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) announced their partnership on a pioneering research project funded by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) to champion responsible digital citizenship and constructive online community engagement. The collaboration was announced to mark this year’s International Museums Day in line with the “Museums for Education and Research” theme that encourages a more conscious, sustainable, and inclusive world.
Msheireb Museums is joining the four-year “Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach” project, supported by QRDI’s National Priorities Research Programme-Cluster (NPRP-C), as part of its commitment to preserve and promote cultural heritage while addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
Abdulla Al Naama, General Manager of Msheireb Museums, said, “As a vanguard institution committed to documenting and advancing societal progress, Msheireb Museums is honoured to join forces with a consortium of leading researchers and innovators to showcase the wealth of knowledge museums have to offer. It is apt for our collaboration to come on the heels of International Museum Day as we rethink how knowledge and education can be shared – a topic explored by ICOM during this year’s International Museums Day.”
The research project, titled ‘The Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach,’ brings together 10 national and international entities from academia and industry, led by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). IT encompasses six sub-projects focused on synthesising social media discourse, developing web-based tools, creating educational resources, and investigating digital literacy and well-being, gender equality, social inclusion, and behavior-based approaches to online security. Final research findings will be used to enhance the digital experience for users in the Arab world and GCC area through a focus on diversity and inclusion.
The six sub-projects are:
− MARSAD Social Media Observatory, led by Dr. Wajdi Zaghouani, HBKU.
− Digital Critical Literacy & Propaganda Detection, led by Dr. Firoj Alam, HBKU.
− Digital Wellbeing, led by Dr. Raian Ali, HBKU.
− Security and Safety as Behavior, led by Dr. Khaled Khan, Qatar University.
− Gender Equality and Social Inclusion on Social Media, led by Dr. Osama Halabi, Qatar University.
− Digital Citizenship Ambassador Program, led by Dr. Eddy Borges-Rey, Northwestern University in Qatar.
Msheireb Museum’s Abdulla Al Naama added, “We are eager to facilitate the robust evolution of digital citizenship in Qatar and beyond by leaning into our expertise in cultural heritage, community outreach, and education. Msheireb Museums is offering the researchers access to our heritage houses, collections and exhibitions as a platform to investigate opportunities for public engagements on issues relating to digital citizenship.”
Dr. Raian Ali, Professor in Information and Computing Technology at HBKU and one of the research leads, commented on Msheireb Museums joining the collaboration, “As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it’s imperative to elevate our understanding and engagement with the concept of digital citizenship. We are grateful to Msheireb Museums for serving as platform for this important research cluster. As a narrative museum, filled with thoughtful digital exhibits, Msheireb Museums offers a dynamic backdrop for exploring this crucial topic.”
Situated in Msheireb Downtown Doha and developed by Msheireb Properties, Msheireb Museums offer a compelling narrative of Qatar’s evolution in the context of the country’s oldest city center. Comprising Bin Jelmood House, Radwani House, Company House, and Mohammed Bin Jassim House, the museums serve as a repository of social history, documenting and promoting societal and cultural progress.
Shedding light on common human heritage and cultural diversity has become the hallmark of Msheireb Museums. One of its heritage house sites, Bin Jelmood House, pays tribute to and acknowledges the social, cultural, and economic contribution of formerly enslaved people to the growth of human civilisations.
“This year’s International Museums Day theme, ‘Museums for Education and Research,’ resonates deeply with the core mission of cultural institutions worldwide. It underscores the pivotal role museums play in supporting education through ongoing research and exploration. We whole-heartedly support a future where knowledge knows no bounds with the help of advancements in technology and research practices,” said Dr. Hafiz Al Abdulla, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Msheireb Properties and ICOM Qatar Board Member.
As Msheireb Museums continues to collaborate on groundbreaking research projects and engage with the community, it remains dedicated to its role as a social history museum that observes, documents, and encourages societal and cultural development in Qatar.
Tech News
IT services spend in MENA set to reach up to 28% of total IT budgets as services-led transformation accelerates
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is entering a decisive, services-led growth phase in its IT sector, as enterprises and governments accelerate large-scale digital transformation initiatives. Investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, and cybersecurity are reshaping technology priorities, with implementation, integration, and managed services gaining prominence over traditional software-led models.
Industry analysis by Grand View Research (GVR) reveals that IT services currently account for around 21–22% of total IT spending across MENA, a share expected to rise to between 26 and 28% by the end of the decade. The region’s professional IT services market, valued at USD 33.9 billion (Dh124.5 billion) in 2024, is forecast to grow to nearly USD 58.3 billion (Dh214 billion) by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.5%.
Sourav Bhanja, Middle East Head of GVR, said: “Many B2B IT services firms in the region continue to underinvest in digital engagement. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn remain underutilised, while company websites often lack strong case studies, sector-specific storytelling, and clear positioning.”
Government-led digitalisation programmes, sovereign cloud deployments, smart city initiatives, and national data strategies, coupled with rising enterprise adoption across sectors such as banking and financial services, healthcare, energy, logistics, and public infrastructure, are driving this shift. As hyperscalers and global technology firms expand their regional footprint, demand for localised integration, migration, and managed services continues to accelerate.
Bhanja also emphasised the importance of leadership visibility in the region’s competitive IT market: “Technical capability alone is no longer enough. Firms that combine deep technical expertise with consistent marketing, strong leadership visibility, and clear communication of value are the ones most likely to succeed in the MENA market.”
The analysis highlights that with growing competition among IT services providers, market visibility and differentiation have emerged as critical growth drivers. Integrated, always-on digital marketing strategies are increasingly vital, as many B2B IT services firms underutilise channels such as LinkedIn, websites, thought leadership content, newsletters, blogs, infographics, and short-form video to engage decision-makers.
Market data also indicates a broader shift towards digital-first engagement. Digital advertising spend in the Middle East, estimated at USD 32 billion (Dh117 billion) in 2024, is projected to rise sharply to USD 81.4 billion (Dh298.9 billion) by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.7%. In contrast, the regional events and conferences market is expected to expand at a more modest 7.1% CAGR, reflecting changing enterprise marketing priorities.
Grand View Research concluded that IT services firms combining technical depth with strong market communication, data-driven marketing, and visible leadership will be best positioned to capture the next phase of growth across MENA.
Tech News
Loylogic Shares 2026 Vision to Advance the Global Rewards Marketplace
Advanced AI innovation, intelligent marketplace design, and trusted global infrastructure position Loylogic for continued leadership in rewards and loyalty commerce.

As the Middle East loyalty market is projected to reach $3.27 billion in 2025, expanding 16.3% year-on-year, and digital-first, personalized, and coalition-based models reshape the industry, brands face rising expectations around relevance and engagement. Against this evolving landscape, Loylogic, a leader in global loyalty rewards management, today shared its 2026 strategic outlook, outlining how the company is evolving its global rewards marketplace to support brands navigating rapidly changing loyalty expectations.
The company enters the year with a renewed focus on continued investment in AI-powered rewards marketplace intelligence, enhanced catalogue curation, and deeper integration capabilities designed to improve reward relevance, partner value, and member experience across industries and geographies. Rather than simply expanding choice, Loylogic’s approach centres on intelligent rewards marketplace design, aligning consumer relevance, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation within a single global platform.
To support enterprise scale deployment, Loylogic continues to operate under a robust compliance and security, compliance and governance framework. The company adheres to internationally recognised standards ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, and AES-256 encryption, ensuring secure and trusted data handling across every layer of its technology while maintaining alignment with the European Accessibility Act 2025 and WCAG 2.0. All platforms remain adaptable to regional data residency and regulatory requirements.
“As loyalty programs mature, brands are looking beyond scale alone,” said Gabi Kool, CEO of Loylogic. “They want reward ecosystems that are smarter, more relevant, and commercially sound. Our focus for 2026 is about advancing how global rewards marketplaces are designed, governed, and experienced, combining intelligence, trust, and flexibility.”
Advanced AI innovation is central to Loylogic’s next phase of growth. Loylogic continues to enhance its use of advanced analytics and machine learning to support smarter reward discovery, improved marketplace performance, and deeper insights for loyalty operators, while maintaining strict standards for privacy, security, and compliance.
“Our innovation efforts are focused on making rewards marketplaces more intelligent and adaptive,” said Amit Bendre, COO of Loylogic. “This means better insight, better decision support, and better experiences, without compromising on trust, transparency, or regulatory rigor.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Loylogic plans to deepen collaboration with global partners, engage more actively with industry stakeholders, and selectively strengthen capabilities across commercial, product, and technology functions, supporting a growing pipeline of enterprise clients across financial services, travel, and consumer sectors. With a proven global infrastructure, deep marketplace expertise, and a clear strategic direction, Loylogic continues to help leading brands transform everyday engagement into meaningful, long-term loyalty.
About Loylogic
Loylogic is a leader in global rewards marketplaces for loyalty and incentives management, enabling brands to deliver scalable, flexible engagement experiences through a modern commerce platform. Its global catalog and redemption marketplace support meaningful engagement across B2C, B2E, and B2B programs worldwide. With deep expertise in sourcing, fulfilment, and patented points-plus-cash innovation, Loylogic has enabled over 200 billion points and miles transactions, delivered more than $1 billion in commerce, and shipped experiences spanning 100+ categories across 190 countries to more than 10 million loyalty members worldwide.
Tech News
Webook.com Strengthens UAE Footprint, Bringing World-Class Entertainment Experiences
Webook.com, one of the fastest-growing platforms for booking lifestyle and entertainment experiences in the Middle East, is deepening its footprint in the United Arab Emirates following strong traction across the country.
Founded with a vision to transform how people discover and book experiences, webook.com continues to elevate convenience through a unified platform that brings together entertainment, dining, and leisure in a seamless digital journey.
Within the UAE, webook.com has rapidly expanded its user base while curating a lineup of world-class experiences. From comedy nights with Bassem Youssef to electrifying Teddy Swims concerts and the magic of Disney on Ice, webook.com continues to bring some of the region’s most unforgettable events to audiences across the UAE. Beyond these major hosted events, users can also book global entertainment experiences, including MDLBEAST, Riyadh Season, AFCON and other leading events happening across MENA.
Commenting on the expansion, Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com, said: “Webook.com was built to curate the experiences that matter most, from front-row access to world-class entertainment to discovering hidden local gems. Expanding our footprint to the UAE allows us to bring a carefully selected lineup of events and experiences to the region. Our goal is to continue providing variety, quality, and seamless access to unforgettable moments.”
As the platform widens its presence across the UAE, it continues to strengthen partnerships with top entertainment brands, cultural institutions, and iconic venues, enabling users to access an unmatched selection of events and experiences.
Webook.com’s technology has proven itself across multiple markets, handling millions of transactions during major events, tournaments, and high-demand ticket releases. With real-time queueing, robust infrastructure, and flexible integration, webook.com delivers landmark events with unmatched reliability and scale.
With momentum accelerating in the UAE, webook.com aims to transform how people discover, plan, and enjoy experiences, turning every booking into the start of a memorable story. Beyond expanding its presence, webook.com is shaping a movement centered on connection, culture, and the joy of shared moments.
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