WIRED Middle East
Science
The Ghosts of al-Shifa Hospital
Months into a supposed ceasefire in Gaza, doctors still have to smuggle in basic medical supplies – and treat new casualties of war.
By Spencer Ackerman
Fintech
With One Million Displaced, Lebanon Turns to Digital Wallets for Aid
Amid mass displacement and collapsing trust in institutions, digital wallets are becoming critical conduits for aid, connecting diaspora donors directly with communities on the ground.
By Carla Sertin
Digital War
UAE Cyberattacks Surge to 530,000 Per Day Amid Iran War, Says Cybersecurity Head
As missiles cross borders, a parallel conflict is unfolding inside networks. The UAE is facing a surge in cyberattacks tied to geopolitical tensions, and preparing for what comes next.
By Dana Alomar
Digital Coercion
Tools of Survival: How Smartphones Have Become A Lifeline For Gazans
Phones are flooding Gaza's markets, and families will go to any lengths to get them.
By Mohammed Solaiman
DIGITAL INEQUALITY
The AI Divide Is Here, and Its Consequences Are Devastating
The promise of AI is concentrated in the hands of the few while exposing vulnerable groups to unchecked control, surveillance and violence. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
By Iain Akerman
Security
Security
How Trump’s Plot to Grab Iran's Nuclear Fuel Would Actually Work
Experts say that an American ground operation targeting nuclear sites in Iran would be incredibly complicated, put troops’ lives at great risk – and might still fail.
By Caroline Haskins
SIGNAL CONTROL
When Satellite Data Becomes a Weapon
As war reshapes the Gulf, the satellite infrastructure the world relies on to see conflict clearly is being delayed, spoofed and privately controlled – and nobody is sure who is responsible.
By Gia Chaudry
Security
Hassan Took a Bike Ride. Now He’s One of the Thousands Missing in Gaza
In a place denied access to basic forensic technology – and where people disappear into Israeli detention – the fate of thousands remains unknown. One of them is an autistic teenager.
By Mahmoud Mushtaha
Cyberattacks and Hacks
A Mysterious Farsi Numbers Station Is Broadcasting Through the Iran War
First heard as US strikes on Iran began, the shortwave broadcast has since been traced to a US military base in Germany – but its purpose and its operator remain unclear.
By Ruchi Kumar
THE BIG STORY
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Conflict Mapping
Meet The Music Streaming CEO Who Built a Global War Map
Frustrated by fragmented war news, Anghami's Elie Habib built World Monitor, an open-source platform that fuses global data streams, like aircraft signals and satellite detections, to track conflicts as they unfold.
By Lilian Wagdy
EDITOR'S LETTER
Who Gets to Be Safe in the Age of AI?
Technology has become a tool of war, but it is also a tool of resilience.
By Carla Sertin
The Big Story
This Startup Wants To Backup Life On Earth Before It's Too Late
Colossal Biosciences wants to freeze DNA from endangered species before they disappear. Its first BioVault, built in Dubai, could test whether the same technologies behind de-extinction might also help protect life that still exists.
By Dana Alomar
The Big Story
Saudi Arabia’s Giga Projects Are Entering Their Reality Check
With construction falling behind schedule, funding squeezed and expectations being recalibrated, the future of Saudi Arabia’s giga projects is increasingly uncertain.
By Iain Akerman
The Big Story
Crypto in the Grey Zones of North Africa
Under strict financial controls and unclear regulation, Tunisians are using stablecoins to build a shadow financial system that works, even when the official one doesn’t.
By Tharwa Boulifi
Business
Fintech
The Gulf’s Remittance Infrastructure Faces Risks, But Remains Intact During War
Despite missile strikes, infrastructure outages and economic strain, the Gulf’s remittance system is still functioning. But its resilience depends on layers of technology, and on economies that may not hold under prolonged pressure.
By Chris Hamill-Stewart
Web 3
From Envelopes to Wallets: Bitcoin as a Form of Eidiya
From cash envelopes to crypto wallets, some families are experimenting with gifting bitcoin during Eid, turning a centuries-old tradition into a small lesson in digital finance.
By Lara Sabri
Retail and Ecommerce
Check Your DMs: The Massive Informal E-Commerce Industry on Messaging Apps
Social media and messaging apps have become the frontline of online shopping, as cash payments, currency instability, and platform friction shape the region’s digital retail landscape.
By Tharwa Boulifi
Web 3
Crypto in Crisis: What Happens When War Disrupts Financial Systems
As geopolitical conflicts shake markets and banking systems, cryptocurrencies are often seen as a financial fallback. But the way crypto behaves during crises is more complicated than many expect.
By Lara Sabri
Science
Environment
Just Because It’s Raining Doesn’t Mean It’s Cloud Seeding
As heavy rain hits the Gulf, cloud seeding is once again blamed. But the science – and the scale of recent storms – tell a different story.
By Chris Hamill-Stewart
Health
What Happens When You Can’t Get a Death Certificate in Gaza
For families of the missing, systemic obstacles to identifying remains and locating people in Israeli detention has created a kind of social and legal purgatory.
By Mahmoud Mushtaha
Psychology and Neuroscience
China Approves the First Brain Chips for Sale – And Has a Plan to Dominate the Industry
While the United States and Europe are moving cautiously forward with clinical trials, China is accelerating towards the commercialisation of brain implants.
By Jorge Garay
Environment
Kuwait Monitors Radiation Levels as Israeli Strikes Hit Iran Energy Sites
As strikes hit energy and nuclear-linked infrastructure across the region, Kuwait’s environmental sensor network is constantly scanning the air, water and sea for signs of contamination.
By Jethu Abraham
Culture
Movies and TV
Beyond the Oscars, Arab Cinema Is Building Its Own Industry
The nomination of The Voice of Hind Rajab drew global attention. It comes at a moment when Arab cinema itself is undergoing a structural shift.
By Jannat Suleman
Culture
Grammarly Is Offering ‘Expert’ AI Reviews From Your Favourite Authors – Dead or Alive
The tool, offered by the recently rebranded company Superhuman, gives feedback based on the work of famous dead and living writers – without their permission.
By Miles Klee
Digital Culture
Why Missile Alerts and War Updates Trigger Doomscrolling
War alerts, breaking updates and algorithmic feeds are combining to trap users in a loop of threat monitoring.
By Farah Ibrahim
Video Games
The Digital World Cup War: How 2026 Changed the Game Forever
The 48-team World Cup is not the only historic event this year. Four titans are vying for control of virtual soccer in the fiercest battle the gaming industry has ever seen.
By Javier Rodríguez
Gear
Buying Guides
Emergency Preparedness Tech: 11 Gadgets To Keep in a Go Bag
In modern emergencies, staying connected can be just as critical as food or water. Here are 11 tech gadgets that keep power, communication and information flowing when systems break down.
By Dana Alomar
Gear News
The Tech Behind Dubai’s Crackdown on Loud, Illegally Modified Cars
Smart noise-detection radars are being rolled out across Dubai to identify vehicles that exceed sound limits.
By Carla Sertin
Gear
Why Your Phone Battery Dies Faster During a Crisis
Weak signal strength, network congestion and GPS interference can force smartphones to work harder behind the scenes, draining battery during crises.
By Carla Sertin
Buying Guides
Ramadan Rewires Your Routine. These 5 Gadgets Help You Adapt
From sleep-tracking rings to smart tasbih counters, a new generation of technology is helping Muslims manage the disrupted rhythms of Ramadan – from suhoor wake-ups to late-night hydration.
By Dana Alomar