Hussein Abul-Enein

Hussein analyses policy issues and trends across the digital ecosystem, with an emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa.

The Role of Earth Observation in Combating Desertification in Middle Eastern Countries

The Role of Earth Observation in Combating Desertification in Middle Eastern Countries

This month’s UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh marked a pivotal moment in combating global land degradation and drought, with outcomes including...

13 Dec 2024 Opinion
Access Alert: Saudi Arabia – Pioneering Sustainable Space Endeavours

Access Alert: Saudi Arabia – Pioneering Sustainable Space Endeavours

In an effort to showcase its focus on sustainable space exploration and utilisation, Saudi Arabia hosted the Space Debris Conference...

1 Mar 2024 Opinion
Access Partnership contributes to Agile Nations’ policy paper on the Responsible Metaverse Self-Governance Framework

Access Partnership contributes to Agile Nations’ policy paper on the Responsible Metaverse Self-Governance Framework

As part of the Agile Nations Metaverse Working Group under the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, & Remote...

13 Oct 2023 Metaverse Policy Lab Opinion
Impact of Hyperscale Cloud on the UAE’s SMEs and Start-ups

Impact of Hyperscale Cloud on the UAE’s SMEs and Start-ups

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is making significant progress on its growth path towards economic diversification, with non-oil sectors contributing...

29 Nov 2022 Reports
Access Partnership at the World Telecommunications Development Conference in Kigali

Access Partnership at the World Telecommunications Development Conference in Kigali

One step closer towards meaningful global connectivity? Access Partnership participated at the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) World Telecommunications Development Conference...

1 Jul 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Iraq’s Cloud Computing Policy

Access Alert | Introducing Iraq’s Cloud Computing Policy

On 20 June 2022, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) published its Draft Cloud Computing Policy. The Policy aims...

24 Jun 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Iraq’s Draft Data Classification Policy

Access Alert | Introducing Iraq’s Draft Data Classification Policy

On 20 June 2022, Iraq’s regulator, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), announced the public consultation on the Draft Data...

22 Jun 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Disney+ Launch in MENA from a Regulatory Compliance Perspective

Access Alert | Disney+ Launch in MENA from a Regulatory Compliance Perspective

Disney+, the in-house streaming service of the global entertainment giant Disney, is officially launching in 16 markets across the wider...

8 Jun 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Updated IoT Regulations

Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Updated IoT Regulations

The Saudi telecom regulator, the Communications & Information Technology Commission (CITC), has launched a public consultation to provide interested parties...

13 Apr 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Dubai’s Law No.9 of 2022 on Regulating the Provision of Digital Services

Access Alert | Introducing Dubai’s Law No.9 of 2022 on Regulating the Provision of Digital Services

In late March, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, issued Law No....

5 Apr 2022 Opinion
E-commerce in Iraq: Exploring Untapped Markets in the Middle East

E-commerce in Iraq: Exploring Untapped Markets in the Middle East

Despite the economic and political turbulence of the last two years, the Iraqi entrepreneurial scene has not slowed down. In...

24 Mar 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Executive Regulation of Personal Data Protection Law

Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Executive Regulation of Personal Data Protection Law

On 10 March, the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) published the Draft of the Executive Regulation of Personal Data...

18 Mar 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulation Law

Access Alert | Introducing Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulation Law

On 09 March 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, approved the...

11 Mar 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s UPDATED Digital Content Platforms Regulation

Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s UPDATED Digital Content Platforms Regulation

On 08 March 2022, the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) issued a public consultation on the second draft...

9 Mar 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | The New Personal Data Protection Law of Oman

Access Alert | The New Personal Data Protection Law of Oman

Oman recently issued Sultani Decree No. 6/2022 on Personal Data Protection (PDPL).  Organisations operating in the Sultanate or those processing data of...

18 Feb 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Jordan’s Draft National Charter for the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence is Open for Public Consultation

Access Alert | Jordan’s Draft National Charter for the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence is Open for Public Consultation

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) announced on 10 February 2022 the public consultation on the draft National...

10 Feb 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Whole of Government Platforms Policy & the Governance and Compliance Policy 

Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Whole of Government Platforms Policy & the Governance and Compliance Policy 

The Saudi Digital Government Authority (DGA) recently published the “Whole of Government Platforms Policy” and the “Government and Compliance Policy”,...

4 Feb 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Digital Content Platforms Regulations

Access Alert | Introducing Saudi Arabia’s Digital Content Platforms Regulations

On 10 November 2021 the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission published an open consultation of its draft Digital Content...

10 Nov 2021 Opinion
Access Alert: Introducing Saudi Arabia’s E-Government Regulatory Framework

Access Alert: Introducing Saudi Arabia’s E-Government Regulatory Framework

On Sunday 1st of August, the recently established Saudi Digital Government Authority (DGA) issued the Kingdom’s E-Government Regulatory Framework. This...

3 Aug 2021 Opinion
Introducing the Digital Cooperation Organization: Towards a Common Digital Market in the Middle East?

Introducing the Digital Cooperation Organization: Towards a Common Digital Market in the Middle East?

In November 2020, senior government officials from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan announced the launch of the Digital...

8 Mar 2021 Opinion
Introducing Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for Data and AI

Introducing Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for Data and AI

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a growing digital and technological powerhouse. According to the European Centre of Digital Competitiveness...

22 Oct 2020 Opinion