🌙🕹️ Muslim game devs take the spotlight

In a week when the US and UK competed to see which could be the most Islamophobic, Musletter settled back to watch Riz Ahmed be a Muslim James Bond, but then just returned to scrolling news updates. And the update is – it’s bad.

Here’s what we have for you in this edition:

Plus: Our weekly recommendations on what to read, watch, and buy!

Let’s jump right in!

🕹️ Muslim game devs take the spotlight: There’s a significant widening of what Muslims are working on these days. Halal food – check. Fintech – check. This is all going quite nicely. But how about this for ambition: The Battle of Hattin with Salahuddin Ayyubi defeating the Crusader armies, in a game! The project is from Annur Studios, who are developing it, but they're not alone. A recent shoutout on X drew hundreds of responses from Muslim developers, as well as designers, animators, and comic book artists. It demonstrated just how far things have shifted, with Muslims not only developing games but reclaiming Islamic history and correcting the narrative in entertainment form.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh diaspora founders look east: Bangladesh is becoming something of a hub for diaspora entrepreneurs as Western-educated founders launch startups in the country. While there are structural challenges, many are excited about helping build resilient institutions and have left careers to do so. Key sectors in Bangladesh where innovation is most needed include logistics, healthcare, and tech. The scene is set – young population, fast internet adoption, and the opportunity for ventures to scale rapidly. Yes, founders must navigate bureaucracy and funding volatility, but the trend suggests growing confidence in Bangladesh’s long-term potential.

🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi AI: In typical UAE fashion, business continues. Abu Dhabi-based Presight has announced the first six AI startups selected for investment through its AI Innovation Ecosystem. The goal here is to develop next-gen intelligent systems for enterprise use, and the investments are part of the $100 million Presight–Shorooq Fund I (aka PSFI). Selected companies (from the US and UAE) are working in areas including AI infrastructure, industry-specific intelligence platforms, and edge-native systems. Presight has long had a strategy of supporting advanced applied AI technologies built for complex, regulated environments.

🇹🇳 Tunisia goes green: Tunisia is making a big push towards green innovation with a new group of sustainability-focused startups prepping for April’s GITEX Africa 2026 in Morocco. As part of the Greenov’i project to promote eco-friendly businesses, the companies will showcase practical solutions that support sustainability. Meanwhile, the country’s fast-growing tech ecosystem, Novation City, is attracting substantial public and private investment and serving as a hub for AI and deep-tech innovation. This is all part of the pan-African GAICA initiative, which seeks to bring together the continent’s best talent and brightest AI startups and turn research into real-world impact.

🇦🇪 UAE digs deep: Is it possible that the UAE economy can actually strengthen in difficult times? Hmm, jury is out on that one. But the country is showing a lot of resilience amid all this regional uncertainty, with some arguing the geopolitical tensions are reinforcing growth rather than slowing it down. Dubai might be all about the ‘now,’ but the long-term planning and strong economic partnerships that have been set up over time may sustain investor confidence during this period. And it’s not just Dubai – Ras Al Khaimah is becoming a tourism and real estate destination, Ajman is bolstering its key free zone to attract investors, as the UAE positions itself to be ready once regional pressures ease.

🇲🇾 Salesforce launches startup program in Malaysia: Salesforce? That name rings a vague bell. When they’re not busy being a CRM giant, Salesforce is expanding its startup program to Malaysia as part of an initiative to strengthen support for emerging ecosystems. The initiative gives early- and growth-stage companies access to Salesforce’s enterprise technology (AI tools, tech support, mentorship, etc) along with joint GTM opportunities. Since 2021, it has supported over 435 startups and operates in five markets, including India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and, most recently, Malaysia.

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