IoT and machine-to-machine connectivity are becoming a core component of digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa. Governments across the region are investing heavily in smart cities, connected transport, energy and industrial digitalisation, supported by expanding mobile and satellite networks that enable large-scale deployments of connected devices.

At the same time, the regulatory and policy environment for IoT is changing rapidly. Many of the existing telecoms, data, and licensing frameworks were designed for traditional consumer services and are now being adapted to cover globally distributed fleets of connected machines, vehicles, and sensors. This is leading to new approaches to service authorisation, data governance, infrastructure localisation and cross-border connectivity.

These changes are particularly relevant for international IoT providers. Issues such as data storage and cross-border transfers, localisation of network and platform infrastructure, and the regulatory treatment of permanent roaming are increasingly shaping how IoT platforms are designed and operated. The growing use of eSIM and new standards such as SGP.32 is adding further complexity, as regulators and market players reassess how device identity, numbering resources and network access should be governed in a multi-country IoT environment.