News
+2
Dec 9, 2025
•
2 min read
The Qatar Investment Authority has set up a new AI company to invest in infrastructure, evaluate frontier models and build trusted systems, joining the UAE and Saudi Arabia in pushing for sovereign control over next-generation computing.
Startups
+5
Backed by A15, Beltone Holding and angels, Byit plans rapid expansion into Saudi Arabia after growing its network to more than 40,000 freelance brokers.
+1
Dec 8, 2025
1 min read
Mark Kahn, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Omnivore, India’s leading agritech and climate-tech venture capital firm with more than $300M AUM, joins the podcast.
Fintech
+4
Dec 5, 2025
3 min read
The Turkish crypto giant gains VARA and Bahrain licenses through its purchase of CoinMENA, expanding regulated operations into the MENA region as consolidation accelerates across digital asset markets.
Weekly round-up
13 min read
Saudi cybersecurity startup raises $9.2M Series A, Plus VC to fund 30+ startups and double deployment to $10M in 2026, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.
+3
Backed by Sanabil 500, Hub71 and Plus VC, Reno will use the new capital to scale its renovation operating system, launch an AI-powered design app and grow its footprint across Gulf markets.
Dec 4, 2025
The latest round was led by Paradigm, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, CapitalG and several returning investors.
Zazu is targeting what economists call Africa’s “missing middle”: the continent’s 50 million SMEs that sit between micro-entrepreneurs served by mobile money and large enterprises supported by commercial banks.
Dec 3, 2025
The Cairo chip startup gives GlobalFoundries new silicon photonics design depth as AI data centres shift from copper to optical interconnects.
The Cairo startup, which acquired Saudi Arabia’s Arkan United last year, will use the funding to expand access to rapid, AI-driven radiology across MEA and strengthen its position in Saudi Arabia.
Impact46 doubles-down as COGNNA pushes into global markets with its agentic SOC platform, promising faster threat detection and lower security operations costs.
Nov 28, 2025
16 min read
erad secures $125M facility to scale SME finance across the GCC, Propeller launches $50M Fund III, Egypt's chip startup Infinlink acquired by global giant, plus this week’s MENA startup, VC, and tech news round-up.
Nov 27, 2025
The capital will expand erad’s embedded finance solutions into new B2B verticals including manufacturing, logistics, distribution and real estate services, with financing ticket sizes of up to SAR 10 million.
Analysis
Nov 26, 2025
6 min read
Here's our list of likely prospects, target exchanges, the last known valuations, the appointed banks, and the key quotes from leadership. We'll update it regularly, tracking companies' plans and progress.
Jordan
Founded in 2017 by Zaid Farekh and Tambi Jalouqa, Propeller operates across Amman, Riyadh, Boston, and Silicon Valley, positioning itself as a bridge between MENA AI builders and US growth markets.
Contech
Nov 25, 2025
The startup, founded by the builders behind Mighty Buildings and Glance Clock, is piloting its first block-laying robot and targeting the UAE’s $42.75 billion construction market.
Outliers VC leads investment to scale subsurface-powered cooling technology across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The US firm, known for backing SpaceX, Airbnb and OpenAI, will support Mnzil’s expansion of workforce housing solutions across the GCC.
