VC

Saudi Arabia

ANALYSIS: What Uber’s $554M Blacklane deal could pay its Gulf backers

Nov 5, 2026

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2 min read

ANALYSIS: What Uber’s $554M Blacklane deal could pay its Gulf backers

We break down what Uber’s acquisition could mean for the Saudi sovereign investor and Emirati family businesses that backed Blacklane, from potential payouts to estimated returns.

Jamie Lane

News

Dubai’s BY Venture Partners closes $60M third fund for global AI-native startups

Oct 29, 2026

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2 min read

Dubai’s BY Venture Partners closes $60M third fund for global AI-native startups

Dubai Future District Fund anchors the vehicle, following earlier funds that backed Huspy, NymCard, Toters and Onfido.

Jamie Lane

News

Mubadala Capital’s venture chief Ibrahim Ajami to leave and launch $500M fund

Oct 28, 2026

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1 min read

Mubadala Capital’s venture chief Ibrahim Ajami to leave and launch $500M fund

The head of ventures is expected to leave next year to launch Noha, with backing from Mubadala Capital and a predominantly US investment mandate.

Jamie Lane

News

ADGM revises VC fund rules with $200M manager cap and new capital requirement

Oct 26, 2026

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2 min read

ADGM revises VC fund rules with $200M manager cap and new capital requirement

The new framework replaces a $100 million cap per fund with a $200 million ceiling across a manager’s funds. Existing venture firms have until March 2027 to comply.

Jamie Lane

Public Markets

Property Finder, Fresha, eyewa backer General Atlantic eyes $10B IPO valuation

Oct 23, 2026

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3 min read

Property Finder, Fresha, eyewa backer General Atlantic eyes $10B IPO valuation

The growth investor has deployed more than $3 billion in the Middle East and secured a $500 million commitment from QIA as it broadens its business beyond private equity.

Jamie Lane

Saudi Arabia

Saudi regulator proposes fuller VC fund disclosures on valuations and exits

Oct 23, 2026

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2 min read

Saudi regulator proposes fuller VC fund disclosures on valuations and exits

Draft rules would require venture capital and private equity funds to give investors details of individual holdings and realised returns, alongside broader reforms to Saudi capital markets.

Jamie Lane

Startups

Oct 20, 2026

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1 min read

CapQuest raises $1M pre-seed to help startups manage ownership and employee equity

Oraseya Capital and AMKM Family Office led the round for the Dubai-based company, whose customers span 11 countries.

Jamie Lane

News

Activate Capital to open Doha office with backing from QIA’s $3B venture programme

Oct 16, 2026

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2 min read

Activate Capital to open Doha office with backing from QIA’s $3B venture programme

The US energy and infrastructure technology investor, which manages more than $1 billion across three funds, becomes the latest firm drawn to Qatar by the sovereign wealth fund.

Jamie Lane

News

Phoenix Venture Partners completes debut fundraise, reports $23M across fund and co-investments

Oct 12, 2026

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1 min read

Phoenix Venture Partners completes debut fundraise, reports $23M across fund and co-investments

The Abu Dhabi manager has seven companies in its first fund and plans to build a portfolio of 15 to 20, with 45% of committed capital still available for investment.

Jamie Lane

News

Dubai's Oraseya Capital doubles venture fund to $272M and broadens global mandate

Oct 11, 2026

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1 min read

Dubai's Oraseya Capital doubles venture fund to $272M and broadens global mandate

The government-backed investor can now commit up to $6 million per company and will target overseas businesses of strategic relevance to the UAE, alongside its early-stage investments.

Jamie Lane

Startups

Abu Dhabi’s Phoenix Venture Partners backs COFE Tech through secondary deal as it prepares for Saudi IPO

Oct 9, 2026

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1 min read

Abu Dhabi’s Phoenix Venture Partners backs COFE Tech through secondary deal as it prepares for Saudi IPO

The purchase preceded COFE’s $43 million pre-IPO round, with PVP founder Steve Khayat joining the board.

Jamie Lane

Saudi Arabia

Endeavor Catalyst closes oversubscribed $320M fifth fund, its largest yet

Oct 8, 2026

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2 min read

Endeavor Catalyst closes oversubscribed $320M fifth fund, its largest yet

The oversubscribed fund counts Jordan’s ISSF and Careem founders among its backers, with Replit already in the portfolio and total assets under management now above $850 million.

Jamie Lane

Startups

MASNA Ventures seeks $150M fund capacity as Saudi defence investor accelerates maritime push

Sep 25, 2026

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2 min read

MASNA Ventures seeks $150M fund capacity as Saudi defence investor accelerates maritime push

Saudi Arabia’s first defence-focused VC fund is seeking a 50% increase in capacity as it expands its focus on autonomous systems and builds out local manufacturing partnerships.

Jamie Lane

SaaS

Saudi used-car platform Carly takes Pinnacle investment in primary-secondary deal

Sep 10, 2026

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1 min read

Saudi used-car platform Carly takes Pinnacle investment in primary-secondary deal

The undisclosed transaction is the first investment from Pinnacle’s new growth and secondaries fund, launched last month to back later-stage Saudi tech companies while providing liquidity to existing shareholders.

Jamie Lane

Saudi Arabia

HUMAIN says planned $10B global VC fund could be larger, unveils separate Saudi-focused vehicle

Sep 4, 2026

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2 min read

HUMAIN says planned $10B global VC fund could be larger, unveils separate Saudi-focused vehicle

The Saudi AI company will create HUMAIN Limitless, a separate initiative specifically focused on investing in and supporting AI companies within Saudi Arabia.

Jamie Lane

News

What VNV’s portfolio marks imply for Breadfast, Baly, Vezeeta and Wasoko

Aug 21, 2026

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3 min read

What VNV’s portfolio marks imply for Breadfast, Baly, Vezeeta and Wasoko

The Stockholm-listed investor’s first-half accounts offer a rare read-through on private-market values across its MENA portfolio, with Breadfast held at its latest funding round, Baly marked higher and Vezeeta, El Basharsoft and Wasoko written down.

Jamie Lane

Saudi Arabia

Saudi's Khwarizmi Ventures partially exits Bosta at around 3x

Aug 21, 2026

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1 min read

Saudi's Khwarizmi Ventures partially exits Bosta at around 3x

The Saudi venture firm, which first backed Bosta at Series A and invested in two subsequent rounds, has partially sold its stake in the Egyptian logistics company at a net multiple of about 3x.

Jamie Lane

Saudi Arabia

Pinnacle Capital launches fund combining Saudi growth rounds and secondaries

Aug 21, 2026

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1 min read

Pinnacle Capital launches fund combining Saudi growth rounds and secondaries

The CMA-licensed Riyadh firm, established in 2021 and affiliated with the Watar Partners network, will invest through primary rounds and secondary transactions.

Jamie Lane

News

Exits MENA acquires Avanz Capital Egypt, adding fund management to its advisory platform

Aug 21, 2026

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1 min read

The firm has assembled a portfolio spanning frontier models, semiconductor infrastructure and data centres, with stakes including OpenAI and xAI.

Jamie Lane