#110 This week In MENA's Startup Scene!
Dive into the latest Startup News, Trends & Opportunities shaping the MENA region
Welcome back to MENA Startup Digest!
We are bringing you the latest round-up of startup news, updates, and opportunities in the MENA region.
Fundraising Roulette
🇦🇪 Moove → $250M Series C · $2.1B Valuation · builds fleet and depot infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, covering charging, servicing, maintenance and operations
🇶🇦 Multiverse Computing → €500M Series C · develops AI model compression technology that cuts computing costs and energy use, with a new regional HQ planned in Doha
🇸🇦 RIME → $2M+ Seed · turns cameras and sensors into AI agents for real-time branch monitoring and operations
🇸🇦 MOZN → Undisclosed Investment from HUMAIN · builds enterprise AI for financial crime prevention and knowledge intelligence
🇸🇦 Amplifai Health → Undisclosed Investment from ASICS Ventures · uses AI-powered thermography for injury prevention, recovery monitoring and preventive health screening
🇸🇦 Majestic Mind Games → $1.45M Funding Round · develops original video games from Saudi Arabia for PC, console and mobile
🇦🇪 Soter Insure → Undisclosed Series B First Close · provides institutional insurance for digital assets, covering risks including theft, smart contracts and slashing
🇧🇭 Soor → Undisclosed Pre-Seed · lets users compare and buy insurance policies from multiple providers through one digital platform
🇸🇦 Aramco Ventures → Leads $9.5M Series A in Mitti Labs · backing climate tech for lower-emission rice farming
More rounds → here
Main Headlines
🇸🇦 PIF-led consortium completed its $55B acquisition of Electronic Arts, taking the gaming giant private alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners
🇦🇪 Dubai-based ICC Loyalty was acquired by Mintoak, adding rewards and customer engagement technology to its banking platform across emerging markets
🇰🇼 Kuwait Investment Authority secured a $4.25B syndicated loan, marking its first syndicated financing since 1999
🇪🇬 Beltone Venture Capital partially exited BirdNest at a 3.5x return, delivering an 80% IRR over two years while retaining a stake in the Egyptian hospitality startup
🇶🇦 QSTP added redalpine as a co-investment partner to its $30M Tech Venture Fund, bringing the Swiss VC’s deep tech investment network and expertise to Qatar’s startup ecosystem
More updates → here
Ecosystem Updates
Forbes Middle East named 102 executives to its 2026 Top CEOs list across 29 sectors
Inc. Arabia named 60 Women of Influence across MENA from more than 300 nominations
UAE Capital Market Authority abolished 15 fees to reduce costs for licensed capital market participants
Oman’s Financial Services Authority introduced 11 new investment fund categories under updated regulations
Ma’an opened applications for the UAE’s first certificate recognising social enterprises
Jameel DeepTech Initiative brought 33 teams from 900 applicants into its Saudi deeptech semi-finals
LOYAC concluded its 11th Kun program with 68 young social entrepreneurs in Kuwait
More updates → here
Startups Highlights
🇸🇦 Tamara (FinTech) received an A- credit rating with a stable outlook from TASSNIEF, strengthening its access to local capital markets
🇦🇪 Shaffra (AI) opened an Azerbaijan headquarters in its first expansion beyond the GCC
🇸🇦 MoneyHash and Azm Fintech (FinTech) integrated Edaat into MoneyHash, giving merchants easier access to Saudi payment infrastructure
🇯🇴 ScribeMe (Accessibility) launched its Meta AI glasses integration for blind and low-vision users
🇦🇪 Edenred UAE (FinTech) received in-principle CBUAE approval for a Stored Value Facility licence
🇦🇪 healthStay.io (HealthTech) partnered with Mexico Health Concierge to manage international patient journeys from enquiry to follow-up
🇪🇬 IV Academy and Eagle Academy (EdTech) partnered to combine undergraduate and postgraduate digital medical education
🇯🇴 Algebra Intelligence (AI) partnered with Qatar’s Technology Square to expand in the Qatari market
More highlights → here
Open For Application
🇾🇪 Made by Yemenis 2026 → Program for Yemeni climate and WASH innovations offering technical support and €5K to each selected project. ⏳ August 15
🇶🇦 SCALE7 Angel Investors Academy 2026 → Investor training program for aspiring angel investors investing in Qatar’s creative industries. ⏳ August 25
🇯🇴 HEYA Women in Innovation → Incubation program for women-led startups in Jordan, offering business support and up to €15K in funding. ⏳ September 5
🇹🇷 VMS Bridge Türkiye → Market-entry program helping Turkish startups expand into KSA through mentorship, market access, and ecosystem connections. ⏳ September 10
🇪🇬 LaunchPad Hackathon → Competition for Egyptian tech projects offering training and prizes of up to EGP 100K
🇹🇳 EL Factory → Free three-month accelerator for seven Tunisian Hardware and Industry 4.0 startups, offering mentorship, FabLab access, technical support, and vouchers
🇸🇾 AI LaunchLab → Free, equity-free eight-week incubator for Syrian early-stage ideas and startups, selecting 16 teams with three months of follow-up support
More Programs and Opportunities → here
Cool Events
🇸🇦 500 MENA: The Legal Check · Aug 10 · Virtual → founder agreements, IP, company structure & due diligence readiness
🇸🇦 24six9 Founders Workshop · Aug 11 · Riyadh → hands-on workshop on founder identity, motivation & building sustainably
🇸🇦 FinTech 525 Community Gathering · Aug 12 · Riyadh → fintech founders, investors & operators networking with no panels
🇦🇪 Ignyte × DIFC Innovation Hub Pitch Day · Aug 13 · Virtual → 15 startups pitch directly to LvlUp Ventures’ global investment team
🇯🇴 Startup Grind Amman: Running Out of Cash · Aug 15 · Amman → runway planning, 13-week cash forecasting & surviving cash crunches
🇸🇦 AstroLabs × SBJBC UK-Saudi Expansion Webinar · Aug 20 · Virtual → market entry, company setup, regulation & scaling in KSA
🇪🇬 Alex Angels Capital Connect · Sep 23–Oct 5 · KSA, Egypt & UAE → investor networking, startup matchmaking & cross-border deals
More Events → here
Techy Bytes
Dubai ranked second globally in BCG’s first Intelligent Cities Index covering 61 cities
Longevium is building a $7M AI longevity research lab at Dubai Science Park, set to open in Q4 2026
MEEZA secured QAR 1.6B ($432M) to add around 44 MW of data centre capacity in Qatar
Mubadala is considering up to $6.3B for a 500 MW AI data centre in Japan
SDAIA Academy launched eight summer programs and bootcamps in data and AI for professionals and beginners across KSA
LEONAV-1 completed its first operational phase after validating Low Earth Orbit navigation technology in UAE
Tuwaiq Academy × NVIDIA launched the Middle East’s first NVIDIA AI Innovation Centre in Riyadh
More tech → here
That’s a wrap for this week!
We hope this week’s digest of the latest funding, insights, and ecosystem news helps you stay ahead in the fast-paced MENA region.
Stay tuned for more insights next week
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