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Startups

Facebook’s Meta signs partnership to support Saudi tech startups

Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has announced a new partnership with Riyadh-based STV (Saudi Technology Ventures), the Middle East’s largest venture capital fund, to support the growth of technology startups in the kingdom. Founded in 2018 by Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, STV has capital of over $500 million and it’s portfolio of investments includes regional […]

AGBI

Saudi credit to SMEs up 11.5%, startup funding up 145%

Credit provided by Saudi financial institutions to small businesses rose by 11.5 percent last year, while funding raised by startups in the kingdom is up 145 percent this year, as the Riyadh government continues to encourage the development of the country’s local business community. Credit awarded to Saudi micro, small and medium-sized enterprises reached 203.25 […]

Elie Habib's Anghami generates close to one billion streams a month with a catalogue of more than 72 million Arabic and international tracks

Make some noise for Anghami’s Elie Habib

The Lebanese music streaming mogul talks to AGBI about the meteoric rise of his Nasdaq-listed company, its battles with music pirates, relocation to Abu Dhabi and his ambition to launch Arab music stars Elie Habib fell in love with coding early. He started selling software at the age of 17 and launched several companies in […]

Optibus develop software to prepare transit systems for smart cities

Mobility tech firm Optibus valued at $1.3bn after raising $100m

US-Israeli mobility technology company Optibus has raised $100 million in a private funding round that values the company at $1.3 billion. The funding came from new and existing investors including Insight Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Verizon Ventures, Pitango First & Pitango Growth, Tencent, SOMV Momentum, and others, said Optibus, which has raised $260 million to […]

Burj Al Arab

Indian media giant signs Dubai blockchain deal

Eros Investments, run by India’s Lulla family, plans to develop Web 3.0 and blockchain businesses out of Dubai as part of a partnership deal to operate under Dubai’s new virtual assets regulator, the company said on Tuesday. The deal is part of a push by the United Arab Emirates to become a global hub for […]

Wio appoints execs to drive digital banking push

Wio Bank, a new digital banking platform established in the UAE, today announced senior leadership appointments following its licence approval by the UAE Central Bank. Salem Al Nuaimi has been named chairman of the board and Jayesh Patel has been appointed as CEO. Wio is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi Holding Company (ADQ), Alpha Dhabi, […]

In the race to be the global hub of Web3, there is significant opportunity

Will Dubai win the Web3 race?

The co-founder of Tahseen Consulting, one of the MENA’s top tech policy firms, rates Dubai’s chances of becoming a hub for the decentralised web and crypto exchange

Mashreq is predicting buy now, pay later transaction volumes in the UAE will increase by 60 percent to 80 percent in 2022. Picture: Creative Commons

Mashreq puts $10m into Cashew, buy now, pay later start-up

United Arab Emirates buy now, pay later platform Cashew announced on Monday it had secured up to $10 million in debt and equity financing from local lender Mashreqbank PSC which would now help it expand faster. The deal is the latest investment in the Gulf’s growing buy now, pay later sector that has drawn interest […]

Could crowdfunding seed the Gulf’s next Unicorn?

Democratised funding is set to breed a new generation of innovative regional businesses, say experts Crowdfunding, the alternative funding concept, represents an exciting reality in the Gulf region following a flurry of regulatory reforms. This innovative practice of funding a venture by raising smaller amounts of money from a large number of people is a […]

Revealed: top co-working spaces in the Gulf

Demand for co-working spaces is on the rise in the Gulf as business communities evolve to support the shift towards knowledge-based economies and nurture a new generation of startups driving a different way of working. Spaces are opening up across the region to accommodate a different breed of worker that prioritises flexibility, low rates and […]

Tech company iMENA working with banks on IPO plans

Middle East technology investment firm iMENA Group, part owned by Abu Dhabi telecom operator e& , is considering an initial public offering in Abu Dhabi and is working with banks on the deal, two sources told Reuters. The company invests in online and mobile businesses in the Middle East and North Africa, with firms including […]