محمد يحي
The third week of December 2025 saw significant activity in the venture capital and startup ecosystem across the Middle East, Gulf, and Africa, with several major funding rounds closing across diverse sectors including e-commerce, fintech, deep tech, data solutions, and digital governance.
This underscores the continued flow of capital toward startups with scalable business models capable of regional and global expansion.
According to the Startup Investments and Acquisitions Report issued by “entArabi” for the period 14–21 December 2025, total announced investments exceeded $748 million, spread across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Algeria.
E-commerce and data solutions led the funding activity, while deep tech, digital travel, and smart mobility sectors showed growing momentum.
The report highlights a concentration of major investments in the Gulf, alongside diversified and strategic funding across Egypt and North Africa.
Investors continue to favor companies combining advanced technology, operational efficiency, and strong regional scalability.
Investments by Country
| Country | Total Investment (USD) | Notable Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 500 million | Noon |
| UAE | 220 million | Premialab |
| Egypt | 46 million | Nawah Scientific, iVoiceUp |
| Algeria | 5 million | VOLZ |
| Total | ~771 million | — |
Investments by Sector
| Sector | Total Investment (USD) | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce & Quick Commerce | 500 million | Noon |
| Data Solutions & Quantitative Investment | 220 million | Premialab |
| Deep Tech & Life Sciences | 23 million | Nawah Scientific |
| Governance, Compliance & AI | 23 million | iVoiceUp |
| Travel Tech | 5 million | VOLZ |
| Smart Mobility & Fleet Management | Undisclosed | GLO Ventures, Riyadah Solutions |
| Startup Operating Systems (Startup OS) |
