The Middle East witnessed notable activity in startup investments and acquisitions during the last week of December 2025, with deals focusing on key sectors such as artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, digital media, and AI-powered trading platforms.
According to the investments and acquisitions report issued by entArabi for the period from December 21 to 28 (the last week of December), data shows that Saudi and Egyptian companies with regional ambitions were the most prominent in securing funding, as investors prioritized supporting innovation and expanding technological and digital infrastructure.
This week reflects a continued trend toward strengthening digital transformation and operational sustainability, alongside building a robust ecosystem for artificial intelligence and digital media services.
Key Deals:
Saudi Newera.ai closed a Pre-Seed round worth $2.133 million to support generative AI solutions and digital transformation in the Kingdom.
Egyptian Croptimus received investment from VentureX to support sustainable agriculture and biochar production under the “Hassad” initiative.
US-based Lucid Capital closed a Seed round of $2.5 million to advance AI-driven smart trading technologies, alongside additional capital commitments of $200 million to expand strategies in stock and crypto markets.
SRMG and Snapchat signed a strategic partnership to promote media innovation and develop the content creation ecosystem across the MENA region.
Google launched the Gemini 3 Flash model globally, while expanding Gemini 3 Pro capabilities and the Nano Banana Pro tool in the United States.
Data shows that investors continue to focus on artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies as growth priorities in the region.
The report also highlights Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United States as leading investment hubs.
Global companies such as Google and Snapchat are investing in regional capabilities while expanding digital innovation initiatives.
The last week of December 2025 underscores investors’ strategy of supporting startups not only through funding but also by strengthening infrastructure and advanced technologies, enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
Investments and Acquisitions by Sector
| Sector | Company | Deal Type | Deal Value (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | Newera.ai | Pre-Seed | 2.133M | Supporting digital transformation and generative AI solutions |
| Trading & Algorithms | Lucid Capital | Seed | 2.5M | Infrastructure and AI development |
| Sustainable Agriculture | Croptimus | Investment | Undisclosed | Biochar production and water efficiency |
| Digital Media & Content | SRMG / Snapchat | Strategic Partnership | Undisclosed | Talent training and interactive content creation |
| AI / Search | Google Gemini 3 Flash | Development / Launch | Undisclosed | Expanding smart search and advanced content creation |
Total investments by sector reach approximately $4.633 million, including disclosed funding.
Investments and Acquisitions by Country
| Country | Company / Platform | Deal Type | Deal Value (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Newera.ai | Pre-Seed | 2.133M | Supporting digital transformation and AI |
| Egypt | Croptimus / VentureX | Investment | Undisclosed | Sustainable agriculture and biochar |
| United States | Lucid Capital | Seed | 2.5M + 200M | AI-driven trading technology |
| MENA | SRMG / Snapchat | Strategic Partnership | Undisclosed | Media innovation and content creation |
| US / Global | Google Gemini 3 Flash | Launch / Development | Undisclosed | Smart search and AI |
Total investments by country amount to approximately $4.633 million, in addition to $200 million in future capital commitments.
