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Presented byDotFable · 4 Jan 2027 · Michigan, USARegister now

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Anecdoted Originals

The Funding Wire

53 stories in this series

Aldar and Mubadala Buy Masdar City Square for $250 Million
Funding & Investment

Aldar and Mubadala Buy Masdar City Square for $250 Million

The seven-building office complex lifts the Aldar-Mubadala joint venture's Masdar City portfolio to $1.3 billion.

Tariq Benali

Saudi rental platform Rize draws $50M Murabaha facility from Jadwa Investment
Funding & Investment

Saudi rental platform Rize draws $50M Murabaha facility from Jadwa Investment

The asset-backed financing, worth SAR 187.5 million, will fund Rize's rental contract portfolio and free equity for product, hiring and expansion.

Tariq Benali

COFE Tech's $178M Round and Its CEO's Case for Riyadh as the Region's Silicon Valley
Funding & Investment

COFE Tech's $178M Round and Its CEO's Case for Riyadh as the Region's Silicon Valley

Fresh from a funding round valued at roughly US$178 million, COFE Tech's Ali Al-Ebrahim explains the pivot to enterprise AI and why he sees Riyadh as the Middle East's startup gateway.

Karim El-Sayed

Aster DM Healthcare Adds Dubai Hospital in $272M UAE Expansion
Funding & Investment

Aster DM Healthcare Adds Dubai Hospital in $272M UAE Expansion

The deal with Al Tawfeeq for Development and Investment adds 116 beds and 39 outpatient clinics, taking Aster's UAE network to 11 hospitals.

Tariq Benali

BRKZ Raises $31M to Push AI Procurement Across Saudi Building Materials
Funding & Investment

BRKZ Raises $31M to Push AI Procurement Across Saudi Building Materials

The Saudi platform split its new funding between a $13M Series B and $18M in growth debt as it expands sourcing corridors into China and India.

Tariq Benali

XRG closes Southern Gas Corridor stake purchase from Azerbaijan
Funding & Investment

XRG closes Southern Gas Corridor stake purchase from Azerbaijan

The ADNOC investment arm takes an equity position in the 3,500-kilometer pipeline network as it assembles a gas portfolio across the Caspian.

Tariq Benali

Tabby Raises $233M at $6.5B Valuation to Push Beyond BNPL in Saudi, UAE
Funding & Investment

Tabby Raises $233M at $6.5B Valuation to Push Beyond BNPL in Saudi, UAE

The buy now, pay later firm, profitable since 2023, will use the equity round to broaden its credit and money management products.

Tariq Benali

MENA Issuers Build Funding Optionality as Volatility Persists
Funding & Investment

MENA Issuers Build Funding Optionality as Volatility Persists

Regional borrowers are spreading issuance across benchmarks, sukuk, multiple currencies and private placements instead of relying on one route.

Karim El-Sayed

White & Case Invests in Clauze.AI, a Saudi Legal AI Platform
Funding & Investment

White & Case Invests in Clauze.AI, a Saudi Legal AI Platform

The firm backs a bilingual contract and compliance tool founded by the lawyer who ran its Riyadh office for three years.

Tariq Benali

ADIA's 20-Year Return Climbs to 6.6% as Private Equity and AI Reshape Allocations
Funding & Investment

ADIA's 20-Year Return Climbs to 6.6% as Private Equity and AI Reshape Allocations

Abu Dhabi's sovereign fund lifted private equity and financial alternatives targets while cutting real estate, as buyout activity and AI capital spending expanded.

Tariq Benali

Boring Company Raises $3B at $23B Valuation in UAE-Led Series D
Funding & Investment

Boring Company Raises $3B at $23B Valuation in UAE-Led Series D

The UAE-led round funds more than 150 kilometers of planned tunnel infrastructure and expands the company's work beyond the Dubai Loop pilot.

Tariq Benali

Mubadala to Take Minority Stake in Luckin Coffee in $1 Billion Deal
Funding & Investment

Mubadala to Take Minority Stake in Luckin Coffee in $1 Billion Deal

Abu Dhabi's Mubadala agrees to a minority investment in Luckin Coffee valued at about $1 billion, joining the chain's controlling shareholder Centurium Capital.

Tariq Benali

Abu Dhabi's IHC to Take Majority Stake in Space Firm Marlan Space
Funding & Investment

Abu Dhabi's IHC to Take Majority Stake in Space Firm Marlan Space

The UAE conglomerate moves into satellite infrastructure and manufacturing with an 80% acquisition of Marlan Space.

Tariq Benali

Flynas Buys 10% Stake in Swissport Saudi Arabia for $13.3M
Funding & Investment

Flynas Buys 10% Stake in Swissport Saudi Arabia for $13.3M

Flynas will own 10% of Swissport Saudi Arabia and make it the exclusive ground handler at Saudi airports for five years.

Tariq Benali

Salla buys Saudi fintech Paylink to expand payments
Funding & Investment

Salla buys Saudi fintech Paylink to expand payments

The e-commerce platform is folding Paylink's SAMA-licensed payments infrastructure into its merchant ecosystem, including SoftPOS and cross-border payments.

Team Anecdoted

Saudi corporate travel firm FlyAkeed secures $25.15 million to scale platform
Funding & Investment

Saudi corporate travel firm FlyAkeed secures $25.15 million to scale platform

Growth financing pairs a Sanabil-led equity round with a sukuk to extend payment terms for corporate travel in Saudi Arabia.

Team Anecdoted

Sirdab raises $10 million to expand logistics platform across GCC
Funding & Investment

Sirdab raises $10 million to expand logistics platform across GCC

Saudi Arabia-based logistics startup Sirdab raised $10 million in a Series A co-led by Elm and BECO Capital to expand across the GCC.

Team Anecdoted

Saudi Investment Bank Sells Amex Saudi Stake to Amex Middle East for $381.4M
Funding & Investment

Saudi Investment Bank Sells Amex Saudi Stake to Amex Middle East for $381.4M

Amex Middle East, already half-owner, takes full control of the Saudi card issuer and buys out Saudi Investment Bank for cash plus a deferred profit share.

Tariq Benali

COFE Tech closes pre-IPO round at $178 million valuation
Funding & Investment

COFE Tech closes pre-IPO round at $178 million valuation

Kuwait-founded COFE Tech has raised pre-IPO funding at a $178 million valuation as it prepares for a Saudi Exchange IPO.

Team Anecdoted

3C Coding School raises $3 million seed for Saudi expansion
Funding & Investment

3C Coding School raises $3 million seed for Saudi expansion

Egypt-based edtech 3C Coding School raised a $3 million seed round, led by MRG Economic Group, for expansion into Saudi Arabia.

Team Anecdoted

Ibtikar Fund backs AI retention startup Churn Solution
Funding & Investment

Ibtikar Fund backs AI retention startup Churn Solution

Palestine-based Churn Solution receives seed funding to expand its AI retention platform for subscription businesses.

Team Anecdoted

Jordan’s Abwaab acquires Egyptian edtech Eduact
Funding & Investment

Jordan’s Abwaab acquires Egyptian edtech Eduact

The Jordan-based edtech company has bought Egypt's Eduact, adding software for independent teachers and learning centres to its platform.

Team Anecdoted

PIF-backed HUMAIN invests in Arabic.AI to expand Arabic enterprise AI
Funding & Investment

PIF-backed HUMAIN invests in Arabic.AI to expand Arabic enterprise AI

HUMAIN, a PIF company, has taken a strategic stake in Arabic.AI and will pair its AI infrastructure with Arabic language technology for enterprise customers.

Team Anecdoted

Alpha Dhabi Doubles Private Credit Commitment to $1B in Mubadala JV
Funding & Investment

Alpha Dhabi Doubles Private Credit Commitment to $1B in Mubadala JV

Alpha Dhabi Holding has raised its stake in the MICAD Credit JV to 40% as the partnership expands beyond direct lending.

Tariq Benali

HUMAIN Invests in Arabic.AI and Tarjama for Arabic Enterprise AI
Funding & Investment

HUMAIN Invests in Arabic.AI and Tarjama for Arabic Enterprise AI

Deal combines PIF-backed infrastructure with Arabic-language translation, document intelligence and enterprise delivery.

Karim El-Sayed

GMNSM raises $2 million for GCC and European expansion
Funding & Investment

GMNSM raises $2 million for GCC and European expansion

Funding will open GMNSM's first jiu-jitsu academy in Riyadh and its first European academy in Monaco.

Team Anecdoted

Oro raises $3 million to expand AI-powered DeFi execution
Funding & Investment

Oro raises $3 million to expand AI-powered DeFi execution

The UAE-based platform has raised strategic backing to grow its natural-language DeFi execution model.

Team Anecdoted

Swvl Raises $13M Led by Sawiris-Backed Coefficient for US Expansion
Funding & Investment

Swvl Raises $13M Led by Sawiris-Backed Coefficient for US Expansion

Dubai-based Swvl will use the $13 million private placement to enter the US market, launch a lending product, and shore up its balance sheet.

Tariq Benali

UAE's Stellaria secures $6.8 million to scale geospatial AI platform
Funding & Investment

UAE's Stellaria secures $6.8 million to scale geospatial AI platform

UAE startup Stellaria, formerly Farmin, raised $6.8 million at a $114.4 million valuation to expand its geospatial AI software.

Team Anecdoted

Raff raises $1.7M to bridge online brands with physical retail
Funding & Investment

Raff raises $1.7M to bridge online brands with physical retail

The Saudi retailtech startup will use the pre-seed round to expand across the GCC and strengthen its AI capabilities.

Team Anecdoted

XSquare raises pre-Seed to expand into Saudi Arabia
Funding & Investment

XSquare raises pre-Seed to expand into Saudi Arabia

UAE fintech XSquare has closed a pre-Seed round led by Raed Ventures, with plans to launch in Saudi Arabia.

Team Anecdoted

Cyfr Capital Backs Five Omani Startups From Its Seed Fund
Funding & Investment

Cyfr Capital Backs Five Omani Startups From Its Seed Fund

The Oman VC firm invested with Future Fund Oman across cars, food delivery, tourism, AI, and packaging.

Team Anecdoted

AILA raises $3 million pre-Series A to expand personalised learning platform
Funding & Investment

AILA raises $3 million pre-Series A to expand personalised learning platform

Saudi edtech AILA has raised $3 million led by Rua Growth Fund to expand its AI-powered personalised learning platform.

Team Anecdoted

HeyBreez raises $2.5M Seed for enterprise voice AI operations
Funding & Investment

HeyBreez raises $2.5M Seed for enterprise voice AI operations

The MENA-founded voice AI infrastructure company closes an oversubscribed round led by Lunara Partners.

Team Anecdoted

Rozenama raises $150,000 pre-seed from Iraq's Aljasmi Perfumes CEO
Funding & Investment

Rozenama raises $150,000 pre-seed from Iraq's Aljasmi Perfumes CEO

The Baghdad e-commerce startup will rebuild its platform and expand beyond the capital.

Team Anecdoted

Tax Star closes $1.75 million Seed round to expand across GCC
Funding & Investment

Tax Star closes $1.75 million Seed round to expand across GCC

Tax Star's $1.75M seed round funds UAE e-invoicing compliance and GCC expansion.

Team Anecdoted

Exits MENA acquires Avanz Capital Egypt in multi-seven-figure deal
Funding & Investment

Exits MENA acquires Avanz Capital Egypt in multi-seven-figure deal

Egypt-based investment advisory platform Exits MENA has fully acquired Avanz Capital Egypt and will rebrand it as Exits Manara, its private capital and asset management subsidiary.

Team Anecdoted

Global Partners Raises US$300M+ for Second Dubai Property Fund
Funding & Investment

Global Partners Raises US$300M+ for Second Dubai Property Fund

The DFSA-regulated manager will back Dubai Creek Gardens with Marriott's Westin and Renaissance brands, the first such residences in the UAE.

Karim El-Sayed

Khwarizmi Ventures books near-3x return on partial Bosta exit
Funding & Investment

Khwarizmi Ventures books near-3x return on partial Bosta exit

The Saudi VC's sixth portfolio exit follows prior disposals including Tamara and POSRocket.

Team Anecdoted

L'IMAD Moves to Buy Remaining AD Ports Stake for $2.1 Billion
Funding & Investment

L'IMAD Moves to Buy Remaining AD Ports Stake for $2.1 Billion

ADQ, an L'IMAD subsidiary, has offered AED 6.25 per share for the 24.58% of AD Ports it does not already own.

Tariq Benali

Pinnacle launches VC fund for Saudi growth companies and secondaries
Funding & Investment

Pinnacle launches VC fund for Saudi growth companies and secondaries

The Saudi investment firm's new vehicle targets established tech companies with primary capital and secondary purchases.

Team Anecdoted

Qatar’s Rasmal Ventures backs Yuno’s $45 million Series B
Funding & Investment

Qatar’s Rasmal Ventures backs Yuno’s $45 million Series B

Payments infrastructure firm Yuno raises $45m Series B, with Qatar’s Rasmal Ventures among the investors.

Team Anecdoted

UAE mobility fintech Naran raises $10m from Landel for expansion
Funding & Investment

UAE mobility fintech Naran raises $10m from Landel for expansion

A rent-to-own fintech for ride-hailing and delivery drivers, Naran will use the cash to grow fleets, build new products and enter MENA.

Team Anecdoted

Beltone Venture Capital exits BirdNest investment with 3.5x return
Funding & Investment

Beltone Venture Capital exits BirdNest investment with 3.5x return

Partial exit from Egyptian proptech company returns capital to investors and preserves a stake.

Team Anecdoted

MENA startups raise $173 million in July as Saudi Arabia regains lead
Funding & Investment

MENA startups raise $173 million in July as Saudi Arabia regains lead

Debt drove a modest month-on-month rebound, while equity investment stayed weak across the region.

Team Anecdoted

Arab Therapy raises $2M pre-Series A to expand in Saudi Arabia
Funding & Investment

Arab Therapy raises $2M pre-Series A to expand in Saudi Arabia

The Berlin-based digital mental health startup will use the new capital to expand across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

Team Anecdoted

Saudi game studio Majestic Mind Games raises about $1.45 million
Funding & Investment

Saudi game studio Majestic Mind Games raises about $1.45 million

Jeddah-based developer backed by NEOM will use the round to build original PC titles for international markets.

Team Anecdoted

Longevium raises $7M for Dubai longevity research lab
Funding & Investment

Longevium raises $7M for Dubai longevity research lab

UAE healthtech company Longevium will use its debut funding to build an AI-focused longevity research laboratory at Dubai Science Park.

Team Anecdoted

MOZN secures strategic investment from Saudi AI firm HUMAIN
Funding & Investment

MOZN secures strategic investment from Saudi AI firm HUMAIN

HUMAIN's first Saudi investment pairs its AI infrastructure with MOZN's enterprise AI products for financial institutions and the public sector.

Team Anecdoted

The End of the Transaction: What Dubai Operators Must Now Prove
Funding & Investment

The End of the Transaction: What Dubai Operators Must Now Prove

Institutional money is reshaping Dubai's advisory industry, and RD Dubai's Lukas Kerrebijn says relationships now outlast the deal.

Karim El-Sayed

Ash Games Raises $1.5 Million From Merak Capital and Impact46
Funding & Investment

Ash Games Raises $1.5 Million From Merak Capital and Impact46

Saudi Arabia-based Ash Games lands $1.5 million to develop Nomad, expand its team, and push Saudi-inspired games to global markets.

Team Anecdoted

Simplex opens second Egyptian factory and starts work on third
Funding & Investment

Simplex opens second Egyptian factory and starts work on third

Egyptian CNC maker's new $50m plant in 10th of Ramadan City comes with Jordan and Kuwait expansion deals.

Team Anecdoted

Yalla Startups debuts as Qatar’s first radio show for startups and innovation
Funding & Investment

Yalla Startups debuts as Qatar’s first radio show for startups and innovation

The weekly program from Startup Grind Doha and Olive Suno Radio Network airs on Radio Olive 106.3 FM and VoiceCast.

Team Anecdoted

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