The UAE’s $3,4bn investment in Gujarat has energised its 300,000-strong diaspora. 
Groups like Gujarati Samaj aim to turn &#8220;cultural ties into economic momentum&#8221;. 
Plans focus on trade, jobs and aligning diaspora capital with bilateral flows. 
Trust-led networks could move faster than official channels, if governance holds firm. 
If managed well, it may strengthen Gujarat and the UAE’s global role.

Moove raised $250 million, reaching a $2,1 billion valuation. 
It builds the “operational backbone” for autonomous fleets, from charging to logistics. 
The firm runs 42,000 vehicles in 29 cities, earning $420 million recurring revenue. 
Funds will expand its “Nests” hubs and grow staff from 150 to 500. 
Investors see infrastructure — the “boring bits” — shaping mobility’s next phase.

Longevium raised $7 million to open a longevity lab in Dubai by 2026. 
The facility will use AI and diagnostics to measure “biological age” and disease risk. 
It will draw on data from 30,000 patients across three Dubai clinics. 
Projects include an AI clinical assistant, wearables integration and patient “digital twins”. 
The move could position Dubai as a regional hub for longevity science.

HSBC will sell its Egypt retail business to Emirates NBD Egypt. 
The deal covers loans, deposits, accounts and staff, pending regulatory approval. 
HSBC expects a $0,3 billion pre-tax gain, with limited capital impact. 
It will “double down” on corporate and institutional banking in Egypt. 
The move reflects a broader strategy to simplify and focus on core strengths.

Foodics completed the third “Foodics Folks” internship, backing young F&amp;B talent in Egypt. 
Students split time between office rotations and real restaurant placements. 
Interns saw how tech, finance and operations intersect to help restaurants grow. 
Soft skills and digital tools were central, from AI teams to POS systems. 
Leaders say it eases the jump from campus to careers.

Epic Markets raised $10 million in an unusually large pre-seed round. 
The UAE startup is building a digital marketplace for alternative assets. 
It aims to widen access and smooth trading beyond shares and bonds. 
The move reflects rising interest in tokenisation across the UAE and MENA. 
Investors are still backing bold fintech ideas, despite early-stage risks.

Bundle secures $5,5 million pre-Seed to build its Web3 platform. 
Funds will drive product development and broader regional expansion. 
The deal reflects growing MENA interest in blockchain and digital assets. 
Early-stage backing signals investors are warming to “newer, riskier” innovation. 
Undisclosed backers leave questions, but money is clearly flowing into Web3.

BY Venture Partners led a $2 million pre-Seed round in ChatFeatured. 
Funding will speed product development and support market expansion. 
The deal reflects rising appetite for early-stage AI in MENA. 
Investors are growing more comfortable with pre-Seed bets in AI. 
It signals a maturing ecosystem backing young tech ventures earlier.

DoctorBook raised a $16,000 pre-seed round from undisclosed angel investors. 
It aims to digitise appointments and patient management in Syria. 
The funding is small, but a “small win against the odds”. 
Investors still back early startups tackling urgent, everyday healthcare problems. 
DoctorBook must now prove traction and sustainable growth in a tough market.

Simplex has invested $50m in a new 10th of Ramadan factory. 
The 40,000-square-metre plant will double capacity and cut delivery times. 
Over 1,000 direct jobs are expected, boosting Egypt’s industrial workforce. 
It unveiled a “Proudly Made in Egypt” CNC machine, targeting exports. 
Regional deals in Jordan and Kuwait support Egypt’s manufacturing hub ambitions.

AI agents now execute payments and decisions, raising the blunt question: who pays? 
Klaimee raised $5,5m to insure autonomous AI with tailored liability cover. 
Traditional E&amp;O and cyber policies ignore risks from self-directing systems. 
Its framework audits, certifies and insures agents within one procurement process. 
With tighter regulation and insurer exclusions, AI liability may mirror early cyber insurance.

Cairo-based Fincart raised USD 2,.8 million in an oversubscribed seed round. 
The startup offers an AI-powered “operating system” for online merchants. 
It simplifies logistics, cash reconciliation and access to short-term capital. 
Funding will support regional expansion across MENA and Africa. 
Investors see behind-the-scenes infrastructure as key to e-commerce growth.

SAMA has licensed Malaa to provide Account Information Services under Open Banking. 
Licensed payment providers in Saudi Arabia now total 33. 
Open Banking gives customers greater control over their financial data. 
The move supports digital finance, innovation and broader financial inclusion. 
Customers are urged to use authorised firms as fintech regulation gathers pace.

Egypt will launch a QR code visa on arrival at Cairo Airport from 1 August. 
Travellers from 118 countries can generate codes online or at kiosks. 
The pilot replaces paper stickers, aiming for “less paperwork” and fewer queues. 
Officials say smoother arrivals could boost tourism and visitor satisfaction. 
If successful, the scheme will expand nationwide, signalling a digital push.

Abu Dhabi’s BY Venture Partners joined a $2m oversubscribed pre-seed round. 
Canadian startup ChatFeatured targets “Answer Engine Optimisation” for generative AI platforms. 
The platform automates content gaps, publishing, and tracks AI-driven citations growth. 
It operates in five markets, claiming 40% month-on-month growth. 
The deal highlights Abu Dhabi’s push into frontier AI infrastructure.

Saudi startup SILQ secured $20 million to expand its embedded finance services. 
It builds credit and payments into platforms businesses already use. 
The aim is to ease funding gaps for underserved Saudi SMEs. 
Investors see SME finance as central to Vision 2030 ambitions. 
SILQ bets “built-in” finance will help firms grow and stay resilient.

Syrian startup Labby secures $10 million in one of the country’s largest rounds. 
The deal signals rising investor appetite in markets once seen as “too difficult”. 
It could shift sentiment across a fragile, early-stage Syrian tech ecosystem. 
Funding may draw more founders, angels and structured venture capital. 
The wider MENA map may be “starting to loosen” beyond traditional hubs.

Kuadra raised fresh funding to expand its AI construction platform across MENA. 
The tool improves planning, resource use and real-time site monitoring. 
Regional mega-projects are boosting demand for AI-driven construction technology. 
Investors are eyeing proptech as digital adoption finally gathers pace. 
Execution remains crucial as firms navigate complex regional markets.

Anara Impact Capital led a $1.45 million round in Egyptian healthtech Reme-D. 
The funding will expand its digital platform and widen access to care. 
Investors back startups chasing impact as well as returns across MENA. 
Healthtech momentum is growing, with modest rounds going a long way. 
Reme-D must scale services and turn funding into reliable diagnostics access.

Uber is in advanced talks to buy Delivery Hero for about €12.5 billion. 
The mooted €33 per share sparked a sharp jump in shares. 
Uber already owns 19,5% and has been quietly building its stake. 
The deal would boost its reach across Europe, Asia and MENA. 
Regulators may pose hurdles, but it signals renewed appetite for scale.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange rang the first opening bell on a moving train. 
The stunt signals a “modern, inventive” exchange keen to stand out regionally. 
It supports the UAE’s image where “finance and innovation meet”. 
Such gestures can boost investor confidence and improve sentiment for startups. 
It will not change market mechanics, but shows serious global ambition.

Egyptian startup Mylerz raised $2 million to expand logistics infrastructure. 
Funds will scale its delivery network and sharpen day-to-day operations. 
Last-mile service, the &#8216;final step&#8217;, can make or break trust. 
Rising Egyptian e-commerce demand keeps investor interest in logistics strong. 
Improved efficiency should mean fewer delays and smoother delivery runs.

Dubai Islamic Bank reported 10% revenue rise to AED 12,4 billion. 
It also flagged “improved asset quality” and steadier loan performance. 
Strong results signal market confidence and broader UAE economic activity. 
Healthier lenders give startups and investors more breathing room. 
Still, one half-year does not tell the whole story.

VAP Group launches VAP Ventures, aiming to back 100 startups by 2030.
The move supports Vision 2030’s push to diversify and boost entrepreneurship.
Founders gain not just capital, but networks, guidance and real momentum.
Ambitious targets matter less than choosing wisely and adding long-term value.
More local funding could help startups scale at home, not abroad.

Spare and Xsquare bring “Pay by Bank” into everyday B2B payment workflows. 
Account-to-account payments cut 2–3% card fees and speed up settlement. 
A unified API promises less friction, simpler integrations and better cash visibility. 
The move expands Open Finance from consumer apps into complex business transactions. 
Adoption will decide if firms become “chuffed to bits” with faster, cheaper payments.

Abdelrahman Amr

Abdelrahman Amr, Author at Arageek

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Arageek: MENA&#039;s Tech Pulse — Web3, AI &amp; Startups

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