Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund will launch the ALLaM 34B AI language model. 
HUMAIN is developing ALLaM 34B, focusing on Arabic language and cultural sensitivity. 
Their chat tools, HUMAIN Chat, respect cultural nuances and keep data local. 
Groq and HUMAIN ensure quick, responsive service with access to OpenAI&#8217;s models locally. 
Local entrepreneurship thrives, as Saudi AI initiatives aim to innovate and not just imitate.

Coraly ai, a UAE-based PropTech platform, raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round. 
The funds aim to enhance AI capabilities, develop new products, and expand globally. 
Strategic partnerships in France and the US are crucial to entering new markets. 
Originally known as Coralytics, the firm rebranded to reflect its global AI ambitions. 
Investors see potential in Coraly ai blending AI with PropTech to transform real estate.

Breadfast, an Egyptian grocery delivery firm, secured $10 million from EBRD and Novastar Ventures. 
With this investment, the company’s valuation has rocketed to between $382 and $400 million. 
They plan to expand delivery in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and Mansoura, reaching new markets. 
Breadfast handles over 1 million orders monthly for 300,000 users, with $150 million revenue. 
They&#8217;re exploring fintech with Breadfast Pay, setting themselves apart in Egypt&#8217;s quick-commerce scene.

Dubai has launched &#8220;The Future of AI in Government Services&#8221; accelerator programme. 
AI startups from around the globe can collaborate with Dubai’s government to improve public services. 
Participants will work with decision-makers, with travel and accommodation costs covered. 
Startups retain intellectual property and gain opportunities to expand locally and internationally. 
The initiative highlights Dubai’s commitment to being at the forefront of AI innovation.

Impact46 invests over $6,7 million in five MENA gaming studios, boosting the regional gaming scene. 
The aim is to support &#8220;builders&#8221; crafting the next era of content and gaming infrastructure. 
MENA studios offer diverse experiences, from culturally rich mobile games to intricate console narratives. 
Saudi Arabia&#8217;s ambition aligns with Vision 2030, driving local innovation in gaming and esports. 
These investments highlight potential for shaping the next generation of games with bold funding.

Fawry partners with FORSA to offer Buy Now, Pay Later services across Egypt&#8217;s POS network. 
This collaboration aligns with Egypt&#8217;s Vision 2030 for a digital and inclusive economy. 
Merchants gain easy access to FORSA&#8217;s BNPL without complications, enhancing customer experience. 
Fawry aims to expand operations, offering secure and varied digital solutions through partnerships. 
FORSA aims to reach more merchants, simplifying purchase experiences for consumers.

Saudi startup Shahbandr partners with Tamara to enhance payment flexibility for over 18,000 online stores. 
Shahbandr, founded by Shady Abdelshaheed and Tamer Sharkas, simplifies e-commerce with AI and analytics tools. 
Tamara’s BNPL integration will enhance customer options, increasing conversion rates and easing financial processes. 
Shahbandr can collect service fees directly, streamlining payments and supporting small business growth. 
The collaboration supports a vision for an intelligent e-commerce ecosystem, improving merchant and customer experiences.

Tamkeen and Salica Investments launch the third round of the Riyada Business Accelerator Program. 
The six-month program supports early-stage tech startups in Bahrain with mentorship and investor connections. 
Previous participants&#8217; success underscores Bahrain&#8217;s competitive and innovative startup scene. 
Eligible teams must have a Bahraini founder and a promising tech-driven idea. 
Startups will present their achievements at a Demo Day to attract potential investors.

NetApp appoints Saeed Al-Zahrani to lead its Saudi operations, aiming for digital transformation. 
Al-Zahrani, an experienced industry veteran, will focus on Saudi’s digital infrastructure demands. 
NetApp prioritises smarter data and hybrid cloud solutions to impact energy, healthcare, and smart cities. 
The company plans to nurture local skills and strengthen ties with the public sector and universities. 
Their commitment could significantly boost Saudi startups and enterprises under Vision 2030 ambitions.

F6 Group and Flat6Labs launch F6 Ventures to fund early-stage startups. 
F6 Ventures addresses funding shortages and provides strategic support across the Middle East and Africa. 
Managing over $90 million, they focus on fintech, digital health, education, and logistics. 
Plans include expanding funds beyond the Gulf, aiming for $200 million under management. 
Regulatory challenges exist, but collaboration promises potential breakout successes.

ServeU in Dubai is acquiring House Keeping (LLC) for AED 100 million. 
ServeU aims to enhance service capabilities, integrating more people-centric solutions across various sectors. 
House Keeping is the UAE&#8217;s second-largest in its field, boasting strong expertise and client base. 
The acquisition is expected to boost ServeU&#8217;s revenue by 23% and EBITDA by 33% by 2025. 
Both brands will retain their identities but operate under ServeU&#8217;s ownership and direction.

GE Vernova acquired Altia, blending AI with industrial data analytics to boost operations. 
Altia, part of Wa’ed Ventures, shows Aramco’s strategic influence in regional tech growth. 
The energy sector needs smart analytics to handle complex operations and rising challenges. 
Wa’ed Ventures displays vision beyond mere capital, empowering startups with potential impact. 
This acquisition inspires regional innovators, proving deep tech’s value when pieces align.

Alaan, a UAE-based fintech platform, secured $48 million in Series A funding. 
The funding round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from global investors. 
Alaan uses AI to streamline financial admin, like invoice matching and VAT extraction. 
With new funding, they plan expansion into Saudi Arabia, focusing on local partnerships. 
Their aim is to enhance automation in financial departments by reducing manual processes.

EQIQ unveils Boxy, an AI-powered logistics platform, revolutionising Iraq’s delivery sector. 
Boxy links 1,500 Iraqi last-mile courier companies onto a single shipping platform. 
Co-founded by experienced entrepreneurs, Boxy leverages machine learning for optimal delivery solutions. 
The startup doubled its merchant base and aims to streamline major courier networks in Iraq. 
EQIQ acts as co-founders, supporting five high-growth startups in the MENA region.

Saudi startup “Book” quickly secured pre-seed funding just days after launching. 
Founded by Muhannad Albadrani, Book addresses running out of cash for daily coffees. 
Book offers a monthly subscription for exclusive discounts at Saudi coffee shops. 
The service supports small cafés by boosting loyal, recurring business from subscribers. 
Investment will enhance tech development, expand café partnerships, and explore new city markets.

RIFD receives strategic investment from Antler to revolutionise SME invoice financing in Saudi Arabia. 
Credit extended to SMEs in Saudi is high, but receivables-based solutions remain underutilised. 
RIFD aims to fill a SAR one billion funding gap with Shariah-compliant finance. 
Supported by Antler and the Ministry&#8217;s &#8220;Tech Champions 5&#8221; programme, RIFD is making impactful moves. 
Early initiatives include a pilot deal and developing institutional partnerships for broader expansion.

Salasa closed a $30 million Series B funding round, led by Artal Capital. 
Founded in 2017, Salasa specialises in e-commerce logistics, focusing on distribution and delivery solutions. 
The new funds will aid geographic expansion and enhance technology for faster delivery. 
Alsulaiman Group, part of Series A funding, continues to support Salasa&#8217;s growth. 
Investors show strong interest in MENA&#8217;s logistics solutions, highlighting regional infrastructure challenges.

Suplyd, a Cairo-based startup, secured $2 million in a pre-Series A funding round. 
The startup aims to streamline Egypt&#8217;s HORECA supply chain, valued at $10 billion. 
Suplyd&#8217;s platform connects restaurants directly to suppliers, enhancing procurement efficiency. 
Serving over 5,000 restaurants, Suplyd plans nationwide expansion and new service offerings. 
Investors commend Suplyd for significantly impacting Egypt’s food and beverage digital transformation.

Saudi AI startup Omq secured SAR 4,5 million in pre-seed funding from local investors. 
Funds will develop AI solutions aimed at helping government agencies streamline costs and efficiency. 
Their &#8220;alPlatformai&#8221; offers institutions secure, regulated access to various AI models. 
The team combines tech and business expertise, critical for success in the AI sector. 
Omq aims to foster local AI innovation for competitive advantage in Saudi Arabia.

Wuilt secured $2 million in funding to fuel expansion across the region. 
They eliminated paid subscriptions in Egypt, offering free basic e-commerce tools to entrepreneurs. 
Paid features like Wuilt Shipments and Wuilt Wallet remain available for enhanced services. 
Wuilt plans to launch free services in UAE by late 2025, expanding to Gulf and Turkey next. 
They are developing AI-powered tools to boost efficiency for shop owners.

Spare gains preliminary approval from UAE Central Bank, strengthening its Open Finance operation. 
Open Finance allows secure financial data sharing, enhancing payments, verification, and risk assessment. 
Spare, led by CEO Dalal AlRayes, expands into the UAE&#8217;s growing digital financial market. 
The company connects accounts via API for payments, data access, and account aggregation. 
Some concerns about Open Finance&#8217;s security and inclusion remain, but regulatory support is encouraging.

Kamco Invest acquires a stake in Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Foodics, noted for smart restaurant tech. 
Details on the deal size remain undisclosed, intriguing the MENA startup community. 
Foodics aims for an IPO on Saudi&#8217;s Tadawul stock exchange within two to three years. 
Kamco&#8217;s strategy supports fast-growing, homegrown tech champions in the Middle East. 
Foodics integrates order management, finances, and analytics, showcasing MENA tech talent.

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) joined a $132 million funding round for biotech firm Artbio. 
Artbio is developing targeted alpha therapies (TATs) for precise cancer treatment. 
Sofinnova Investments, B Capital, and Alexandria Venture Investments also participated. 
Funding will enhance clinical development of Artbio&#8217;s innovative cancer therapies. 
QIA is increasingly investing in health tech, boosting the global biotech landscape.

Sanabil Investments launches &#8220;Sanabil Founder University&#8221; to support early-stage entrepreneurs in Riyadh. 
The programme offers a 12-week training scheme in partnership with LAUNCH led by Jason Calacanis. 
It blends virtual sessions with hands-on workshops, focusing on practical startup strategies. 
Founders will not get immediate investment, but standout participants may pitch to global investors. 
Applications are now open, promising to bolster the region’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

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