Robotic grocery deliverers begin operating in Sobha Hartland, Dubai, through Yango Group and ROOTS. 
These autonomous robots navigate a two-kilometre radius, delivering groceries within thirty minutes. 
Florian Jansen from ROOTS calls the initiative a &#8220;game changer&#8221; for speed and sustainability. 
The move supports Dubai&#8217;s goal of 25% autonomous transport by 2030, reducing emissions. 
This partnership enhances local commerce and accelerates Dubai&#8217;s sustainability objectives.

Beyon partners with Aecom for Bahrain&#8217;s $700 million Digital City project in Hamala. 
The project will integrate office, tech, and social spaces with a sustainable urban design. 
Cooperation with UPDA ensures Digital City complements Bahrain&#8217;s infrastructure and growth plans. 
Digital City aims to be a tech hotspot, enhancing mobility and business opportunities. 
Sustainable transport and open spaces are key features of this innovative urban initiative.

Arabian Pay secured funding from Al Bassami Holding Group, enhancing financial inclusion for Saudi SMEs. 
The startup develops a &#8220;buy now, pay later&#8221; service to ease SMEs&#8217; cash flow issues. 
Their solution allows businesses to split supplier payments into three interest-free instalments. 
Beyond funding, the partnership offers strategic collaboration with Al Bassami&#8217;s logistics expertise. 
With new resources, Arabian Pay aims to enhance its platform for smarter SME payment solutions.

Code &#038; State raised $3 million to support stablecoin ventures with backing from Warburg Serres and KR1. 
The funds will provide startups with funding, mentorship, and technical infrastructure to solve stablecoin challenges. 
Stablecoin usage is booming, with global transaction volumes surpassing $15 trillion recently. 
Code &#038; State aims to fast-track promising UAE startups in payments, remittances, and DeFi. 
Founder Cedric Waldburger envisions stablecoins multiplying tenfold in market cap over five years.

Enza, a UAE-based fintech startup, secured $6,75 million in its latest seed funding round. 
The funding was led by Algebra Ventures and Quona Capital to boost operations across Africa. 
Enza develops cutting-edge payment solutions, aiding banks and fintech firms in seamless transactions. 
Currently operating in Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa, Enza targets Africa&#8217;s booming fintech sector. 
Founded in 2022, Enza aims to shape modern African payment infrastructure with strong investor backing.

Web Summit Qatar 2025 highlighted a thriving tech scene with genuine substance beyond buzzwords. 
The event&#8217;s smaller scale allowed for meaningful interactions between startups and investors. 
Investors focused on viability and traction, preferring solid business models over flashy pitches. 
Qatar Financial Centre waived registration fees, attracting over 1,600 companies to open offices. 
Startups left optimistic, equipped with practical steps and valuable connections for future success.

Dubai will host &#8220;Fluidity 2025,&#8221; connecting GCC and Sub-Saharan Africa&#8217;s startup and tech sectors. 
Scheduled for April 7-8, 2025, it will focus on growth and innovation at Al Habtoor City. 
Prominent names like Microsoft and AWS will discuss Fintech, AI, and blockchain innovations. 
The event aims to boost trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between the regions. 
Dubai&#8217;s status as a global financial hub makes it the ideal venue for such a summit.

Sparkle and Al-Bawaba expand partnership to enhance Libya&#8217;s international telecom connectivity. 
They&#8217;ll offer advanced Ethernet MPLS services for seamless, secure business communications. 
This collaboration leverages Al-Bawaba’s local expertise and Sparkle’s global network. 
Leaders emphasise the partnership&#8217;s potential to boost Libya&#8217;s digital transformation. 
Improved connectivity is expected to significantly aid Libya&#8217;s economic growth.

Egyptian fintech Fawry partners with Contact Financial to expand digital payments in Egypt. 
Fawry&#8217;s network will now offer &#8216;Buy Now, Pay Later&#8217; options across 370,000 points-of-sale. 
The collaboration aims to simplify bill payments, electronic transactions, and financial services. 
This initiative aligns with Egypt&#8217;s digital transformation strategy for financial inclusion. 
Government efforts like MSMEDA&#8217;s investments have significantly impacted job creation and community development.

Emirates NBD is exploring a deal to acquire Egypt&#8217;s Banque du Caire. 
The Egyptian government is waiting on a fair valuation before deciding on a stake sale. 
Market speculation suggests the bank&#8217;s value lies between 1 and 1,5 billion US dollars. 
Exchange rate changes since 2008 affect the current bank valuation significantly. 
If expectations aren&#8217;t met, Egypt might list the bank on the stock exchange instead.

Amana now offers over 450 cryptocurrencies, making it the largest selection in MENA. 
The platform bridges crypto and traditional finance, housing stocks, forex, and coins seamlessly. 
CEO Muhammad Rasoul highlights hassle-free trading across various assets on one platform. 
Since launching in 2022, amana has gained over 320,000 users due to its diverse offerings. 
Amana empowers Middle Eastern traders to build diverse portfolios with ease.

Cloudflare launched Cloudforce One for real-time global cyber threat intelligence. 
The platform provides detailed, contextual threat insights to help security teams act quickly. 
Cloudflare&#8217;s global network blocks around 227 billion cyber threats daily. 
Cybercrime damages could hit $10,5 trillion by 2025, stressing the need for robust security. 
Cloudforce One offers a clear, practical solution amidst the complex cybersecurity landscape.

ZTE Corporation partners with TAWAL to drive digital transformation in Saudi Arabia. 
The strategic deal focuses on telecom infrastructure, digital energy, and enhanced tower management. 
Collaboration aims to bolster TAWAL&#8217;s digital innovation both locally and internationally. 
Leaders from both companies express enthusiasm for empowering businesses through advanced technologies. 
The partnership anticipates navigating challenges in a competitive digital landscape.

JazzCash partners with Salaam Family Takaful to launch the Sharia-compliant Salaam Investments service. 
The service targets JazzCash&#8217;s 13 million users, offering easy, flexible investments and daily profits. 
The app provides transparency with clear financial goals and expected returns from the start. 
Users receive accidental insurance upon reaching 20% of their investment target, enhancing security. 
Murtaza Ali highlights the scheme&#8217;s role in promoting financial inclusion in Pakistan.

Tech companies often see their market value drop right after going public. 
Before IPO, investor optimism overshadows scrutiny, which hits hard once companies go public. 
Public market demands reveal financial weaknesses, challenging prior inflated valuations. 
Broader economic factors and inflated pre-IPO valuations often dampen initial enthusiasm. 
Post-IPO, strong fundamentals and sustainable growth are crucial for long-term success.

ClearGrid aims to revolutionise debt collection in MENA with data-driven empathy. 
The fintech startup raised $10 million from top investors, including Raed Ventures and Aramco&#8217;s Waed Ventures. 
ClearGrid uses AI to automate collections, reducing costs and borrower anxiety in the UAE. 
The startup plans expansion into Saudi Arabia, seeking to modernise debt management further. 
Future plans include comprehensive AI-driven solutions for early risk detection and debt prevention.

Venture capital&#8217;s &#8220;carry&#8221; is profit for fund managers once investors recoup their capital. 
Typically around 20%, carry aligns the interests of both managers and investors effectively. 
Understanding carry rewards encourages fund managers to choose investments wisely. 
Alballaa likens it to sharing bills: recognition goes to those who organise successfully. 
Such insights make venture capital more comprehensible, enhancing clarity for investors.

Egypt&#8217;s Financial Regulatory Authority licenses Telda, Beltone, and Thndr as digital stock brokers. 
These fintechs will offer fully online services, including digital verification and onboarding. 
The move aligns with Egypt&#8217;s digitalisation drive and aims to simplify online investing. 
Expected benefits include lower costs, quicker processes, and improved accessibility for investors. 
Investment activity in the MENA region is booming, with significant funds raised by startups.

Saudi Arabia launches &#8220;Sanbulah,&#8221; a food tech incubator, to support early-stage local startups. 
The programme provides funding, mentoring, and training for pre-seed to pre-MVP phase companies. 
Sanbulah supports Saudi economic diversification and believes in food tech&#8217;s potential for growth. 
Entrepreneurs have until 6 April 2025 to apply via the Ministry&#8217;s online portal. 
This initiative offers startups a chance to take food tech innovations from concept to market.

Thawani Technologies climbed to 36th place among the top 50 fintech companies in 2025. 
Forbes Middle East recognised Thawani for its funding, digital transactions, and customer growth. 
CEO Majid Al Amri emphasised Thawani’s role in Oman’s digital transformation journey. 
Their success aligns with Oman Vision 2040&#8217;s goals to enhance digital economy and infrastructure. 
Oman’s fintech policies attract investors, supporting the country’s digital and financial sector growth.

Yango Group launches a USD 20 million fund for emerging market startups. 
Yango Ventures focuses on fintech, SaaS, and O2O sectors from seed to Series B. 
The fund offers capital, strategic guidance, and mentorship without seeking control. 
Advisors will help startups scale, fostering growth in Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. 
Yango hopes for returns up to twenty times their initial investment.

Orange Jordan and Amman Vision Transport are teaming up to upgrade Amman&#8217;s buses with digital enhancements. 
The initiative includes superfast Wi-Fi, electronic payment systems, GPS, and camera security. 
This partnership aims to create a smarter transport network, improving overall passenger experience. 
Officials emphasise digital empowerment&#8217;s importance for Amman&#8217;s journey towards becoming a smart city. 
The upgrades are set to make commuting more efficient and potentially extend to neighbouring areas.

NymCard, a UAE-based fintech, raised $33 million in a successful Series B funding round. 
The funding round was led by QED Investors, joined by prominent fellow investors. 
NymCard offers nCore, a platform serving banks, telecoms, and fintechs with card issuing and payments. 
With footprints in around 10 MENA markets, it plans to enhance its solutions and infrastructure. 
NymCard&#8217;s regional success is attracting global interest and support for continued growth.

Juridoc,tn secures investment from Go Big Partners and 216 Capital Ventures for African expansion. 
The startup aims to extend its legal-tech services into the OHADA region&#8217;s 17 countries. 
This partnership leverages Tunisia’s Smart Capital’s ANAVA fund to boost tech-driven legal solutions. 
Juridoc founders strive for accessible legal services, transforming markets marred by inefficiency. 
Investors are optimistic Juridoc will enhance professionalism and efficiency in Africa&#8217;s legal sector.

TBS Holding partners with Shahia Investments to build a bakery plant in Saudi Arabia by 2026. 
The facility will produce fresh and frozen bakery products using cutting-edge technology. 
This venture aims to strengthen market presence and meet Saudi consumer tastes. 
It expects to boost economic growth in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 
Regulatory support from Saudi authorities facilitates the project&#8217;s smooth implementation.