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.

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.

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.

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.

NymCard, a Middle Eastern embedded finance platform, raised $33 million in a Series B round. 
QED Investors led the investment, marking their first venture funding in the Gulf region. 
NymCard operates in over 10 countries, offering financial infrastructure to various businesses. 
Their in-house platform, nCore, provides seamless card issuing and payment processing. 
With new funding, NymCard aims to expand its customised financial solutions across the region.

Grinta acquires City Clinic, gaining access to over 150,000 patients in Egypt. 
The acquisition follows strategic funding from Beltone Venture Capital and Raed Ventures. 
Grinta plans to expand into East Africa, including launching its pharmacy chain in Tanzania. 
Both investors express enthusiasm for Grinta&#8217;s innovative approach and market adaptability. 
Their journey offers valuable insights for start-ups in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Oro Labs, an Emirati startup, raised $1,5 million in a Pre-Seed funding round. Founded by Usman Saleem, it operates on the fast, low-cost Solana blockchain. The company offers a unique trading platform for gold-backed digital assets. It aims to attract investors seeking stability amid crypto volatility. The UAE&#8217;s dynamic crypto landscape sets the stage for Oro Labs&#8217; growth.

Saudi Arabia leads the region in start-up investment with strong support for tech and innovation. 
Egypt is vibrant with digital transformation, particularly in fintech and digital services. The UAE remains a top destination for start-ups, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

PlaysOut has raised $7 million in seed funding, led by OKX Ventures. The platform enables developers to launch mini-games on Telegram, Discord, and YouTube. Integration of blockchain features streamlines processes for developers and players. Funds will enhance the game ecosystem, form partnerships, and improve market presence. PlaysOut plans to release their embedded SDK, facilitating easier blockchain integration.

BVS venture studio has emerged in Morocco, offering more than traditional investment models. It seeks to support startups with branding advice, financial structuring, and global expansion strategies. Their approach focuses on refining business models to meet market demands efficiently. Three projects have already begun, benefiting from BVS&#8217;s expert guidance. Located in Casablanca Finance City, they aim to boost Moroccan startups onto the global stage.

Agthia increased its ownership of Abu Auf from 70% to 80% after acquiring an additional 10% stake. 
Abu Auf’s revenue surged 33% in 2024, with EBITDA rising by 70% and over 100 new stores opened. 
Agthia’s exports from Egypt grew by 50% in the first half of 2024, increasing Egypt’s contribution to the group’s revenue from 15-16% to 20%. 
The acquisition reflects Agthia’s confidence in Abu Auf’s growth potential and innovation. 
UAE companies have been ramping up investments in Egypt’s food and beverage sector, with several high-profile acquisitions.

The agreement was signed during the LEAP 2025 tech event in Riyadh. 
The partnership focuses on developing energy-efficient, AI-ready data centers. 
Saudi Arabia’s growing digital infrastructure aligns with Vision 2030 goals. 
Amanah brings expertise in construction, while MIS specializes in IT solutions. 
The collaboration aims to support businesses and government entities with scalable digital solutions.

Tawarruf and Thanawe join forces to streamline startup investment and exit processes. 
The partnership focuses on integrating digital solutions to enhance business transactions. 
Aims to bridge the gap between investors and startups through innovative tools. 
The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to boost entrepreneurship. 
Key industry leaders, including NTDP Director Ibrahim Niaz, attended the signing.

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