Startup Wrap — Saudi firms continue to raise funding ahead of LEAP25 

Startup Wrap — Saudi firms continue to raise funding ahead of LEAP25 
Fasanara Capital CEO Francesco Filia (L) with Forus Founder and CEO Nosaibah Al-Rajhi. Supplied
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Updated 08 February 2025
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Startup Wrap — Saudi firms continue to raise funding ahead of LEAP25 

Startup Wrap — Saudi firms continue to raise funding ahead of LEAP25 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem continues to gain momentum ahead of the Kingdom’s flagship technology conference, LEAP 2025, fintech, artificial intelligence, and industrial technology companies securing major funding rounds.

Key investments include Saudi-based peer-to-peer lending platform Forus securing a $60 million credit facility from Fasanara Capital. 

The funding will enable Forus to provide over $150 million in working capital loans to Saudi small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Founded in 2019 by Nosaibah Al-Rajhi, Forus has facilitated more than $390 million in working capital financing for over 400 Saudi SMEs. 

The company aims to address financing gaps for businesses that struggle with access to traditional banking services. 

Vminds.ai raises six-figure pre-seed investment 




Founded by Ahmed Al-Mashhadi, vminds.ai is an intelligent, self-learning platform. Supplied

Saudi-based AI startup vminds.ai has closed a six-figure pre-seed funding round from undisclosed angel investors. The company plans to use the funds to support its platform’s official launch for individuals and its enterprise rollout in the third quarter of 2025. 

Founded by Ahmed Al-Mashhadi, vminds.ai is an intelligent, self-learning platform that integrates more than 150 AI tools from global companies into a unified system. The startup aims to simplify AI adoption by businesses and individuals in the region. 

Khazna closes $16m pre-series B round 




Launched in 2020 by Omar Saleh, Ahmed Wagueeh, and Fatimah El-Shenawy, Khazna focuses on serving Egypt’s underbanked population by providing access to financial services. Supplied

Egyptian fintech Khazna has secured a $16 million pre-series B funding round, with participation from new and existing investors, including SANAD Fund for MSME, anb Seed Fund, and Aljazira Capital, as well as Khwarizmi Ventures, Nclude, ICU Ventures, and Quona, Speedinvest, and Disruptech Ventures. 

Launched in 2020 by Omar Saleh, Ahmed Wagueeh, and Fatimah El-Shenawy, Khazna focuses on serving Egypt’s underbanked population by providing access to financial services such as general-purpose credit, buy now, pay later, and bill payments. 

The company plans to use the fresh funding to apply for a digital banking license in Egypt and expand into the Saudi market. 

Simplex secures $13m to build CNC factory in Riyadh 




Founded in 2013 by Ahmed Shaaban, Mohamed Mansour, and Amr Mahmoud, Simplex provides industrial manufacturing solutions across various sectors. Supplied

Egypt-based CNC machine manufacturer Simplex has raised $13 million in funding, led by Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Development Center. 

The investment will be used to establish a factory in Riyadh dedicated to producing advanced CNC machines. 

Founded in 2013 by Ahmed Shaaban, Mohamed Mansour, and Amr Mahmoud, Simplex provides industrial manufacturing solutions across various sectors. 

The company’s expansion into Saudi Arabia aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to localize industrial production. 

Myne raises $2m pre-seed round 




Founded in 2024 by Karim Chouman, Myne (R) is a wealth management platform offering asset tracking, real-time market integration, budgeting tools, and digital estate planning. Supplied

UAE-based fintech startup Myne has secured a $2 million pre-seed funding round led by Scene Holding, with participation from Raz Holding, Plus VC, Annex Investments, and angel investors. 

Founded in 2024 by Karim Chouman, Myne is a wealth management platform offering asset tracking, real-time market integration, budgeting tools, and digital estate planning. 

The funding will be used to scale operations, enhance the platform’s technology infrastructure, accelerate user acquisition, and expand regionally. 

Qeen.ai secures $10m seed round 




qeen.ai Founders Morteza Ibrahimi, Ahmad Khwileh, and Dina Alsamhan. Supplied

UAE-based AI startup qeen.ai has closed a $10 million seed funding round, marking one of the largest early-stage investments in the MENA region. 

The round was led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from Wamda Capital, 10x Founders, and Dara Holdings. 

Founded in 2023 by Dina Al-Samhan, Ahmad Khwileh, and Morteza Ibrahimi, qeen.ai offers AI-driven solutions for e-commerce businesses. 

The funding will support the expansion of its agentic AI platform, team growth, and customer acquisition. 

With this investment, qeen.ai has raised a total of $12.2 million, following a $2.2 million pre-seed round in June.

VISARUN.AI raises $700k in pre-seed funding 

UAE-based visa-as-a-service platform VISARUN.AI has secured $700,000 in pre-seed funding from undisclosed angel investors. 

The company plans to use the funds to enhance platform development, expand its sales team, and extend its footprint in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, and China. 

Founded in 2024 by Vladimir Indjikian and Alena Iakina, VISARUN.AI streamlines visa processing by reducing manual labor by up to 70 percent. 

The platform aims to simplify and expedite visa applications for businesses and individuals. 

Rasmal Ventures secures backing from QIA 

Qatar-based venture capital firm Rasmal Ventures LLC has received funding from the Qatar Investment Authority under its $1 billion Fund of Funds program. 

The investment will support Rasmal Ventures’ inaugural fund, Rasmal Innovation Fund I LLC, which focuses on high-growth startups across fintech, B2B Software-as-a-Service, health tech, and AI. 

The fund, which launched in June with an initial $30 million from institutional investors and family offices, is targeting a $100 million close. 

Rasmal Innovation Fund I is the first VC fund to join QIA’s initiative to boost Qatar’s startup ecosystem. 

Beltone Venture Capital invests in Morocco’s LNKO 




Ali Mokhtar, CEO of Beltone Venture Capital. Supplied

Egypt-based Beltone Venture Capital, the investment arm of Beltone Holding, has invested an undisclosed amount in Moroccan eyewear startup LNKO. 

Founded in 2020 by Maha Bennani, LNKO operates a direct-to-consumer model, offering sunglasses and optical frames. 

The company claims to have served over 100,000 customers. The investment will support LNKO’s expansion across Africa. In 2021, the startup raised $335,000 from CDG Invest. 

Foundation Ventures announces first close of $25m fund 




Founded in 2018 by Mazen Nadim, Omar Barakat, and Ziyad Hamdy, Foundation Ventures focuses on early-stage and growth-stage startups. Supplied

Egypt-based venture capital firm Foundation Ventures has reached the first close of its $25 million fund, FVFII. 

The fund is backed by the Egyptian American Enterprise Fund, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, and Onsi Sawiris. 

Founded in 2018 by Mazen Nadim, Omar Barakat, and Ziyad Hamdy, Foundation Ventures focuses on early-stage and growth-stage startups. 

The new fund aims to support Egyptian startups from their initial development to regional and global expansion, with a portion allocated for investment in African early-stage businesses. 

EasyBank secures $370k for expansion 




Founded in 2023 by Mohamed Khelifi, EasyBank provides digital banking solutions, including access to loans and other financial services. Supplied

Tunisia-based fintech EasyBank has raised $370,000 from undisclosed investors. The company plans to use the funds to expand operations across the Middle East, North Africa, and France. 

Founded in 2023 by Mohamed Khelifi, EasyBank provides digital banking solutions, including access to loans and other financial services. 

The startup aims to bridge financial inclusion gaps across emerging markets. 


Mideast set for private equity boom amid global market revival: report

Mideast set for private equity boom amid global market revival: report
Updated 24 sec ago
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Mideast set for private equity boom amid global market revival: report

Mideast set for private equity boom amid global market revival: report

RIYADH: The Middle East is rapidly emerging as a prime destination for private equity investment, spurred by a global resurgence in dealmaking, according to Bain & Co.’s latest Global Private Equity report.

The report highlights a 37 percent rise in global buyout investment value, reaching $602 billion in 2024, fueled by declining interest rates, renewed investor confidence, and the growing need to deploy idle capital.

As economic diversification accelerates across the Gulf, government-backed initiatives are driving investments in technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure, positioning private equity firms to capitalize on these shifting dynamics.

“The Middle East is entering a dynamic period of growth and transformation, creating unprecedented opportunities for investors,” said Gregory Garnier, head of Bain & Co.’s private equity practice in the region.

He emphasized that success in this market will depend on leveraging local expertise, forming strategic partnerships, and adopting innovative value-creation models.  

This rise in Middle Eastern activity mirrors broader global trends. Public-to-private transactions, for example, are leading the private equity market, accounting for $250 billion in 2024—representing nearly half of transactions over $5 billion in North America.

Global challenges persist

Despite a strong recovery in dealmaking, fundraising remains difficult, with investor caution driven by ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

While exit activity rebounded by 34 percent to $468 billion, private equity firms still face a backlog of 29,000 unsold companies, limiting distributions to limited partners.

Rising competition for high-quality deals has kept valuation multiples elevated, and increasing debt costs are complicating traditional leveraged buyouts. However, the Middle East stands out as a key market, with governments actively supporting private equity investments through initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030, the UAE’s economic diversification strategy, and Qatar’s long-term plans.

Sovereign wealth funds in the region have also become major players, acting as key limited partners and co-investors in both local and global deals.

Rising sectors and investment focus

Technology continues to dominate private equity globally, accounting for 33 percent of all buyout deals by value. In the Middle East, key areas of focus for investors include fintech, artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, and sustainable infrastructure projects. These sectors align with a growing trend toward impact investing and sustainability, driven by government efforts to foster long-term, eco-friendly economic growth in the Gulf.

Looking ahead, Bain & Co. forecasts that private equity will continue its recovery through 2025, assuming stable economic policies and trade conditions.

Hugh MacArthur, chairman of Bain’s Global Private Equity practice, noted that despite ongoing challenges such as inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical risks, the overall sentiment in the industry remains one of cautious optimism.


Closing Bell: Saudi stock market sees losses as TASI edges down 0.77%

Closing Bell: Saudi stock market sees losses as TASI edges down 0.77%
Updated 10 March 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi stock market sees losses as TASI edges down 0.77%

Closing Bell: Saudi stock market sees losses as TASI edges down 0.77%

RIYADH: The Saudi stock market closed lower on Monday, with the Tadawul All Share Index falling by 90.89 points, or 0.77 percent, to finish at 11,745.63.

The total trading volume on the benchmark index amounted to SR5.3 billion ($1.4 billion), with 52 stocks advancing and 192 declining.

The parallel market, Nomu, also saw a decline, dropping 300.45 points, or 0.96 percent, to close at 31,031.37. Out of the 80 listed stocks, 32 gained while 48 declined.

The MSCI Tadawul Index mirrored the trend, falling by 7.38 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 1,487.1.

Derayah Financial Co. saw the highest gains on the main index, with its share price surging 30 percent to SR39. Riyad Bank also performed well, rising 4.47 percent to SR30.40, while Alujain Corp. gained 3.59 percent, closing at SR33.20. Saudi Industrial Development Co. also saw an increase, rising 2.66 percent to SR27.

Al-Baha Investment and Development Co. suffered the largest loss, with its stock price falling 8.11 percent to SR0.34. Rasan Information Technology Co. dropped 7.76 percent, closing at SR72.50, while Riyadh Cables Group Co. fell 7.67 percent to SR118.

Molan Steel Co. revealed plans to issue riyal-denominated sukuk, appointing Afaq Financial as the sole arranger for the offering. The sukuk, valued at SR20 million, aims to finance the company’s investment and operational needs. The issuance has already received the necessary approvals from the Finance Authority. Despite this news, Molan Steel’s stock dropped 1.59 percent to SR3.10.

Derayah Financial, a leading digital investment platform, successfully listed its shares on the Saudi Exchange. The SR1.5 billion IPO was priced at SR30 per share, valuing the company at SR7.5 billion. The offering was oversubscribed, with institutional investors subscribing 162 times over, generating SR243 billion in orders. The retail tranche was 15 times oversubscribed, attracting 586,422 investors.

Arabia Insurance Cooperative Co. reported a 17.19 percent decline in insurance revenues for the year ending December 31, 2024, dropping to SR694.7 million from SR838.9 million in 2023.

The decline was primarily due to lower motor and medical insurance revenues, although the Engineering insurance segment showed growth.

The company’s net profit fell 0.14 percent, reaching SR30.1 million compared to SR60.5 million last year. This decrease was mainly due to a drop in net insurance results and lower other income, although investment income rose by SR7.2 million. Arabia Insurance’s share price fell 3.35 percent to SR12.10.

Nahdi Medical Co. reported an 8.4 percent increase in revenue for the full year 2024, rising to SR9.45 billion from SR8.71 billion in 2023. The growth was driven by strong retail performance and significant expansion in both the healthcare and UAE markets.

However, the company’s net profit declined by 8.1 percent, reaching SR820.7 million, down from SR892.6 million last year, due to increased operating expenses. Despite the strong revenue growth, Nahdi’s share price decreased by 1.86 percent to SR115.80.


Sharjah’s economy to soar 7.5% in 2025, boosting its sector hub status – UAE official

Sharjah’s economy to soar 7.5% in 2025, boosting its sector hub status – UAE official
Updated 10 March 2025
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Sharjah’s economy to soar 7.5% in 2025, boosting its sector hub status – UAE official

Sharjah’s economy to soar 7.5% in 2025, boosting its sector hub status – UAE official

JEDDAH: Sharjah’s economy is projected to grow by up to 7.5 percent in 2025, strengthening its position as a hub for diverse sectors, according to a senior UAE official.

Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan bin Khalid Al-Qasimi highlighted that the expected expansion will be driven by progressive policies, increased economic integration, and rising foreign investment in strategic industries.

Al-Qasimi underlined the importance of ongoing dialogue with the private sector to strengthen core industries such as manufacturing, trade, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

“We will be hosting a number of quite frank discussions with the private sector about what the government should be doing better to protect the core industries – manufacturing, trading, agriculture and the environment — that we have,” Al-Qasimi said during the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis 2025.

The event, which was held under the theme “Sharjah: Shaping the Future, Empowering Growth,” was attended by senior officials, including Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al-Qasimi, president of the American University of Sharjah; and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of state for foreign trade.

During the gathering, Al-Qasimi said that Sharjah’s economy is evolving at an impressive pace, with the gross domestic product now over 145 billion dirhams ($39.47 billion), and growth of 6.5 percent registered in 2023 — surpassing the global average by 3.5 percentage points. 

“We are immensely proud of the businesses that have found their home in Sharjah, especially those in the private sector, that have been the backbone of our economy for over a decade, and there is a reason why global giants such as Halliburton and Amazon have shown their confidence by investing in our emirate,” he said. 

Al-Qasimi forecasted that continued integration, smarter policymaking, and collaboration with the private sector would contribute to growth ranging between 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent in the coming years.

He added that the automotive industry and vehicle parts trading accounted for 24 percent of the emirate’s economy, with agriculture at 19 percent, at manufacturing on 17 percent — the same level the broader food ecosystem.

Al-Qasimi also pointed to the potential growth in the real estate sector in 2025, citing major developers like Alef Group and Arada, which are making significant investments in the emirate.

Founded by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qasimi and Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Arada is at the forefront of Sharjah’s expanding real estate market.

To foster this growth, Al-Qasimi stressed the importance of identifying supply chain interdependencies and collaborating closely with the private sector. “We need to identify the adjacencies and interdependencies in supply chains to understand from the private sector what we need to do to move forward,” he said.

Foreign Trade Minister Al-Zeyoudi pointed to Sharjah’s attractiveness to businesses, bolstered by initiatives like “Invest in Sharjah,” the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, or Shurooq, and Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park.

“Companies are moving here, and we aim to showcase the incentives, markets, and benefits available through the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements,” he said during the same event.

Juma Al-Kait, assistant undersecretary for foreign trade at the Ministry of Economy, emphasized the significance of foreign trade, a cornerstone of the UAE’s economic strategy.

He noted that the UAE’s foreign trade grew by 14.6 percent in 2024, hitting 3 trillion dirhams, outpacing the global rate, which recorded 2 percent. “If we look at Sharjah’s foreign trade, it grew 8.1 percent in 2024 compared to last year. There is a huge potential for the private sector to benefit or to utilize important agreements.” Al-Kait said. 

Sharjah is a key destination for manufacturing, services, and finance, with nearly 96 percent of its economy non-oil-based. Home to six specialized free zones, the emirate offers flexible investment opportunities and advanced infrastructure.


Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises in Jan., driven by manufacturing 

Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises in Jan., driven by manufacturing 
Updated 10 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises in Jan., driven by manufacturing 

Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises in Jan., driven by manufacturing 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial production index grew 1.3 percent year on year in January, supported by an expansion in manufacturing and waste management activities, official data showed. 

According to the General Authority for Statistics, the index remained steady month on month at 103.9, maintaining levels seen in December. 

The manufacturing sub-index climbed 4 percent annually, driven by a 4.3 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products and a 4.2 percent rise in chemicals and chemical products. 

In contrast, mining and quarrying activity fell 0.4 percent from January 2024, reflecting a reduction in oil production to 8.92 million barrels per day from 8.96 million a year earlier. 

Saudi Arabia has been accelerating efforts to diversify its economy under Vision 2030, with the industrial and manufacturing sectors playing a key role in reducing reliance on oil. Initiatives such as the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program aim to establish the Kingdom as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing, focusing on petrochemicals, mining, and renewable energy. 

On a monthly basis, the manufacturing sub-index rose 0.3 percent, driven by a 0.1 percent increase in coke and refined petroleum products and a 0.5 percent rise in chemicals and chemical products. Meanwhile, the mining and quarrying sub-index edged up 0.1 percent. 

Other manufacturing segments posted mixed results. The non-metallic mineral products sector saw a 6.9 percent annual increase and a 1.7 percent rise from December, while basic metals manufacturing dipped by 0.7 percent year on year but surged by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month. 

The manufacture of paper and paper products recorded an annual increase of 5.1 percent and a slight monthly dip of 0.1 percent, while electrical devices manufacturing grew by 9.2 percent year on year and 0.7 percent month on month. 

Furniture manufacturing declined by 1.5 percent year on year and 0.4 percent month on month. 

Other economic activities within the manufacturing sector saw an annual rise of 0.6 percent, but a 0.3 percent month-on-month dip. 

The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply fell by 1.7 percent, while the sub-index for water supply, sewerage, and waste management activities saw an 8.7 percent annual increase. 

In January, oil-related activities grew by 0.4 percent year on year and 0.1 percent compared to the previous month.

Non-oil activities also recorded growth, increasing by 3.6 percent annually and 0.2 percent on a monthly basis. This diversification reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding its non-oil industrial base in line with Vision 2030. 

The Industrial Production Index measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework, covering mining, manufacturing, utilities, and waste management sectors. 


Makkah’s licensed hospitality facilities surge 80% in 2024

Makkah’s licensed hospitality facilities surge 80% in 2024
Updated 10 March 2025
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Makkah’s licensed hospitality facilities surge 80% in 2024

Makkah’s licensed hospitality facilities surge 80% in 2024
  • Makkah and Madinah have 17,646 and 20,079 rooms, respectively, in various stages of development
  • Kingdom recorded 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, up from 27.4 million in 2023

RIYADH: The number of licensed hospitality facilities in Makkah reached 1,030 by the end of 2024, marking an 80 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism. 

The surge positions Makkah as the leader in the Kingdom for the highest number of licensed facilities and rooms, underscoring the region’s dedication to enhancing visitor experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The move highlights the region’s commitment to enhancing the visitor experience while reinforcing the ministry’s dedication to protecting the rights of visitors and Umrah pilgrims using hospitality services in Makkah, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve service quality. 

“The ministry’s inspection teams conduct regular monitoring and inspection visits throughout the year to ensure that all facilities comply with licensing requirements, detect violations, and impose fines under the Tourism Law and Regulations of Tourist Accommodation Facilities,” SPA said. 

Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is growing beyond Makkah. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, the total number of licensed hospitality facilities across the Kingdom surpassed 3,950, marking a 99 percent increase from the third quarter of 2023. Licensed rooms climbed to 443,000, a 107 percent jump from the 214,000 recorded a year earlier. 

According to CoStar, a global real estate data provider, Makkah and Madinah have 17,646 and 20,079 rooms, respectively, in various stages of development in 2025. 

This comes as Saudi Arabia recorded 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, up from 27.4 million in 2023, government data shows. The Kingdom aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, with plans to raise the tourism sector’s gross domestic product contribution from 6 percent to 10 percent. 

Ahead of the 2024 Hajj season, the Ministry of Tourism said Makkah’s licensed hospitality facilities reached 816, providing 227,000 rooms to accommodate pilgrims. Authorities have also introduced new initiatives, including enhanced crowd management, digital meal distribution, and an expanded electric golf cart fleet at the Grand Mosque. 

The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has further implemented spatial guidance systems and multilingual support to improve visitor navigation, ensuring a seamless pilgrimage experience. 

Saudi Arabia’s aggressive expansion in hospitality and tourism underscores its ambition to position itself as a global travel hub, catering to both religious and leisure visitors.