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Fresh startup news from across the MENA region
Trump says Micron to invest $10 billion in new US research labs- Moneycontrol.com
Micron Technology announced a $10 billion investment to build new US research laboratories aimed at advancing AI and advanced computing, a move touted by President Trump; the article also references Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath in passing.
Supply chains and talent to define next phase of venture capital in the UAE
Industry figures say supply‑chain transformation driven by AI and talent will define the next phase of venture capital in the UAE as funding rises, with local VCs and government-backed funds supporting start‑ups and scaleups.
Saudi fintech lending to industrial projects jumps 130% in H1
Fintech lending to Saudi industrial projects jumped 130% to SR541 million in H1 2026 as the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources expanded partnerships with fintech lenders to broaden access to working capital, invoice financing and growth funding for manufacturers.
What Shein’s $27bn IPO means for Mubadala
Shein is set to list in Hong Kong at a valuation up to $27bn, well below the $64bn valuation when Mubadala invested in 2023; the IPO offers an exit path but leaves Mubadala with a large paper loss.
Dubai Airports Sees 31% H1 Traffic Drop but Eyes Stronger H2 Recovery with Investment Push
Dubai Airports reported a 31.3% drop in H1 2026 passenger traffic to 31.5 million but expects a stronger H2 driven by rebuilt airline networks and an investment programme focused on capacity and technology upgrades. Executives and analysts signalled recovery momentum and continued aviation investment across the Gulf.
DWE and LinkedIn partner to support 500 Emirati women entrepreneurs
Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and LinkedIn partnered to give 500 Emirati women entrepreneurs six months of complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning (Sept 2026–Mar 2027) to strengthen leadership, digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2026
Forbes Asia's 100 To Watch 2026 highlights early- to growth-stage Asia-Pacific startups across AI, robotics, biotech and green tech, with the cohort having raised nearly $2.4 billion to date and close to $1 billion in 2026 so far.
Saudi's BinDawood Holding secures $144mln funding to acquire Estonia dairy assets
BinDawood Holding secured Shariah-compliant financing of 542 million SAR (~$144.21M) from Banque Saudi Fransi and Gulf International Bank to acquire the dairy production operations of AS E-Piim Tootmine in Estonia via its subsidiary JUUST & JUBN OÜ. The three- to five-year facility has no bank guarantee and supports BinDawood's upstream expansion into European dairy production.
Modernizing Saudi Businesses with Azure Disaster Recovery and Application Transformation
The article discusses Saudi organisations accelerating cloud adoption and application modernization, recommending pairing application transformation with Azure-based disaster recovery to improve resilience and protect critical workloads. InTwo is highlighted as a Microsoft-focused partner helping implement Azure-driven modernization and recovery strategies.
Creators HQ, Amazon Ads open applications for region’s first Amazon Creators Foundry
Creators HQ and Amazon Ads have opened applications for the Amazon Creators Foundry, a six-month programme to help UAE-based creators launch and scale products on Amazon.ae and Amazon’s global stores. Twenty creators will be selected for end-to-end support including seller onboarding, FBA, advertising support and international expansion.
Welcome Back to Abu Dhabi: Etihad and Zayed International Airport Launch Cultural Journey for Returning Families
Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi launched a joint 'Welcome Back to Abu Dhabi' arrival campaign at Zayed International Airport targeting returning families with cultural itineraries, museum access and family-focused activations across the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Dubai tops global ranking in new FDI projects in cultural and creative industries for fourth consecutive year
Dubai retained the top global position for Greenfield FDI projects in cultural and creative industries for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, attracting 754 projects, 19,304 jobs and $3.756 billion in capital driven by digital content, creative tech and AI. City officials highlighted supportive policies like full foreign ownership, specialised clusters and advanced digital infrastructure as key drivers.
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