Gulf investors moved decisively across sectors in late September, backing deals in industrial robotics, fintech, beauty and proptech. UAE-based Shorooq and Presight joined a $100 million Series A in US industrial robotics startup Maven Robotics; Saudi fintech erad closed a $22 million Series A led by Middle East Venture Partners ; UAE consumer group Amaani raised $5 million to scale beauty brand AÏZA; Saudi workforce-housing platform Rela secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Yazeed Al Rajhi Brothers Holding; and Pinnacle Capital increased its stake in Saudi hospitality platform Gathern. Maven highlighted the operational performance behind investor interest, saying its machines “operate for up to 16 hours daily at customer sites with reliability above 99 percent.” Deal details and strategic rationale Maven Robotics — $100 million Series A: The round included Gulf participation through funds managed by Shorooq and Presight (a G42 company), alongside RoboStrategy, LocalGlobe, Vine Ventures and XTX Ventures. Founded in 2024 by Hamza Derbas and based in Santa Clara, Maven develops autonomous robots for logistics and manufacturing, initially focusing on mixed-case palletizing and tote handling. The company plans to build 250 third-generation robots while designing its fourth-generation fleet to expand into broader materials-handling applications. erad — $22 million Series A: Saudi alternative financing platform erad raised $22 million in a round led by Middle East Venture Partners with participation from 500 Global , Saudi Venture Capital, S60 Ventures, ANB Capital, Conjunction Capital and Araya Ventures. Founders Salem Abu-Hammour, Faris Yaghmour , Abdulmalik Al-Meheini and Youssef Said offer Shariah-compliant working-capital financing of up to SR10 million ($2.6 million) to SMEs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Erad said it has deployed more than SR500 million in cumulative financing and has received over SR4 billion in requests, while its Saudi business record…