Startup investments in MENA reach $64.31 million, with KSA and the UAE leading the landscape - إنت عربي

During March, startup investment activity across the Arab region, the Middle East, and Africa declined amid escalating regional developments, falling by $209.92 million compared to the previous month.

Startup investment activity across the Arab region, the Middle East and Africa slowed sharply in March, with new funding falling by $209.92 million from the previous month to total $64.31 million. According to the monthly investment report issued by entArabi, those funds were deployed across 19 companies and spanned 12 sectors, led by fintech and blockchain, e‑commerce and digital health.

"Total new investments in startups across 19 companies during March still surpassed $64.31 million, spanning 12 sectors," the entArabi report said, noting the decline came "amid escalating regional developments."

The distribution of capital in March highlighted concentrated interest in a handful of verticals. Fintech and blockchain captured the largest single share at 25.03% of the total—about $16.1 million—followed closely by e‑commerce and retail at 24.74% ($15.87 million). Digital health investments collectively exceeded $15 million (23.4% of the total), while artificial intelligence deals represented roughly 17.55% with investments surpassing $11.25 million.

  • Fintech / Blockchain: $16.1M — Mahala, Utexo, Qudwa
  • E‑commerce & Retail: $15.86M — Thnna (single deal of $15.86M in Saudi Arabia)
  • Digital Health: More than $15M — TruDoc Healthcare, iQtech
  • Artificial Intelligence: More than $11.25M — zypl.ai, Infobrim, Skipr Ledgers
  • EdTech: $2.5M — GAGA
  • Smart Mobility: $3.1M — GoSwap, Weego
  • Logistics Services: $0.5M — ShipBee
  • PropTech: Undisclosed — Rewa, Miftah
  • Digital Infrastructure: Undisclosed — Netcom Technologies
  • Semiconductors: Undisclosed — Rimal Semiconductors

Nationally, the United Arab Emirates led in deal value, recording roughly $31.35 million across the month. entArabi reported the UAE accounted for nearly half of March’s funding (48.91%), with notable participation from zypl.ai, TruDoc, Skipr Ledgers, Utexo, Qudwa and Rewa. Saudi Arabia followed with $26.86 million across five deals (about 41.9% of the total), featuring a major e‑commerce injection by Thnna as well as investments in GAGA (EdTech), Mahala and Rimal Semiconductors. Morocco recorded more than $3.1 million in three deals, driven by smart mobility startups GoSwap and Weego and by Netcom Technologies in digital infrastructure.

  • UAE: ~$31.35M — 6–7 deals (zypl.ai, TruDoc, Skipr Ledgers, Utexo, Qudwa, Rewa)
  • Saudi Arabia: ~$26.86M — 5 deals (GAGA, Mahala, Thnna, Infobrim, Rimal)
  • Morocco: >$3.1M — 3 deals (GoSwap, Netcom Technologies, Weego)
  • Qatar: >$0.5M — ShipBee, iQtech
  • Syria: Undisclosed — Miftah

While overall momentum cooled in March, entArabi’s data shows concentrated investor appetite remains for fintech, e‑commerce, digital health and AI plays. The report’s precise company‑level tallies — including Thnna’s $15.86 million e‑commerce raise and GAGA’s $2.5 million EdTech round — illustrate that large, single transactions can still drive headline figures even amid a down month for the region.