Zepnew

Dubai-backed startups raised multiple multi-million-dollar rounds in 2026, led by a $51 million Series B for Fasset and a $30 million Series A for deeptech AI company 1001. Other notable financings included CredibleX’s Series A exceeding $15 million led by Mubadala Investment Company, CarniStore’s $12.25 million strategic minority investment from Emirates Growth Fund, and Udora’s $10 million growth round. Investors ranged from global venture firms such as Lux Capital and General Catalyst to regional institutions including Investcorp, Sanabil Investments and Mubadala.

"Dubai has rapidly established itself as one of the Middle East's leading startup ecosystems," the roundup states, capturing the city’s appeal to entrepreneurs and institutional backers in 2026.

Major rounds and investors

• Fasset — $51 million Series B (May 2026). Key investors: SBI Group, Investcorp, Arz Portföy. The company focuses on regulated digital finance, stablecoin infrastructure and blockchain-powered banking for emerging markets.
• 1001 — $30 million Series A (June 2026). Key investors: Lux Capital, Sanabil Investments, 9Yards, General Catalyst. The startup builds sovereign AI operating systems for critical national infrastructure, including ports, energy grids and industrial automation.
• CredibleX — $15+ million Series A (May 2026). Lead investor: Mubadala Investment Company. The firm provides API-first embedded financing that integrates lending into digital customer journeys.
• CarniStore — $12.25 million strategic minority investment. Investor: Emirates Growth Fund. The FoodTech company focuses on premium meat distribution with technology-enabled supply chain management.
• Udora (formerly Flowwow) — $10 million growth funding. The e-commerce and gifting platform specializes in flowers, lifestyle products and marketplace services.
• Ouinex — $3.5 million equity round. The Web3 trading platform develops institutional multi-asset trading infrastructure for digital assets and blockchain-enabled markets.
• estaie — seven-figure pre-seed. Supported by in5 and backed by PlusVC, Orbit Ventures, Falak Angels and VMS, the PropTech startup uses AI to optimise extended-stay pricing and matching for stays of 30–365 days.
• RayTech Services — $1.2 million seed round. Investors include Meirambek Abelkasov and Serik Uspanov; the company is rolling out a portable power bank sharing network in malls, airports and public spaces.

These financings reflect concentrated investor interest in sectors where Dubai-based teams have been most active: artificial intelligence, embedded fintech, digital banking, PropTech, FoodTech, Web3 infrastructure, smart city technologies and e-commerce. The roundup highlights institutional commitments from sovereign and quasi-sovereign backers—Mubadala, Emirates Growth Fund and Sanabil—alongside regional family offices and international VCs like Lux Capital and General Catalyst.

"The investment reflects growing confidence in compliant digital asset infrastructure across the Middle East," the piece notes in reference to Fasset’s round, underlining a regional appetite for regulated crypto and stablecoin solutions.

Outlook

With Dubai’s policy environment, free-zone frameworks and platforms such as DIFC providing access to global capital, investors have prioritized companies building scalable technology for the GCC, MENA, Asia and Africa. While global investment conditions tightened in 2026, the city's mix of institutional capital and venture activity enabled several startups to secure Series A and later-stage financing. Looking ahead, momentum appears likely to continue in sovereign AI, embedded finance, PropTech and Web3 infrastructure as local and regional investors back founders targeting cross-border growth.