French AI startup Mistral is reportedly in advanced discussions with investors, including Abu Dhabi’s MGX, to raise $1bn at a $10bn valuation. The funding would nearly double Mistral’s worth from last year.
The UAE economy is forecast to expand by 4.4% in 2025 and 5.4% in 2026, according to the Central Bank of the UAE’s latest Financial Stability Report.
Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), the flagship programme by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), has opened applications for its next cohort. The four-month cycle will begin in October 2025, with 20 startups selected from across the UAE.
Abu Dhabi-based startup Ovasave which focuses on addressing women’s health needs has raised $1.2m in pre-seed funding to scale its digital platform for fertility and hormonal health.
Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), the region’s largest financial event, will return for its fourth edition from 8 – 11 December 2025, doubling in size and reinforcing its role as a premier global platform for financial leaders.
Saudi e-commerce fulfilment platform Salasa has secured $30m in Series B funding to accelerate its transformation into a technology-first logistics provider and expand its cross-border operations.
Dubai recorded 9.88 million international overnight visitors between January and June 2025, marking a 6% increase year-on-year. This is according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has received the ‘Plan to Action: Year of Sustainability Seal’ in recognition of its long-term environmental goals. The award acknowledges the chamber’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Label initiative.
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, has acquired a stake in Abu Dhabi-based private equity firm BlueFive Capital. The investment follows BlueFive’s successful close of its Founding Shareholders Circle and adds to a group of 25 regional and international backers.
Dubai led GCC equity markets in July 2025 with a 7.9% gain, pushing the Dubai Financial Market General Index’s year-to-date return to 19.4% which is the highest in the region. Meanwhile, the MSCI GCC Index (Morgan Stanley Capital International Gulf Cooperation Council Index) rose 2.2% for the month.
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