Startups across MENA raised a record $1.2bn in the third quarter of 2025. The figures, from analyst MAGNiTT, show a 60% jump from Q2 and a 4x increase year-on-year.
The surge was driven by a wave of mega deals exceeding $100m. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were the key players, with deployed capital nearly tripling in the UAE and more than doubling in Saudi Arabia. The trend highlights growing investor confidence in mature regional ventures despite a global funding slowdown.
In total, MENA startups raised $3bn in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing Southeast Asia for the first time.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer