Startup Funding in the Middle East

Backed by Saudi Aramco; operates a $500M venture fund with reserved capital for AI deals.

Commits roughly $3B per year to private investments; wholly owned by PIF.

Portfolio includes Tabby, Foodics, Careem and Salla; launched a $100M AI Fund backed by Google.

Portfolio includes Tabby, Salla, Lean and Mozn.

Has invested in 65+ private capital funds that collectively backed 1,000+ startups and SMEs.

Portfolio includes Jahez, Tamara and Syarah; reported deploying over SAR 650M across 51+ companies.

Oversees a network of 178+ licensed incubators and accelerators across the Kingdom.

Licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA); all solutions certified Sharia-compliant by its Sharia Committee.

SAMA-licensed; all operations comply with Islamic Sharia; reports 11,000+ financings totaling over SAR 5B.

Requires founders to reside in Saudi Arabia and commit full time for the four months, so it is not a remote or part-time programme.

The grant is non-dilutive. States 290 startups supported since 2016, $459M raised between them and 4,600+ jobs created.

The accelerator is zero equity: it takes no stake. Reported to have supported 100 startups with SAR 200M in investment funds.

Structured as a waqf foundation, unusual for an angel network. States over SAR 1 billion invested; portfolio includes Careem and HungerStation.

States 50+ members drawn from leading Saudi corporations. Wants an MVP already built, so it is not an idea-stage route.

Licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority (24293-02). Reported founded 2018 with 55 investments.

100+ portfolio companies across 11 countries; investments include Tamara, TruKKer, Lendo and Pure Harvest.

About $400M AUM and 70+ portfolio companies including Paymob, Zid and Yodawy.

Portfolio includes Careem, Property Finder, Kitopi, Fresha and Thndr; 54 portfolio companies.

Reached a first close of $75M on its debut fund; portfolio includes Calo, Eyewa and Silkhaus.

Launched Middle East Venture Fund IV with $150M; portfolio includes Anghami, Fresha and Nana.

Backed by Mubadala and Abu Dhabi's Department of Economic Development; 410+ onboarded startups and 200+ partners.

Home to the region's FinTech Hive accelerator and host of the Dubai FinTech Summit.

Founded by Aramex founder Fadi Ghandour; 100+ investments including Careem, Souq, Tabby and Hala.

State-backed program offering up to $1.1M (START) or $5.5M (GROW) for a Qatar presence.

Member of Qatar Foundation and a leading tech incubator/free zone in Doha's Education City.

Described as Qatar's first and most active angel investment club; founded by 15 partners.

The first business angels company in Bahrain; shareholders include Bahrain Development Bank and Alba.

A $100M fund of funds anchoring Bahrain's venture-capital ecosystem; invests in funds, not directly in startups.

Kuwait's primary government vehicle for financing and developing SMEs and startups.

Oman's flagship government technology fund at Knowledge Oasis Muscat, spanning pre-seed to growth.

One of the first accelerators in the MENA region, established in 2010.

Amman-founded VC (2012) with a global portfolio spanning 15+ industries.

Launched in 2011 by Sawari Ventures; runs programs across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan and beyond.

Widely regarded as the leading technology VC in Egypt; backed by IFC.

Founder of Flat6Labs; invests across fintech, edtech, healthtech, deeptech and e-commerce.