Welcome back to another exciting week in the MENA startup ecosystem! This week, we're highlighting the latest news, new opportunities, and can't-miss events happening across the region

Fundraising Roulette

SHIFT inc. (KSA/Mobility) raised $82.8M

Mila Celebrations (KSA/Event-Planning) raised $227K

Bazzar Gate (Kuwait/IT) raised $1M

Padash (Iraqi/Q-commerce) raised $125K

Coral (UAE/ClimateTech) closed a seed round

Mawarid (UAE) invested in Sceye (Mexico)

Mubadala (UAE) invested in GC Therapeutics (US)

Masdar (UAE) acquired Saita (Spain) for $1.4B

Movers and Shakers

Amplify launched $100M debt fund

Brookfield raised $2.4B for UAE-backed fund

Ajeej and Nuwa Capital launched a $100M fund

Saudi-India fund launched to invest $2B in startups

Ibtikar fund raised $25M to support Palestinian startups

First SPAC in Egypt approved with EGP 10M Capital

EEA & engazaat to create a platform for Green Startups in Egypt

Ecosystem Updates

Egypt's Entrepreneur Awards announced winners of 2024 edition

MINT Incubator showcased 11 startups in its 13th cycle

500 Global welcomed 25 startups in Batch 4

EdVentures selected 8 startups for funding and support

UAE launched $2 million Global FoodTech Challenge

Sheraa launched S3 Program in Sharjah

Qatar FinTech Hub selected 7 startups for its 6th cohort

Aramco to launch startup incubator in Saudi Arabia

Open For Application

Next-Gen Podcasting Program | UAE

Sharjah Startup Studio S3 Program | UAE

Arrayah Chapter 2 Residency Program | UAE

PIEC Fintech Program | Palestine

Intilaaqah Incubation Program | Egypt

Digital Signature For Financials Challenge | Jordan

FoodTech Challenge —> $2m cash prizes | UAE

Expand Your Business to Saudi Arabia by Venture X | MENA

Cool Events

• UAE Fintech Vision 2024 | 30-09, Abu Dhabi

• How Careem Became Your Digital Butler for Daily Life | 30-09, Riyadh

• WETEX | 01-10, Dubai

• Techspo Dubai | 01-10, Dubai

• Meet the Moroccan Startup Ecosystem | 01-10, Virtual

• Fintech Forward 2024 | 02-10, Manama

• Telling Your Startup's Story Right | 02-10, Abu Dhabi

• FORSA III Demo Day | 04-10, Beirut

• Next-Gen Podcasting Program | 04-10, Dubai

• Techne Summit | 05-10, Alexandria

Techy Bytes

Astra Tech to launch savings services for Botim users in UAE

Uber to offer WeRide robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

Microsoft to open Global Engineering Development Centre in Abu Dhabi

Kuwait launched AI-powered cameras to monitor seat belt and mobile phone violations

Oman launched National Program for AI

Apple Pay launched in Oman

Researchers announced Moroccan Arabic LLM collection