Welcome back to your weekly journey through the MENA startup landscape! It’s been a busy week in MENA - Ecents season is officially open, VCs are ready for business and startups are making some serious moves.

Let’s get started!

Fundraising Roulette

Prypco (UAE/Proptech) raised $10M seed

NCircle (UAE/Deeptech) raised $530K

NOOG (UAE/Healthtech) raised $490K pre-seed

invygo (KSA/Mobility) raised $8M Series A extension

Nabt (KSA/Agritech) raised 1.5M seed

TGR (KSA/Web3) raised $450K

Pass (Qatar/Logistics) raised QR10M

AFS (Bahrain/Fintech) raised $50M

Arknet (Jordan/blockchain) raised $6.25M Series A

Colis.ma (Morocco/Logistics) raised $300K Pre-Seed

Edafa VC invested in four Egyptian startup

Main Headlines

Best Kept Shared (UAE) acquired BAZAARA (UAE)

Lulu Group files for IPO on Abu Dhabi Bourse

DFF launched Gig Economy & PropTech Sandboxes

Iraq granted $69bn in Investment Licences in 18 months

Mubadala raised $3.1 billion for MIC Capital Partners IV

Wa’ed Ventures allocated $100M to support AI startups

ISSF to invest $5M in Jordanian startups

Sawari Ventures to launch $200M fund in 2025

Ecosystem Updates

New measures announced to transform Digital Economy and Startup Ecosystem in UAE

Dubai launched IGNYTE to empower 100,000 startups

Winners announced at TiE Women MENA Finals 2024

TotalEnergies announced winners of the startupper of the year challenge

Berytech looking for consultants for Agrytech Accelerator

Falak Angels Deal Day concluded with five startups pitching to over 30 investors

STARTGATE wrapped up 7th batch acceleration program in Morocco

Startup Highlights

Fasila (UAE/Edtech) awarded best smart application for teaching Arabic in the world

Dubizzle (UAE) to go public for $1B in 2025

Telr (UAE/Fintech) expanded to Jordan and Bahrain

Thmanyah (KSA) launched Thmanyah subscription

Tadarab (Kuwait/Edtech) expanded to Saudi

Viridia Tech (Egypt) won Mega Green Accelerator grand prize

Open For Application

Sanabil Startup Unlocked by 500 Global | Saudi Arabia

SaudiPreneur Program | Saudi Arabia

XRPL Accelerator Launch Program | UAE

TradeTech Accelerator | UAE

InvestIT Program | Egypt

The Catalyst Accelerator Program | Egypt, Oman, UAE

Education Hackathon (Eduthon) | GCC

Action for Women’s Health Challenge —> $250M | Global

Cool Events This Week

• VC <> StartUp Connect | 28.10 Dubai

• Empowering Women in Business | 28.10 Dubai

• 9Yards Capital x Hub71 Fireside Chat | 28.10 Abu Dhabi

• ADAM Global International Business Forum | 29.10 Abu Dhabi

• Setting Up Your Business in Saudi Arabia | 29.10 Virtual

• Techstars October Virtual Meet & Greet | 29.10 Virtual

• FII 8th Edition 2024 | 29-31.10 Riyadh

• Binance Blockchain Week | 30-31.10 Dubai

• Intake Session by Startupbootcamp Accelerators | 31.10 Virtual

• Pitch at the Hive | 31.10 Dubai

• Fundraising for Founders | 31.10 Abu Dhabi

• Grow and Go: Shaping Tomorrow's Startup | 01.11 Istanbul

• Her Voice Workshop Jeddah | 01.11 Jeddah

• Business Excellence with AI Workshop | 01.11 Dubai

Techy Bytes

UAE to launch AI-driven virtual lawyers

MBZUAI launched its full robotics program and Arabic AI benchmark

Dubai mosques are using drones for minaret cleaning

Abu Dhabi launched AI assistant for 800 government services

New app releases in Google Play Store down by 75%