The Middle East Is Becoming A Capital Magnet
Something is happening in the Middle East.
Capital is flowing.
Global investors are moving in.
Homegrown startups are raising bigger rounds and expanding across the region.
The UAE bounces back, reclaiming its position as MENA's
venture capital leader. According to PitchBook's latest MENA Private Capital Breakdown, UAE startups attracted $1.3 billion in
venture capital in H1 2026, surpassing the country's total for all of 2025.
A handful of mega-rounds helped, but the biggest take is
that capital continues to gravitate towards companies with the ambition and
infrastructure to scale.
What’s also interesting to watch is who's investing and the
flow of capital to and from the region.
Capital
In, Capital Out
One of the world's biggest investment companies – Temasek
- is preparing to setup shop in the Middle East.
The Singapore-based firm, with a global portfolio worth
around $401 billion, just announced its plans to establish offices in Abu
Dhabi and Riyadh, expected to open in the first half of 2027. Read the details here.
The move is a signal that the region is becoming
increasingly important to global investors looking for new markets,
partnerships and growth opportunities.
Regional capital is also going global.
Abu Dhabi-based Shorooq
and Presight
joined a $100 million Series A round for the Silicon Valley startup Maven
Robotics, supporting the company's development of AI-powered industrial
robots for logistics and manufacturing. Read more here.
Deal Flow
Being where capital flows is key to accelerate growth and
the region’s startups know it well.
💰Dubai-based Erad has raised $22
million in Series A funding, led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP),
confirmed for ENS 2026 InvestorProgramme. The new funding will help the fintech startup expand across the
GCC. Read more.
💰 Dubai-based Amaani, the company
behind beauty brand AÏZA, has raised $5 million in Series A funding
to accelerate its expansion across the GCC. The round was led by BECO Capital, also
confirmed for ENS 2026 Investor Programme. Learn more here.
💰Saudi-founded fintech Tabby has raised
$233 million in Series F funding, taking its valuation to $6.5
billion. The company is expanding beyond buy-now-pay-later into broader
financial services.
Founders
Radar
The ecosystem in the region is gaining momentum and there
are opportunities founders can act on now. Here are three to put on your radar.
👉🏼CBUAE FINANCIAL HEALTH INNOVATION
CHALLENGE
Deadline: 30 November
Have a market-ready fintech solution? The challenge by for the Central Bank of
the UAE offers a potential pathway to test it with UAE financial institutions.
Apply here
👉🏼HUB71 ACCESS
Deadline: February 2027
Looking for capital and a launchpad into the UAE? Access offers AED 250K
in cash + AED 250K in-kind incentives, plus access to Abu Dhabi's investor and
corporate ecosystem.
Apply here
Planet
North Star
Global capital is moving closer. Regional startups are
raising, scaling and crossing borders.
Now founders need to get noticed.
SUPERNOVA 0X
At Expand North Star 2026, Supernova 0X puts
ambitious founders in the spotlight.
With a new stage-based competition format, Supernova 0X
connects founders with the right investors, at the right time, to scale your
business in the spot.
👉🏼Supernova 0X
Deadline: 1 November
Startups must be exhibiting at Expand North Star 2026 to be
eligible to compete.
Apply Now
The capital is moving. Make sure your startup is part of the
conversation.
We'll see you at Expand North Star 2026!
Summit: 7 December, Dubai World Trade Centre
Expo: 8–10 December, Expo City Dubai