News and stories from the ever-growing startup ecosystem of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – the startups, investors, whopping funding rounds, and everything in between.
As UAE-China non-oil trade crosses $111 billion and 24 new deals get signed in Beijing, New Delhi has to reconcile a difficult truth: its most important Gulf partner is deepening ties with its biggest strategic rival.
The Riyadh-based payments giant absorbs TAPn'GO's contactless technology in a full 100% acquisition, targeting 20,000+ businesses across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more.
The UAE-based investment firm joined a global investor group backing the Paris-headquartered artificial intelligence startup founded by former Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun.
The funding round, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan family and the Al-Ketbi family, will help TruDoc expand its virtual-first healthcare and hospital-at-home services across the GCC.
Middle East cloud infrastructure damaged amid ongoing conflict; services disrupted as recovery efforts continue
Early 2026 funding rounds in the Middle East reveal new trends in AI investment, IPO readiness, and the rise of institutional-backed capital shaping the startup ecosystem.
How Abu Dhabi’s $100M AI investment reveals a deeper shift in how sovereign capital is reshaping startup funding in 2026
U.S. Justice Department disclosures linking the DP World leader to Jeffrey Epstein trigger leadership change at the Dubai government-owned global ports operator.
The Saudi Arabia–launched startup returns to the Summit one year after winning the 1 Billion Pitches competition, reporting higher creator payouts, faster collaboration growth, and a major product update.
StarzPlay CEO Maaz Sheikh outlines how exclusive sports rights, Arabic originals and AI-driven personalisation are shaping the streaming platform’s growth across the MENA region.
Ayesha Shaik, known as the UAE’s “First Phonics Teacher,” has grown from a Year-1 educator into a prominent advocate for literacy, teacher development, and inclusive learning, building a community-driven movement across the region.
Registrations of Indian companies with the Abu Dhabi Chamber have surged at a 38.4% CAGR since 2019, reaching 17,457 active members by September 2025 — underscoring Abu Dhabi’s rising appeal as a business hub.