The first week of November 2025 witnessed notable investment activity in the Middle East and Arab startup ecosystem, with five funding and acquisition deals announced, totaling more than $43.8 million.
The transactions spanned key sectors including fintech, e-commerce, event management, digital transformation, and edtech, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt emerging as the region’s leading investment hubs.
According to Inta Arabi’s Weekly Startup Investment Report for the period November 1–8, 2025, momentum continues to build in startup funding across the region — driven by a growing trend of integrating advanced technologies into traditional industries such as education, commerce, and event management.
Regional Activity Highlights
The report underscores Saudi Arabia’s role as a key driver of regional investment activity, supported by local venture funds and government-led innovation programs under Vision 2030.
Meanwhile, Egypt continues to attract attention as a prime expansion market for regional startups, backed by a strong digital infrastructure and a rapidly growing e-commerce sector.
Notably, partnerships such as the Mila Celebrations–Rodyan collaboration demonstrate how the event management industry is undergoing a digital transformation powered by artificial intelligence, reshaping the experience for both clients and vendors.
Total disclosed investments during the first week of November reached approximately $38.8 million, in addition to two deals with undisclosed values.
Key Deals
- Zid (Saudi Arabia): Acquired Egypt’s Zammit, marking a strategic move to enter the Egyptian market and expand into Africa.
- Mila Celebrations: Signed a $5 million strategic partnership with Rodyan to develop AI-powered event management solutions.
- The Lab Ventures (UAE): Closed its second venture fund at $33.8 million to support digital transformation initiatives across the Middle East and Europe.
- WildyNess (Tunisia): Secured undisclosed pre-seed funding to expand its edtech and travel technology operations across five Arab markets.
Investments and Acquisitions by Sector
| Sector | Number of Deals | Total Disclosed Investment (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Transformation & General Tech | 1 | 33,800,000 |
| Event Management & Artificial Intelligence | 1 | 5,000,000 |
| E-commerce | 1 | Undisclosed (Acquisition) |
| Education & EdTech | 1 | Undisclosed |
| Total (Approx.) | 4 | ≈ $38.8 million disclosed + 2 undisclosed deals |
Investments by Country
| Country | Number of Deals | Total Disclosed Investment (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | 38,800,000 |
| Egypt | 1 | Undisclosed (Zammit acquisition) |
| UAE | 1 | Undisclosed (WildyNess funding) |
| Total (Approx.) | 4 | ≈ $38.8 million disclosed + 2 undisclosed deals |
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