Startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa more than doubled in August, but the rebound was sharply concentrated in two large UAE transactions rather than spread across the wider venture market.
Regional startups raised $375 million across 27 deals, up 117% from July and 11% from August 2025, according to Wamda and Digital Digest. Yet deal count fell 40% month-on-month, exposing how narrowly the recovery was distributed.
The UAE attracted $362 million, or nearly 97% of regional funding, across 13 transactions. Dubai-headquartered mobility company Moove raised $250 million in a Series C, led by Mubadala Investment Company at a $2.1 billion valuation, while fintech Fasset secured $68 million at a $1 billion valuation. Together, the two companies absorbed almost 85% of all capital raised across MENA in August.
Saudi Arabia ranked a distant second with $10.25 million across six startups, while Jordan attracted $2 million. Egypt recorded no disclosed funding round in the monthly tracker.
Early-stage activity remained active by deal count, with 22 pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds, but those transactions raised only $38 million combined.
Funding quality nevertheless improved. Debt accounted for just 2% of August financing, compared with 56% in July, indicating a renewed willingness by investors to commit equity rather than rely on structured borrowing.
The figures point to a more selective MENA venture market, not yet a broad recovery. Large pools of capital remain available for proven scale-ups, particularly in the UAE, while financing conditions remain considerably tighter across the wider startup base.
Related news:
UAE finance hiring rebounds as UK professionals return to Gulf job market
Etihad Rail Launches UAE Passenger Network, Reshaping Mobility and Economic Growth
Read also:
SCZone Nears 400-Factory Milestone as Egypt Deepens Suez Manufacturing
North Coast Growth Is Turning the Alexandria–Matrouh Road Into an Urban Spine
