Insights, reports and interviews from the Mena region
MENA startups investments, including debt, shrank to $2.3 billion in 2024, a 42% YoY decline
Without debt financing from 2023 and 2024, the disparity drops to 11%
The investment volume surged to 610 deals in 2024, a 3.5% YoY increase
The UAE was the top-funded country, scooping up 50% of total MENA investments
KSA-based investors financed 30% of total deals
Fintech captured 30% of total investment
Startup investment including debt financing grew by only 1.7%. Without debt, it dropped by 35%
Debt financing grew by 256% year on year
Investment in female founded startups dropped by 64%
Saudi Arabia-based investors were the most active, participating in 30% of all deals
Of the $2.4 billion raised from January to September 2022, just 2% was invested in women-founded startups in MENA
Closing the gender investment gap and enabling more women to participate equally as entrepreneurs could raise global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 6 per cent.
57.8% women surveyed said that MENA-based investors are less likely to invest in women-led startups when compared to global investors.
64.2% said that women-only investment funds benefit women-led startups
Startups in Mena raised a record-breaking $2.87bn across 639 deals.
The most active ecosystem remains the UAE, followed by KSA and Egypt.
Just $34.6 million was invested in startups founded by women.
Saudi investors were the most active, taking part in 214 deals.
No results match your search criteria.