Startup wrap — Funding and acquisition momentum continues in MENA

RIYADH: Startups across the Middle East and North Africa region secured multiple funding rounds and attracted several notable acquisitions across diverse sectors last week, highlighting the region’s continued appeal to global investors. This momentum builds on a record-breaking 2025, when MENA startups raised $7.5 billion — a 225 percent surge from the previous year, according to Wamda data. In May, startups in the region raised a combined $454.7 million across 33 deals, marking a 202 percent month-on-month surge and a 76 percent increase compared to May 2025.