MENA Startup Funding Surges: $783 Million Invested Across 57 Deals in July
Startup investment across the Middle East and North Africa accelerated sharply in July, with total funding reaching $783 million across 57 deals.
Riyadh: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region saw a dramatic surge in startup investment in July, with a total of $783 million invested across 57 deals.
This represents a significant increase from June, marking a 1,411% rise and more than doubling the amount raised in July 2024.
According to Wamda's monthly report, this growth positions the third quarter of 2025 for robust regional growth.
The increase was largely driven by two megadeals that highlighted sustained investor appetite for later-stage, high-growth opportunities.
Saudi Arabia led funding activity, securing $396.5 million across 16 deals, while the UAE followed with $359 million raised in 22 startups.
Notably, the Kingdom's performance was bolstered by three major rounds, including Q-commerce platform Ninja's $250 million raise led by Riyad Capital, which propelled it to unicorn status.
Emerging ecosystems also saw significant shifts.
Iraq claimed third place with a single $15 million transaction for InstaBank, surpassing traditional heavyweight Egypt, which dropped to fifth place after recording just $4 million in funding across seven startups.
Analysts cite macroeconomic headwinds and currency instability as contributing factors to Egypt's diminished share.
By sector, deeptech overtook fintech for the first time in several months, drawing $250.3 million from four deals.
E-commerce matched deeptech in total funding, also raising $250 million, driven by Ninja's record-setting round.
Software-as-a-service startups came third, attracting $89 million across 12 deals.
The investment landscape saw renewed interest in consumer-focused business models, with business-to-consumer startups capturing $534 million in funding, reversing a trend from earlier this year when enterprise solutions and B2B ventures attracted more capital.
Despite increased visibility of women in entrepreneurship, the gender gap in venture funding persisted, with startups led by male founders raising $774.5 million across 43 deals.
With seven months remaining in 2025, MENA startup funding has already surpassed the full-year total for 2024, reflecting the region's transition from nascent to mature innovation ecosystems.
This represents a significant increase from June, marking a 1,411% rise and more than doubling the amount raised in July 2024.
According to Wamda's monthly report, this growth positions the third quarter of 2025 for robust regional growth.
The increase was largely driven by two megadeals that highlighted sustained investor appetite for later-stage, high-growth opportunities.
Saudi Arabia led funding activity, securing $396.5 million across 16 deals, while the UAE followed with $359 million raised in 22 startups.
Notably, the Kingdom's performance was bolstered by three major rounds, including Q-commerce platform Ninja's $250 million raise led by Riyad Capital, which propelled it to unicorn status.
Emerging ecosystems also saw significant shifts.
Iraq claimed third place with a single $15 million transaction for InstaBank, surpassing traditional heavyweight Egypt, which dropped to fifth place after recording just $4 million in funding across seven startups.
Analysts cite macroeconomic headwinds and currency instability as contributing factors to Egypt's diminished share.
By sector, deeptech overtook fintech for the first time in several months, drawing $250.3 million from four deals.
E-commerce matched deeptech in total funding, also raising $250 million, driven by Ninja's record-setting round.
Software-as-a-service startups came third, attracting $89 million across 12 deals.
The investment landscape saw renewed interest in consumer-focused business models, with business-to-consumer startups capturing $534 million in funding, reversing a trend from earlier this year when enterprise solutions and B2B ventures attracted more capital.
Despite increased visibility of women in entrepreneurship, the gender gap in venture funding persisted, with startups led by male founders raising $774.5 million across 43 deals.
With seven months remaining in 2025, MENA startup funding has already surpassed the full-year total for 2024, reflecting the region's transition from nascent to mature innovation ecosystems.
