Author: Editorial Board
Editorial Board
The Disruptor Editorial Board brings together experienced writers, analysts, and industry voices dedicated to curating fresh perspectives on technology, startups, and the future of business. Acting as the guiding voice of the magazine, the board ensures every story we publish is insightful, relevant, and aligned with our mission—to spotlight innovation and inspire bold thinking.
Ziina has unveiled Ziina Violet, a new lifestyle membership that signals its shift from a payments-first app into an all-in-one daily companion for life in the UAE.The launch brings together everyday lifestyle perks from leading local and global brands—while introducing zero currency fees on international spending—positioning Ziina at the intersection of fintech, loyalty, and lifestyle. Built around how people in the UAE already live, Ziina Violet delivers recurring, high-usage benefits across food, retail, mobility, fitness, and work. Members gain access to curated offers from popular partners including SALT, Ounass, ClassPass, Deliveroo, CAFU, Yango Group, Bateel El’an, Washmen, Letswork, Bake My…
Saudi startup Rewaa has raised $45 million in a Series B round, doubling down on its ambition to become the AI backbone for small and medium-sized businesses across the Kingdom. The round was co-led by Wa’ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, alongside Idrisi Ventures and Unity Invest Partners. Additional backing came from Vision Ventures, RZM Investment, Sadu Capital, Sanad Investment, Palm Ventures, and Abdulrahman Sulaiman Alrajhi & Sons Co., reflecting broad investor confidence in Rewaa’s trajectory. The new funding builds on Rewaa’s $27 million Series A closed in 2023 and underscores its rapid expansion among Saudi SMEs.…
LEAP 2026, Saudi Arabia’s flagship global technology conference, is set to return to Riyadh from April 13–16, 2026, bringing together the world’s leading innovators, investors, and startups for its fifth and largest edition yet. Hosted at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, the event will run in parallel with DeepFest, the Kingdom’s premier AI-focused conference. This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 200,000 attendees, including 1,000 speakers, 600 startups, and 1,900 investors from across the globe — solidifying LEAP’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing and most influential tech gatherings. A Global Stage for AI,…
Coursera and Udemy have announced a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion, creating one of the world’s largest digital learning and workforce upskilling platforms. The proposed combination brings together two highly complementary edtech leaders at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping global skill requirements across industries. The merged company aims to serve millions of individual learners alongside thousands of enterprise, university, and government customers with a more agile, AI-native learning ecosystem. Commenting on the announcement, Greg Hart, CEO of Coursera, said the merger positions the company to better address the accelerating pace…
TECOM Group PJSC, the master developer behind Dubai’s leading business districts, is moving forward with Phase 4 of the Innovation Hub at Dubai Internet City, committing $167.4 million to meet rising demand for premium Grade-A office space from global technology companies. The new phase will deliver 263,000 square feet of gross leasable area, reinforcing Dubai Internet City’s position as the region’s flagship innovation ecosystem. With this expansion, TECOM Group’s cumulative investment in the Innovation Hub will reach $544.5 million, according to figures shared by Emirates News Agency. Momentum across earlier phases remains strong. Phase 3 is already fully leased, despite…
Roamless, a global mobile connectivity startup, has secured $12 million in Series A funding as it accelerates its ambition to build what it calls the world’s first truly global mobile operator. The round was led by Rasmal Ventures, with participation from Shorooq, Revo Capital, Finberg, and JIMCO. With this raise, Roamless’ total funding now stands at $18 million, following its $6 million seed round in 2024. Founded in 2023 in Türkiye and now headquartered in the United States, Roamless was established by Emre Demirel, Ali Gazioglu, Asim Alp, Selim Aykut, Cagdas Yalti, and Cengiz Oztelcan. The company is building a…
Abu Dhabi is doubling down on homegrown entrepreneurship. Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) and Hub71 have joined forces to launch the MZN Hub71 Programme, a new initiative aimed at supporting Emirati entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of their startup journey. The partnership was formalized during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, marking a strategic step to strengthen Al Ain’s role within Abu Dhabi’s wider innovation and startup ecosystem. Hosted at the newly established MZN Hub in Al Ain, the programme will support 10 to 15 Emirati startups per cohort through an intensive three-month journey, helping founders turn ideas into minimum…
Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH), supported by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), has successfully concluded Demo Day 2025 for its 7th wave of fintech startups graduating from the hub’s Pre-Acceleration and Acceleration programs. Held under the theme “Fintech Transformed: From Vision to Impact,” the event brought together regulators, ecosystem partners, investors, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs—highlighting the continued momentum of Qatar’s rapidly maturing fintech landscape. This year’s Demo Day marked the largest cohort to date, with 20 startups presenting solutions developed through weeks of intensive hands-on training and tailored mentorship. The programs focused on product development, regulatory and legal readiness, go-to-market strategies, and…
Algeria is taking a decisive step toward shaping a more structured and inclusive digital economy. Through the Ministry of Internal Trade and National Market Regulation, the government is preparing a new legal framework dedicated specifically to e-commerce—aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs while strengthening consumer protection. Speaking at the country’s first National Employment Conference, Minister Amel Abdellatif highlighted e-commerce as one of Algeria’s most promising growth engines. The sector, she noted, has become a magnet for young people seeking opportunity, innovation, and value creation in the digital space. The numbers support this momentum. According to joint estimates by the ministry and…
MENA-based e-commerce giant Noon has secured $500 million in a new funding round, reportedly backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The fresh capital comes as the company strengthens its market position and prepares for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO). The funding arrives at a pivotal moment for Noon, as competition in the Gulf’s e-commerce sector intensifies with both regional and global players fighting for share. The new round significantly bolsters Noon’s balance sheet as it enters its next growth phase. Preparing for the Public Markets The investment aligns with Noon’s IPO ambitions. In a September 2025 interview,…