Author: Editorial Board

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,…

iVoiceUp, the region’s first and fastest-growing AI-powered whistleblowing and ethics case management platform, has closed an investment round led by A15. The funding will accelerate the company’s expansion across key MENA markets, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Built for the modern enterprise, iVoiceUp offers a comprehensive ethics and compliance case management solution that enables senior leadership to detect, manage, and analyze misconduct before it escalates. The platform spans a wide range of use cases—from financial crimes such as embezzlement and corruption to non-financial issues including sexual harassment and discrimination—helping organizations protect brand reputation, reduce financial risk, and foster…

Saudi event organizer Tahaluf has announced the launch of Kingdom of Gaming, a new global platform designed to bring together the world’s leading game developers, creative studios, publishers, investors, and digital talent. The inaugural edition will take place in Riyadh from December 1–3, 2026, marking one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious moves yet to establish itself as a major force in the global gaming industry. Positioned as a strategic ecosystem for decision-makers and innovators, Kingdom of Gaming aims to reshape how interactive entertainment is built, funded, and distributed—particularly across fast-growing emerging markets. The event will run alongside Black Hat MEA,…