Author: Editorial Board

Saudi Arabia’s education technology sector is entering a new phase of consolidation as Noon Academy has acquired Almakhfi, one of the Kingdom’s leading digital platforms for Qudurat and Tahsili exam preparation. The acquisition comes shortly after Noon Academy raised SAR 153 million ($40.8 million) in a Series B funding round led by Wa’ed Ventures and Raed Ventures, signaling that the company is deploying fresh capital to strengthen its position as one of the region’s leading AI-powered education platforms. Founded in 2013 by Mohammed Aldhalaan and Abdulaziz AlSaeed, Noon Academy has grown into one of the Middle East’s largest social learning…

Twenty-four innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been selected to join the fifth cohort of the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP) in Tunisia, a regional initiative supporting sustainable entrepreneurship, investment readiness, and green economic development. Over the coming months, the selected companies will participate in a tailored acceleration program offering one-on-one mentorship, investment readiness support, business development guidance, and access to strategic industry networks. The program also aims to help participating businesses create new jobs while accelerating Tunisia’s transition toward a more sustainable economy. The fifth cohort brings together startups and SMEs operating across diverse sectors, including…

Alexandria, Egypt — Global innovation platform Plug and Play has officially launched the first cohort of its Venture Ready investment readiness program in Alexandria, marking the beginning of a regional initiative aimed at strengthening startup ecosystems beyond Egypt’s capital. Developed in partnership with GIZ Egypt, Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), and the Creativa Innovation Hubs, the program is designed to prepare early-stage startups from the Delta and Canal governorates for fundraising and scalable growth. The initiative will be delivered through three consecutive cohorts in Alexandria, Menoufia, and Ismailia, extending support…

RIYADH — UAE-based technology conglomerate Letsia has announced a SAR 50 million ($13.3 million) investment to build Letsia HyperDC, a new data center and enterprise cloud platform in Riyadh, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the fastest-growing digital infrastructure markets in the Middle East. The first phase of the project will include a 5,200-square-meter (56,000 sq ft) facility capable of hosting 100 to 150 IT racks. Designed with a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.4, the data center aims to deliver high-performance computing while maintaining strong energy efficiency through advanced cooling systems, renewable energy integration, and sustainable construction practices.…

Six-month accelerator backed by Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship will select 10 high-potential startups for regional growth. Applications are now open for the C3 Launchpad Program, a six-month acceleration initiative designed to prepare Jordan’s most promising technology startups for investment and expansion into the UAE market. Led by C3 – Companies Creating Change and funded by Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship, the program will select 10 high-potential startups to participate in an intensive growth journey focused on investor readiness, market expansion, and strategic partnerships. The accelerator targets post-MVP, revenue-generating Jordanian tech and tech-enabled startups with annual…

Anghami Inc. (NASDAQ: ANGH) (“Anghami” or the “Company”) today confirmed receipt of a preliminary, non-binding proposal (the “Proposal”) from OSN Streaming Limited (“OSN”), the Company’s controlling shareholder, to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”) of the Company not already owned by OSN in a going-private transaction. OSN’s proposed purchase price is $3.39 in cash per Ordinary Share (the “Offer Price”). OSN currently owns approximately 67% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. OSN has indicated that it expects to fund the acquisition with equity or other financing from its shareholders and their affiliates and that…

Across Africa, climate shocks are already reshaping food systems, supply chains, energy access, and infrastructure, and a new generation of founders is building the practical, scalable solutions communities need to adapt. Catalyst Fund, the pan-African venture fund and venture builder backing founders from pre-seed to Series A, has announced the completion of its second close, with total commitments now reaching $30 million, bringing the fund closer to its target fund size and adding fresh momentum to its mission of strengthening climate resilience across the continent. Led by partners Maelis Carraro, Maxime Bayen, Olúwatóyìn Emmanuel-Olubake, and Amolo Ng’weno, the fund plans…

Maalexi, the company behind the Maalexi Agricultural Assets Token Exchange (MAATEX), today announced the close of an oversubscribed funding round led by Tawuniya, a Saudi joint-stock company listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul: 8010), and Global Ventures, a UAE-based venture capital firm and Maalexi’s pre-Series A lead investor. Maalexi is developing what it describes as the world’s first regulated real-world asset (RWA) agricultural exchange, aimed at bringing greater verification, standardisation and transparency to cross-border agricultural trade. “At Tawuniya, we back businesses that strengthen financial infrastructure and improve market resilience,” said Fahad Bin Muammar, chief investment officer of Tawuniya. “Maalexi has…

REACH, one of the world’s most prestigious real estate technology accelerators, is launching a second programme in the UAE to support exciting proptech start-ups and the $1.3 trillion Middle East real estate pipeline. The programme provides each start-up with funding, world-class mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and subject matter experts, access to local and global networking, and exposure to investor communities. After the success of the inaugural REACH Middle East cohort, including achieving new product launches, the attraction of robust investment rounds and exponential customer growth, REACH Middle East – the local arm of the global initiative – will run its…

Ruya Partners Limited (“Ruya”), the ADGM-based private credit firm focused on investing in the GCC and the wider MENA region, today announced a US$15 million senior secured private credit facility for Whiteshield Group (“Whiteshield” or the “Company”), the AI-native policy intelligence company with principal operations in the UAE and KSA. The facility, provided by funds managed by Ruya, finances the next stage of Whiteshield’s development as it expands the proprietary technology it builds for governments, multilateral institutions and corporates around the world. As AI accelerates economic, labour market and societal change, governments face a new challenge: adapting faster than the…