Author: Editorial Board

UAE-founded proptech and mortgage platform Huspy has acquired Italian credit intermediary Integra Finance, marking its entry into Italy as part of a broader expansion across Europe and MENA. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Founded in Dubai in 2020 by Jad Antoun and Ziad Nassar, Huspy plans to invest $86 million (AED 315 million) over five years to develop its mortgage finance and real estate operations in Italy. The country becomes Huspy’s fourth market after the UAE, Spain and Saudi Arabia. Integra Finance, also founded in 2020, provides mortgages, personal and salary- or pension-backed loans, corporate financing…

Egypt-based EFG Holding has secured a $40 million four-year loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to expand access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Egypt. The financing marks the first EBRD facility extended directly to EFG Holding at the holding-company level, opening a new chapter in the longstanding relationship between the two institutions. The funds will be channelled through eligible subsidiaries of EFG Finance, the group’s non-bank financial institution platform, to support MSMEs across different customer segments and geographies. A particular focus will be placed on businesses operating in rural areas and…

Saudi education technology and research enablement startup AREP (Academic Research and Educational Platform) has raised an undisclosed pre-seed funding round led by Golden Assets Investment, marking the company’s first disclosed funding round. Founded in 2023 by Hussain Alhamami, Ibrahim Asiri, Rayan Ahmed, and Alhanouf Alhmammi, AREP develops technology and training solutions designed to address skills and procurement gaps across educational and research laboratories. The startup operates through two main products: AREP Academy and AREP Marketplace. AREP Academy combines digital learning with practical laboratory experience, offering video courses, laboratory simulations, knowledge resources, and hands-on workshops conducted at university and research laboratories.…

ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026, the country’s largest technology week, has officially opened at Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan (CAEx) in Tashkent, bringing together international and local IT companies, investors, startups, government institutions, and representatives of the global technology industry. Running from September 22 to 25, this year’s ICTWEEK has significantly expanded its international reach. Representatives from more than 70 countries and over 25,000 visitors are expected to attend, including approximately 2,000 international guests. The exhibition will showcase solutions from more than 200 organizations, while the four-day business program will feature over 200 speakers and experts. National pavilions will feature companies and technology…

Egypt-founded fintech Paymob has raised $35 million in a Pre-Series C funding round, co-led by Mubadala Investment Company and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The round also saw participation from British International Investment (BII), Global Ventures, and DPI Ventures, bringing Paymob’s total disclosed funding to more than $125 million. Founded in 2015 by Islam Shawky, Alain El Hajj, and Mostafa Menessy, Paymob provides an omnichannel payments infrastructure platform that enables businesses to accept online and offline payments through a single technology layer. The company currently serves more than 390,000 merchants across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and…

Egypt and India are moving to strengthen cooperation across technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and entrepreneurship, as both countries explore new opportunities for investment and collaboration between their technology ecosystems. Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat met with India’s Ambassador to Egypt Suresh K. Reddy to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in information and communications technology and attracting more Indian technology companies to the Egyptian market. The discussions covered several strategic areas, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electronics manufacturing, outsourcing, digital skills development and entrepreneurship. A key focus was encouraging Indian technology companies to expand their operations and investments…

Georgia-founded healthtech startup Clinova has secured investment from Blossom Capital, joining the firm’s portfolio as the AI-powered clinical trial recruitment company prepares to relocate its operations to Saudi Arabia. Clinova is developing an AI platform designed to help hospitals identify eligible patients for clinical trials by processing handwritten, multilingual and unstructured medical records. According to the company, its technology can identify potential trial participants in minutes rather than months, achieving a 94% patient-match accuracy rate. A key part of Clinova’s approach is its focus on markets where regulatory and data privacy requirements can make it difficult for global platforms to…

Saudi fintech startup TalMal has closed a Pre-Seed funding round with participation from MM Partners, as the company prepares to accelerate its growth and expand its presence across the Saudi market. The financial details of the round were not disclosed. Founded and led by Thamer Faisal Alqaishish, TalMal is developing a salary-backed flexible purchasing model that connects employees, employers, and merchants through a single digital ecosystem. The platform aims to give employees greater flexibility when making purchases while involving employers in managing repayments. At the same time, merchants gain access to a broader customer base through TalMal’s integrated infrastructure. The…

Baku ID 2026 concluded in Azerbaijan after two days of discussions, startup showcases and investor meetings, bringing together founders, venture capital funds, technology leaders and policymakers from across the region and beyond. Held on September 17–18, the fifth edition of Baku ID positioned Baku as a meeting point between emerging startup ecosystems and international capital, with artificial intelligence, EnergyTech, education, digital transformation and global startup expansion among the major themes. This year’s edition was the largest Baku ID to date, according to Rahim Bayramli, CEO of SABAH.HUB. More than 50 international and regional venture funds participated in the event, alongside…

From September 22 to 25, ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026 will take place at CAEx in Tashkent, bringing together the technology and startup ecosystem for four days of events, discussions, competitions, and international networking. This year, ICT Week will place a special focus on technology entrepreneurship, venture capital, and international expansion. Local and international founders, venture funds, angel investors, representatives of global technology companies, and industry experts will come together in one place. The program will feature several specialized events where startup teams can showcase their projects, explore new opportunities, and build valuable connections. At the same time, investors will have…