Author: Mahdeehassan

GO Sport Opens its First Store in Ramallah, Palestine. GO Sport is thrilled to announce the opening of its first store in Palestine, located in Ramallah — marking a significant step in the brand’s expansion across the Middle East. Globally recognized for their high-performance, multi-branded sporting goods, this store not only reinforces GO Sport’s commitment to delivering high-quality sports and lifestyle products but also represents a meaningful investment in the Palestinian market, fostering local development and empowering the community. The new Ramallah store offers an exceptional selection of sportswear, footwear, and equipment, catering to fitness enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and team…

Dubai, UAE –– CNTXT and Oracle continue to advance their strategic collaboration, reinforcing their shared vision for AI innovation and enterprise transformation. Their collaboration, which was highlighted during Oracle Cloud World Tour, is focused on helping businesses and government entities accelerate AI adoption with secure, scalable solutions. During Oracle Cloud World, Mohammad Abu Sheikh, Founder and CEO of CNTXT, and Cherian Varghese, Senior Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure, AI for EMEA at Oracle, engaged in an in-depth discussion on AI readiness, data security, and the evolving AI landscape. Their conversation underscored the growing role of AI in enterprise operations and…

Khazna, a leading financial super app that offers easy-to-use, technology-driven financial services to underserved segments, announces closing a $16 million pre-Series B funding round. The round saw participation from new and existing investors, including SANAD Fund for MSME, anb Seed Fund (managed by anb Capital), Aljazira Capital (the investment arm of Bank Aljazira of Saudi Arabia), Khwarizmi Ventures, Nclude (the fintech fund set up by Egypt’s largest national banks), ICU Ventures, Quona, Speedinvest and Disruptech Ventures. This round of funding underscores investor confidence in Khazna’s world-class team, innovative business model, and significant potential to transform the digital banking industry across…

Today, Meta announced the expansion of its AI assistant, Meta AI, to the Middle East and North Africa, empowering users in the region with a tool to learn, create and connect to the things and people they care about most. The feature is gradually rolling out across the region, with full accessibility already available in key markets including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Iraq. Conveniently located across Meta’s family of apps—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger—Meta AI is easily accessible through its blue circle icon within Meta’s apps and requires no prior registration. It can also be…

Saudi Arabia’s MSME finance ecosystem at the heart of economic diversification and financial inclusion efforts Saudi Arabia, February 2025: The pivotal role of Saudi Arabia’s finance ecosystem for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in advancing the Kingdom’s economic diversification and financial inclusion objectives is explored in a new report released by Oxford Business Group (OBG), in collaboration with the Kafalah programme. Titled, “MSME Empowerment in Saudi Arabia,” the report examines the country’s strategic efforts to drive the growth of MSMEs by improving access to finance and fostering entrepreneurship. It highlights how the Kingdom is leveraging tailored financial solutions to…

Abu Dhabi, February 4, 2025 – Smpl Fund I, a $10 million venture capital fund launched by Smpl Holdings, has announced a strategic investment of $250,000 in multiple AI and technology companies within the Qora71 portfolio. Smpl Fund I, which focuses on supporting AI and tech startups across the MENA region and beyond, provides seed capital alongside hands-on strategic support to accelerate the growth of innovative companies. Qora71, a venture investor syndicate and a member of the Hub71 Angel Program, offers accredited investors the opportunity to invest on a deal-by-deal basis, without minimum commitments or fees. The syndicate’s portfolio includes…

MilkStraw AI, a pioneer in intelligent cloud cost optimisation software, today announced it has raised $600,000 in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Flat6Labs, with participation from Angel Spark, Beyond Capital, and notable angel investors. The funding will accelerate MilkStraw AI’s mission to transform how fast-growing companies manage and optimize their cloud infrastructure costs. MilkStraw AI’s platform addresses a critical challenge facing modern businesses: the complexity and inefficiency of cloud cost management. Since its launch in April 2024, the company has attracted hundreds of clients, including prominent regional technology companies such as Magnitt, Voltlines, Netwatch, Floranow, MakanE, and IdenTV.…

The Eco-friendly ride option supported by the TGA will enable customers to contribute to carbon removal efforts through MEWA’s tree-planting initiatives powered by the Sedrah Program. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – January 2025 – CarbonSifr, a pioneering climate-tech company and a participant in the inaugural Sedrah Program under MEWA (Ministry of Environment ,Water and Agriculture) and Careem Rides, focused on facilitating everyday reliable and convenient commuting options for the region through the Careem app, are announcing the launch of Careem’s Eco-friendly ride option in Saudi Arabia with support from the Transport General Authority (TGA) and MEWA’s Sedrah Program. Eco-friendly rides, launched…

Wa’ed Ventures, the $500 million venture capital arm of Aramco, announced leading the $5 million investment in YNMO, a Saudi company revolutionising the educational and rehabilitative technology for children, including those with disabilities. The funding round also included participation from Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Nour Nouf Ventures, a fund focused on impact-driven startups. With this investment, Ynmo plans to expand its services and introduce new features aimed at improving support for children with disabilities and enhancing their access to early childhood services. The company also aims to strengthen its partnerships with governmental, educational, and rehabilitative institutions across the Gulf…

PLATMA, the AI Business Automation Platform that transforms natural language into functional workflows and business processes, has announced the successful completion of its pre-seed funding round, securing $2.2 million at a valuation of $20 million. The company also unveiled its plans to enter the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market, marking a significant step in introducing low-/no-code solutions to this rapidly growing region. With a strong foothold in the UAE, home to its fastest-growing office, PLATMA is already supporting a range of local businesses across the MENA region. The platform was recognised as the Best AI Startup at the…