Startups across the Middle East and North Africa are attracting fresh investment as regional innovation ecosystems continue to expand across sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, mobility technology and property technology.
Saudi-based Rimal Semiconductors secured a bridge funding round from Keheilan Asset Management and an undisclosed regional investor to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor supply chain. The company operates a fabless semiconductor model, designing chips while outsourcing manufacturing to international foundries.
Rimal currently works with manufacturing partners in Taiwan, South Korea and China, and is exploring partnerships with US-based foundries as it seeks to diversify production. By maintaining Saudi ownership of its intellectual property while distributing manufacturing globally, the startup aims to supply chip designs to international markets regardless of where the chips are produced.
The company is also negotiating a regional distribution agreement covering Türkiye, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and the UAE, supported by engineering teams in those markets. Rimal currently has six contracts in development, including a project with a major Egyptian corporation focused on applications in defence systems, power infrastructure and data centre technologies.
In Qatar, iQtech, a startup specialising in advanced medical simulation technologies, closed its first investment round with support from European assessment technology company Selexi and deep-tech partner Yuniro. Founded in 2025 and operating from Qatar Science and Technology Park, the company is developing EsculapioVR, an AI-powered platform combining virtual reality simulations with automated performance evaluation to enhance medical training and professional education.
The investment will support further development of the platform and its expansion across Qatar and the wider MENA region.
Meanwhile, Weego, a Moroccan–Senegalese mobility startup, raised $1.1 million in a funding round led by Azur Innovation Fund. The company offers a mobility-as-a-service platform that integrates multiple transport options—including public transit and ride-hailing—into a single application.
Founded in 2020 by Saad Jittou and Mor Niane, Weego also offers enterprise mobility solutions through its WeegoLines service, enabling companies to manage employee transportation more efficiently. The new funding will support expansion into additional Moroccan cities and future growth across African markets.
In Abu Dhabi, Skipr Technologies secured $2 million in seed funding at a valuation of $10 million. The company is developing infrastructure that enables secure interaction and coordination between autonomous AI systems operating across different organisations and jurisdictions.
Operating within the Hub71 technology ecosystem, Skipr focuses on enabling trusted communication and value exchange between AI systems while ensuring sovereign control over data and decision-making processes. The platform is designed to support governments and enterprises deploying AI-powered services at scale.
In the United Arab Emirates, proptech startup Rewa launched a digital rent payment and rewards platform following a strategic seed funding round backed by Qatar Development Bank, Plug and Play, Neocity Invest, Startup Wise Guys, and Second Century Ventures.
Founded in 2024 by Ramzi Mneimneh and Najib Khanafer, Rewa allows tenants to pay rent via card or bank transfer while earning loyalty rewards that can be redeemed across more than 150 partner brands. The platform also offers tools for landlords through its Rewa Alliance system, which simplifies rent collection through automated tracking and digital workflows aligned with UAE rental regulations.
Beyond the region, semiconductor startup Ayar Labs raised $500 million in a Series E funding round led by Neuberger Berman, with participation from investors including Insight Partners, Sequoia Global Equities, and Qatar Investment Authority.
The company develops optical interconnect technologies designed to replace traditional electrical connections in chips and data centres, improving data transfer speeds and energy efficiency for high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.
