Regional Startups Secure Funding and Regulatory Milestones in Fintech, E-commerce, and Proptech
Startups across the Middle East are attracting significant capital and regulatory approvals, driving momentum in fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and proptech sectors. In a major development, Saudi Arabia's Lean Technologies became the first licensed open banking provider after receiving a payment institution license from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), enabling it to scale financial infrastructure for millions of users. Meanwhile, UAE-based CarniStore secured $12.2 million from Emirates Growth Fund to expand its premium protein business. The proptech sector saw estaie raise a seven-figure pre-seed round led by PlusVC to build an AI-native extended-stay platform, while Mezza obtained seed funding to scale its restaurant financing model. These developments highlight a growing ecosystem where investors back platforms focused on financial data, consumer services, and regional expansion.
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Regional Startups Secure Funding and Regulatory Milestones in Fintech, E-commerce, and Proptech
Startups across the Middle East are attracting significant capital and regulatory approvals, driving momentum in fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and proptech sectors. In a major development, Saudi Arabia's Lean Technologies became the first licensed open banking provider after receiving a payment institution license from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), enabling it to scale financial infrastructure for millions of users. Meanwhile, UAE-based CarniStore secured $12.2 million from Emirates Growth Fund to expand its premium protein business. The proptech sector saw estaie raise a seven-figure pre-seed round led by PlusVC to build an AI-native extended-stay platform, while Mezza obtained seed funding to scale its restaurant financing model. These developments highlight a growing ecosystem where investors back platforms focused on financial data, consumer services, and regional expansion.
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