Author: Arabian Media staff

Lendo, the leading debt crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia, announced securing a $690 million (SAR 2.6 billion) warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan. Supported by Fintech Saudi, this milestone underscores the growth in Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector and the vast opportunity in SME financing in the economy, the company said. Lendo said J.P. Morgan’s facility will be strategically deployed to increase the company’s lending capacity, introduce more innovative products, and expand its SME coverage in the Kingdom. The facility is also expected to contribute to an increase in job creation in the Kingdom. “This landmark facility represents a transformative moment…

AI-based e-commerce provider qeen.ai announced it has raised $10 million in funding, which it claims is one of the largest seed investments in the MENA region to date. The funding was led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Wamda Capital, 10x Founders and Dara Holdings. This brings qeen.ai’s total funding to $12 million. The company said the seed funding will support its growth strategy by expanding the reach and capabilities of its agentic AI platform, scaling the team, and attracting a wider customer base. It said it will expand its existing fully autonomous content and marketing agents…

An innovation hub in the UAE is inviting sports entrepreneurs and startup businesses to join its incubator program to receive funding support and advice. Ethara 1TW Innovation Hub (E1H), the region’s first dedicated sports and entertainment innovation hub, has opened applications for its incubator programme. E1H, based in Abu Dhabi and launched in December 2024 by event management and venue operator Ethara, in collaboration with sports investment specialists OnetoWatch (1TW), is designed to fast-track talented entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses. UAE sport business incubator Given the exponential rise in global sports and entertainment investment in the MENA region, E1H was created…

BRKZ, a leading Saudi B2B managed marketplace, announced the completion of its $17 million Series A funding round. The funding includes an $8 million Series A2 round closed in January 2025, $1 million in venture debt from Capifly and the initial $8 million Series A1 round in December 2023, the company said. All existing investors such as BECO Capital, Aramco’s Waed, 9900 Capital, Better Tomorrow Ventures, RZM Investment, Class 5 Global, MISY Ventures, Knollwood Investment Advisory, and Fluent Ventures participated in the funding, it said. The latest investment takes the total funding to $22.5 million and will be deployed to scale…

The Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA) revealed significant growth in business licences and compliance indicators in the Emirate’s mainland and non-financial economic free zones during 2024. The number of new economic licences in the Emirate’s mainland increased by 16 per cent compared to 2023, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness as a destination for local and international businesses and investments due to its business-friendly ecosystem and world-class transparency and governance standards. Additionally, Abu Dhabi witnessed a remarkable growth of 22 per cent of active licences in the non-financial economic free zones. Abu Dhabi business growth The number of “Real beneficiary”…

key takeaways Remote and hybrid work models are now a sizable part of the U.S. job market.Tech, e-commerce, logistics, home improvement, and digital sectors have been benefitting from flexible work trends.Commercial office spaces and urban transit are facing challenges.Market shifts reflect both changing worker preferences and evolving corporate strategies. Remote work is no longer just a pandemic-era fix—it is now part of the new normal in how many businesses operate and workers live. As of August 2025, about 22.1%, or just shy of a quarter of all U.S. workers reported working from home. Flexibility and convenience are proving hard to…

Abu Dhabi will allow businesses from across the UAE to operate in the capital without needing business premises. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has introduced new flexibilities to support business expansion and growth across the emirate. New regulations now allow firms registered in other emirates of the UAE, and their respective free zones, to open branches within Abu Dhabi without requiring physical premises for the first year. Abu Dhabi business offer The decision streamlines business processes and gives firms easy access to the many business opportunities across the growing economy. It aims to reflect the city’s commitment…

Key Takeaways Newark Liberty International Airport, located just 10 miles from Jersey City, serves over 30 airlines and offers nonstop flights to more than 180 domestic and international destinations.Jersey City offers easy access to Amtrak, PATH trains, ferries, and buses.Retirees enjoy walkable neighborhoods and a robust downtown with waterfront parks, international dining, museums, galleries, and shops. Residents in Hudson County are just a short commute away from the perks of big-city living, but with 13% lower housing costs than in New York County. Jersey City makes an excellent home base for retirees hoping to trade their 9-to-5s for frequent flyer miles. …

MANSA, the Dubai-based global fintech innovator in cross-border payments, announced the successful closure of its $10 million funding round. The company said it has raised $3 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Tether and co-led by Polymorphic Capital with participation from other prominent investors. The fintech company said it has also secured an additional $7 million in liquidity funding from institutions, including corporate investors, quantitative funds, and alternative investment firms. The funds will support MANSA’s further market expansion into Latin America and Southeast Asia, alongside the rollout of bespoke liquidity and ancillary solutions tailored to address complex cross-border payments needs, the company…

UAE-based venture builder Disrupt.com announced a $100 million commitment to build and back AI-first technology ventures globally. The firm’s $100 million commitment targets five strategic sectors: artificial intelligence as a cross-cutting theme, plus cybersecurity, Web 3.0, automotive technology, and retail innovation. The company said it primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability. The announcement comes as regional funding has declined sharply, with MENA venture capital investment down 29 per cent to just under $2 billion in 2024, according to Magnitt. Global AI venture funding Disrupt.com said its current…