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  • India’s startup expansion to Mena: A cause for concern?

    Since 2016, more than 50 India-based startups have expanded into the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) by making their UAE debut an entry point to the wider region. Twenty of these were already unicorns when they scaled and included the fintech PayMate, edtech Countingwell, and eyewear online retailer Lenskart.

  • Saudi Arabia poised to become Silicon Valley of MENA region

    The package includes three major initiatives (Tuwaiq, Hemmah and Qemmah), aiming to raise the digital capabilities of Saudi youth (men and women) in programming. It also seeks to enhance the trust between technological companies and funding agencies and to encourage innovation and creativity through central gatherings and platforms.

  • MENA’s largest digital freight firm TruKKer buys Pakistan’s TruckSher

    TruKKer, the largest digital freight network in the Middle East and North African markets, said on Wednesday it had acquired Pakistan's TruckSher, as part of its expansion plans into the South Asian country. TruckSher, which commenced operations in Pakistan earlier in 2021, raised seed investment from VC firm Sarmayacar, and has grown healthily in the domestic Pakistan long haul sector, TruKKer said in a statement, but did not disclose the financial details of the deal.

  • Here’s how cyber threats are targeting MENA region in Q2 2021

    The Middle East and North Africa regions continue to be targeted by cyber espionage operations seeking political, strategic, or economic advantage, particularly by Iran-linked groups, Russian and Chinese threat actors. Iran-linked information operations have also been observed – we suspect that some regional states possess or are developing information operations capabilities.

  • PROJECTS: Saudi Arabia announces preferred bidders for three wastewater PPP projects | ZAWYA MENA Edition

    Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), the principal offtaker for water and wastewater projects in Saudi Arabia, announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders for three wastewater public-private partnership (PPP) projects. In statements posted on its website, SWPC said the consortium of Acciona Agua, International Water Distribution Company (Tawzea) and Tamasuk Company has been selected as the preferred bidder for Madinah 3, Buraydah 2 and Tabuk 2 Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) projects.

  • A view from the Hill: Congressional actions targeting MENA, April-June 2021

    This review demonstrates congressional interest in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Iran during the second quarter of 2021. This stands in contrast to congressional interest during the first quarter of the year, during which time Congress focused largely upon Saudi Arabian human rights violations, the authorization for the use of military force in Iraq, Iran sanctions, and the ongoing atrocities in Syria.

  • Kitopi’s Mohamad Ballout Is Aiming To Have His Cloud Kitchen Platform Dominate MENA (And The World) With A US$415 Million Funding Round Led By SoftBank

    Since its launched in 2018, Kitopi has seen its entity grow at a fast-paced rate- currently, it operates over 60 kitchens in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and works with more than 200 brands, including Shake Shack, KLC Virtual Restaurants, Luca, Papa Johns and iHOP.

  • Marsh launches Engineering Hub in Saudi Arabia, 3rd in MENA

    The global financial and risk advisory firm already has two hubs in the UAE – Dubai and Abu Dhabi – and has now launched in Saudi Arabia with Al Khobar its location of choice. The wider goal is to support a region that is facing the brunt of a global energy transition away from fossil fuels, while also looking to foster a local business landscape – all of which requires significant infrastructure investments.

  • Funding to Mena start-ups rises 64% to $1.2bn in first half of 2021

    The total funding secured by start-ups in the Mena region rose by 64 per cent in the first half of the year as economies in the region continue to recover from coronavirus pandemic and investors allocate more cash to promising start-ups. Funding for Mena start-ups during the period stood at $1.2 billion, more than the $1.09bn raised in the whole of last year, according to the latest report from data platform Magnitt.

  • ‘Exceptional returns’ of Mena equity markets support case for more investment, Franklin Templeton says

    Equity markets in the Mena region have delivered “exceptional” returns despite Covid-19 headwinds and are set to cement their gains, supported by an economic recovery that is well under way, according to global investment manager Franklin Templeton. Although last year was challenging, the global investment manager expects a strong recovery in corporate earnings in Mena markets this year.