🌟 Key Highlights
- Funding Milestone: UAE startups raised over $704 million across 26 deals in Q3 2025, with fintech leading the charge.
- Expand North Star 2025: Dubai Harbour hosted over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, marking the 10th anniversary of this premier global startup event.
- Dubai Incubator Success: The in5 incubator reported that its startups have collectively raised over $2.45 billion since inception, reflecting a 14% growth over the past year.
💡 Notable Startup Developments
- Oqood: A UAE-based legaltech startup, Oqood, secured $1 million in seed funding from angel investors. The company specializes in AI-powered legal solutions aimed at streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency for law firms and corporate legal departments.
- Chara Technologies: This deeptech startup raised $6.2 million in a funding round led by Arkam Ventures, with participation from Exfinity, Kalaari Capital, and IIMA Ventures. Chara focuses on manufacturing rare-earth-free motors, highlighting a growing interest in sustainable and innovative motor technologies.
- GoodScore: A fintech startup, GoodScore, successfully raised $13 million in a funding round led by Peak XV Partners, with additional participation from Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital. This funding aims to enhance its technological capabilities and accelerate expansion in the financial technology space.
📊 Sector Trends
- Fintech Dominance: Fintech continues to be the leading sector in startup funding in the UAE, with significant investments driving innovation and growth in financial technologies.
- Deeptech and Legaltech Emergence: There is a noticeable rise in investments in deeptech and legaltech startups, indicating a diversification in the UAE’s startup ecosystem.
🌐 Global Engagement
The UAE’s strategic location and supportive infrastructure make it an attractive hub for international startups and investors. Events like Expand North Star 2025 underscore the country’s role in fostering global innovation and partnerships.
