UAE Powers MENA’s Early-Stage Funding Comeback

As global early-stage venture funding cooled following the 2023 interest rate reversal, most emerging markets saw sharp declines. The UAE, however, has helped MENA emerge as the standout exception.

According to Magnitt Market Intelligence, MENA startups raised $455 million in early-stage funding in the first nine months of 2025, more than twice the amount raised in Southeast Asia over the same period—underscoring the region’s resilience as it heads into 2026.

At the center of this momentum is the UAE, which has raised over $1 billion in early-stage funding since 2021 and accounts for 38% of MENA’s total.

With the highest deal activity in the region and a deep, active VC ecosystem attracting both regional and global investors, the UAE continues to cement its position as MENA’s leading early-stage startup hub.