Q1 2026$612M raised28 deals6 new startups215 open roles

Dubai Startup Funding News & Ecosystem Intelligence

BREAKING·3 months ago

Stitch Raises $25M Series A, Andreessen Horowitz Enters GCC Market

Stitch, an operating system for financial institutions, secured $25 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. This investment marks a16z's first venture into the GCC region.

By DXB Start

SPOTLIGHT

The UAE Bought an AI Future. Now It Needs Builders.

The country secured the compute, the capital and the chips before it had the builders to use them. That looks like a contradiction. It is really a sequence, and it is finally starting to close.

By DXB Spotlight

LATEST

FUNDING

Funding News22 days ago

Abu Dhabi's BlueFive Capital Co-Leads Kling AI's $3 Billion Funding Round

Abu Dhabi-based investor BlueFive Capital co-led a $3 billion funding round for Chinese generative media developer Kling AI, marking a significant regional investment in the global AI sector.

LONG READS

GUIDE

The Real State of Dubai's Startup Ecosystem in 2026

Dubai's headline numbers look incredible — $7.5B raised across MENA in 2025, a 225% jump. But zoom in and most of that capital went to three or four companies. Here's what's actually happening on the ground, who's winning, and what's still broken.

ECOSYSTEM

Ecosystem6 days ago

Plug and Play Dubai Accelerator Opens Applications for New Cohort

Plug and Play has launched applications for its three-month flagship accelerator program in Dubai, focusing on key sectors vital for the region's innovation. This provides startups with significant opportunities for growth and corporate collaboration within the Dubai ecosystem.

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Quarterly Report

Our Q1 2026 ecosystem report — $251M raised, 94 deals, sector breakdowns, and what to watch next.

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