DUBAI/MEXICO CITY: Emirates still has the right to offer flights to Mexico City, the Dubai state-owned carrier said on Sunday, after Mexican airline Aeromexico disputed an agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Mexico.
Emirates said earlier this year it would start daily flights to Mexico City International Airport via Barcelona in December, the airline’s first service to Mexico.
But a Mexican federal judge ruled in October, responding to a complaint by Aeromexico, that a 2016 pact between Mexico and United Arab Emirates did not meet proper legal requirements, according to a court order seen by Reuters.
Emirates said that decision was being appealed.
“We firmly believe that the (memorandum of understanding) is valid and the ruling of the court will be the subject of an appeal by the Government of Mexico,” an Emirates spokeswoman said in a statement. “Pending the outcome of this appeal all our rights remain valid and in force.”
Aeromexico declined to comment.
Mexico’s Communications and Transport Minister, Javier Jimenez Espriu, said last week that Emirates could offer service to Mexico City without legal obstacles because the 2016 agreement remains valid.
“Emirates has no legal impediment to operating the flight,” he said in comments to reporters published in newspaper El Financiero on Wednesday.
Emirates says airline can still fly to Mexico, despite court ruling
Emirates says airline can still fly to Mexico, despite court ruling
MENA funding surges on flurry of startup rounds
- 42 MENA-based startups raise a combined $563m in January
RIYADH: Investment activity across the Middle East and North Africa startup ecosystem strengthened at the start of the year, with 42 MENA-based startups raising a combined $563 million in January.
That figure marked a 228 percent month-on-month increase, although it was an annual drop of 35 percent.
Debt financing was limited, representing nine percent of total capital raised during the month.
Funding was heavily concentrated by geography. The UAE led MENA in January, attracting $426.3 million across 12 deals, driven largely by two large transactions: Mal’s $230 million agreement and Property Finder’s $170 million round.
Saudi Arabia ranked second, with 18 startups raising $56 million in total, while Egypt placed third as four startups secured a combined $22.1 million.
By sector, fintech drew the largest share of funding in January, with seven startups raising $319.7 million. Property tech followed, with three startups raising $189 million. Software-as-a-service ranked third, as seven startups raised a combined $17 million.
Deal activity continued to tilt toward early-stage companies, with 31 startups in this category raising $66 million during the month. Only two later-stage deals were recorded, totaling $11 million, while the remaining capital went to startups that did not disclose their funding stage.
Consumer-focused startups captured the majority of capital deployed.
Business-to-consumer companies raised $470.8 million across 17 deals, while business-to-business startups completed 19 transactions worth $43 million,
Hybrid B2B2C models raised $9 million across six deals.
Funding distribution by founder gender remained uneven. Male-founded startups accounted for 36 deals and raised $560 million. Startups founded solely by women raised $300,000 across three deals, while mixed-gender founding teams secured $2.2 million across three transactions.
Hydrovest raises $275k
Doha-based agriculture tech company Hydrovest Technology Trading and Contracting W.L.L has closed an investment round worth $275,000 from unnamed investors.
Founded in 2020 by Jeacim Francis Adaya, the company develops climate-smart agricultural solutions, crops, and value-added products.
The funding will be used to move Hydrovest into commercial-scale production, expand research and development collaborations, and prepare for market entry into the UAE in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Shorooq launches $200m late-stage growth fund
UAE-based investment firm Shorooq has launched a $200 million late-stage growth fund under its Qatalyst Series, backed by Qatar Investment Authority and other sovereign and institutional investors. The announcement was made during Web Summit Qatar.
Founded in 2017, Shorooq is a multi-strategy investment firm spanning venture capital, credit, private equity, and real assets.
The new fund will target late-stage and pre-IPO companies with proven scale, strong fundamentals, and clear exit pathways, aiming to address a gap in consistent institutional late-stage funding in the region.
HAQQ Legal AI raises $3m
Lebanon-based regulatory tech HAQQ Legal AI has raised $3 million to date to accelerate the development and global rollout of its legal AI and practice management platform.
The round was led by Sowlutions Ventures, with participation from strategic and financial investors.
Founded in 2020 by Antoine Kanaan and Maitre Abbas Kabalan, the company is building a vertically integrated legal AI operating system.
The capital will be used to deepen its AI and agent architecture and expand enterprise and institutional deployments across MENA, including Egypt and Jordan.
Kitopi secures $50m growth round
UAE-headquartered cloud kitchens platform Kitopi has raised $50 million in a growth capital round led by EvolutionX, a private credit provider backed by Temasek and DBS Bank.
Founded in 2018, Kitopi operates more than 200 outlets across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
The funding will support the scaling of its homegrown brands and accelerate regional and international franchising. In 2022, the company raised an additional $300 million in its series C round, extending that round to $715 million.
Viero raises $1.2m seed round to unify logistics operations
Saudi-based fleet and logistics platform Viero has raised $1.2 million in seed funding led by Watheeq Capital and Share Investment Co., with participation from angel networks and individual investors.
Founded in 2024, Viero is building a unified operating layer for logistics companies facing fragmented systems for deliveries, collections, and cost management.
The funding will support product development and regional expansion across the MENA region.
Qureos closes $5m seed round
UAE-based human resources tech company Qureos has raised $5 million in a seed round led by Prosus Ventures and Salica Oryx Fund, with participation from regional and international investors.
Founded in 2020, Qureos provides an AI-driven hiring platform designed to help enterprises scale recruitment more efficiently.
The funding will be used to further develop its AI capabilities, expand go-to-market teams, and accelerate geographic expansion.
Shorooq signs MoU with PayLater
Shorooq has signed a memorandum of understanding with PayLater during Web Summit Qatar to explore the structuring of a scalable, institutional-grade credit facility.
PayLater is Qatar’s first Qatar Central Bank-licensed, Shariah-compliant buy now, pay later provider.
The potential transaction would support PayLater’s next phase of growth through non-dilutive credit capital, while reinforcing Shorooq’s position in structured credit solutions for regulated fintech companies.
SkipCash raises $4m in series A round
Qatar-based fintech platform SkipCash has raised $4 million in a series A round with participation from Qatar Development Bank and other institutional and angel investors.
Founded in 2019, SkipCash provides digital and mobile-first payment solutions across in-store and online commerce. The funding will be used to enhance its technology stack, expand its Tap-to-Phone point-of-sale solution, and enter new GCC markets.
Mersal Media Capital raises $1.3m in first funding round
Saudi-based media investment platform Mersal Media Capital has raised $1.3 million in its first funding round, led by an unnamed private investment fund.
Founded by Abdulwahid Al-Humaid and Anas Al-Humaid, the company focuses on acquiring and scaling digital media assets.
The funding will support growth initiatives, operational readiness, and strategic partnerships.
MUHIDE closes series A with Asyad Group
Saudi-based fintech MUHIDE has closed a series A funding round with Asyad Group for an undisclosed amount.
Founded in 2023, MUHIDE focuses on authenticating and governing B2B trade transactions and is working toward building Saudi Arabia’s first unified trade ecosystem.
Daleel raises $3m pre-seed
Daleel has raised $3 million in a pre-seed round from an unnamed angel investor.
Founded in 2025, the company is developing an AI-native intelligence layer for GCC real estate, combining verified government transaction data with live property listings.
The funding will be used for product development, mobile app launches, UAE expansion, and preparation for entry into Saudi Arabia.
Alefredo acquires Tutor House
Jordanian education tech company Alefredo has acquired UK-based tutoring platform Tutor House in a transaction valued at $600,000.
The deal is primarily structured as equity in Alefredo Holding Co., with additional strategic and performance-based components.
Founded in 2020, Alefredo provides digital learning tools and assessments for international curricula, and the acquisition completes its AI-driven learning stack by integrating tutoring, analytics, and adaptive learning paths.
