RIYADH: Investor confidence is rising in Middle East startups, from proptech funding rounds to strategic bets in the growing gaming sector.
These moves reflect a broader regional trend: supporting ventures that harness technology to tackle real-world challenges — ranging from home ownership and food security to cultural entertainment— while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s economic diversification goals.
Holo raises $22m in Series A round
In one of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest Series A rounds this year, UAE-based fintech Holo has raised $22 million to expand its tech-enabled home-buying platform.
According to a press release, the round was led by Saudi Arabia’s Impact46, with participation from Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, Rua Growth Fund, anb seed, and MoreThan Capital, alongside returning investors Salica Oryx Fund and Dubai Future District Fund.
The funding comes amid growth in regional real estate markets, with the UAE projected to reach $217 billion by 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s market expected to hit $310 billion. Holo plans to leverage its profitable UAE base to scale into the high-growth Saudi market.
Michael Hunter and Arran Summerhill, co-founders of Holo, said: “At Holo, we’ve always believed that buying a home shouldn’t be complicated. With this raise, we’re not only scaling across borders but also scaling trust, simplicity, and access to homeownership.”
They added: “Our profitability in the UAE has given us the strength and confidence to invest ambitiously in high-growth markets like Saudi Arabia.”
The founders noted that momentum around homeownership and digital transformation is accelerating as the Kingdom advances toward Vision 2030. “The vision is regional, and with backing from world-class investors, we’re in a prime position to keep raising the bar for how home-buying should work — faster, smarter, and built around the customer.”
Basmah Al-Sinaidi, managing partner at Impact46, said: “Holo is bringing much-needed clarity to a process that’s long been opaque. By streamlining access to lenders and giving users full control of their home financing journey, they’re reshaping how people buy homes across the region.”
Ali Al-Mheiri, executive director of UAE Diversified Assets at Mubadala, added: “Our investment in Holo comes from our belief in the strength of its vision, leadership, and ability to reshape how people navigate the home-buying journey.”
Maalexi secures $20m credit facility
Maalexi, a B2B food and agri-trade platform, has secured a Shariah-compliant credit facility of up to $20 million from Amwal Capital Partners.
The initial $5 million tranche will be used to scale operations and integrate thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises into the platform, bolstering food security in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to a statement.
The facility is structured as a tech-enabled securitization, collateralized against Maalexi’s inventory and receivables.
Indie studio Starvania raised $1.1 million from Merak Capital and Impact46. (Supplied)
Maalexi CEO Azam Pasha said: “This facility is more than capital — it is a catalyst to enhance our capabilities and help us build resilient and intelligent food supply chains that are driven by speed, transparency, and trust.”
He added: “Combined with the capital support of partners like Amwal Capital, these innovations are redefining how food is digitally procured, stored, and distributed — reinforcing food security across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC.”
Sharif Eid, head of private credit at Amwal Capital Partners, said: “Maalexi’s proprietary technology stack, deep market linkages, and robust operational controls set a new benchmark for de-risking and scaling agri-trade.”
Saudi gaming ecosystem
The Saudi gaming ecosystem is experiencing a surge of activity, reflecting the Kingdom’s strategic focus on the sector under Vision 2030.
Impact46 committed $53 million to Kammelna in its largest investment to date. The studio behind the digitized version of the Saudi card game Baloot has achieved over 6 million downloads and boasts 1 million monthly active users. Abdulaziz Al-Omran, founder and CEO of Impact46, called the deal a turning point not just for Saudi gaming, but for what it means to invest in culturally grounded, scalable IP.
Kammelna’s CEO Bader Al-Zamil said the partnership will help build more games that carry the spirit of our culture to players everywhere. Separately, indie studio Starvania raised $1.1 million from Merak Capital and Impact46. According to a press release, the funding will enhance production capabilities for PC and console games and support recruitment of top talent. The studio, founded by Meaad Aflah and Muslih Al-Zahrani, gained recognition with its Arabian mythology-inspired game Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree.
