Middle East Raised $1.3B – Emerges as a Bright Spot in Global Venture Capital Investment

While venture capital (VC) investments in Emerging Venture Markets (EVMs) fell sharply in 2024, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stood out. MAGNiTT Q3 Venture Report reveals that MENA startups raised $1.3 billion in the first nine months of the year. The region was able to attract funding and maintain investors’ interest at a time when the global economy remains unpredictable. Today’s post identifies the reasons for the region’s stability, as well as the role of the region in challenging conditions in the global VC industry.

Global VC Landscape: Challenges in EVMs

The broader EVM market faced several challenges in 2024, as global venture capital funding fell by 45% YoY to $4.9 billion. Other aspects of the actual deals were also reduced by 29% due to shrinking investors’ roles and economic challenges. Africa and Southeast Asia were among the hardest-hit regions.

In Africa, funding is 38% YoY lower, and accelerator investments experienced an 81% YoY fall. Overall transaction sizes were down by 42%, or less, due to a reduced risk tolerance for early-stage start-ups.

Funding to Southeast Asia declined sharply at 51% YoY to $2.77 billion. The decline was dominated by the decline of MEGA opportunity deals with contract values over $100 million.

On the other hand, the MENA region was able to manage the crisis, sustain investor confidence, and obtain huge funding.

MENA’s Resilience Amid Global Challenges

1. Investment and Deal Activity

Startups in MENA raised $1.3 billion in 352 ventures in the first nine months of 2024. Despite a 13% year-on-year decline in funding and a 6% decline in the number of deals, the Asia Pacific region turned out to be much better off than many parts of the world. The number of investors increased by 34%, with international investors constituting 69% of the investors who desired to fund the startup scene in the region.

2. Top Performing Markets

Three countries stood out as key drivers of MENA’s VC performance:

  1. United Arab Emirates

UAE was the frontrunner in the region, accounting for 38% of the total deals of the MENA region. Closed transactions increased by 12% YoY with most players. It is strong evidence of the UAE’s appeal to early-stage investments, which are critical for supporting a long-term ecosystem.

  1. Saudi Arabia

Seed deals in the Kingdom have risen by 46%, and total transactions have also risen by 7%. Notable investments from some of these new-age venture capital companies, such as Moyasar, SiFi, and ANABOLIC, highlighted the increased role of Saudi Arabia in the region’s geography of venture capital. The Saudization of entrepreneurship and the new investment stimulation have been made possible by the Saudi Vision 2030 goals set by the government.

  1. Egypt

The number of seed & Series A deals defined Egypt’s shift towards more mature startups as they increased by 45%. This growing emphasis on scaling startups as they move from their later stages of development is positive regarding the nation’s progressing startup scenery.

3. Sector Focus: FinTech Dominates

Among subsectors, the FinTech sector stood out as the most active and raised the most capital, with $480 million across a total of 72 deals. Some of the huge deals secured last month include Halan’s $157.5 million raised to finance its operations in Egypt, thus highlighting the Middle East’s focus on financial technologies and digital payments. The FinTech sector shows clearly how fundamental developments in Asian consumers’ access to financial technology are shaping the future of the industry.

The Success Factors Necessary for MENA’s VC to Triumph

  1. International Investor Interest

The VC environment in MENA was further enhanced by the increase in international investors’ involvement. Global investors seeking opportunities to expand their businesses in new frontier markets identified MENA as an attractive location for investment because of its deliberate economic diversification and regional connection between Europe, Asia and Africa.

  1. Government Support

The UAE and Saudi Arabia, in particular, have been aggressive in supporting the growth of the startup sector through strategies such as the liberalization of business laws, providing various forms of relief, and advocating for startup-friendly policies. Other policies like Dubai’s NextGen FDI and Saudi Vision 2030 also remain instrumental in having the confidence of investors in the region.

  1. Growing Market Maturity

A change in funding from pre-products to post-products, such as Seed and Series A, indicates that the region is maturing. This evolution shows more mature firms that are in a better capacity to grow and secure large capital.

Q4 2024 Outlook: MENA’s Strengths Could Ensure a Good Ending

The fourth quarter has been the best quarter in terms of VC investment in MENA, and 2024 is anticipated to continue this trend. As global interest rates remain relatively rangebound and Lynas’ Expand North Star and Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative Forum are on the horizon, hopes remain high that investors will be active in the coming year as well. This means that if things remain the same, MENA could potentially overachieve its numbers set for 2023 and carry that momentum well into 2025.

Key Data Highlights

  1. Funding to MENA startups amounted to $1.3 billion.
  2. The interest in the region was up by 34%, whereas the international investors took part in the investment up by 69%.
  3. UAE captured 38% of all MENA deals; it has seen a 12% growth in closed transactions.
  4. The total startup deals in Saudi Arabia have increased by 46% in seed deals and by 7% in total deals.
  5. Egypt witnessed a 45% rise in seed and Series A rounds.
  6. FinTech was the overall leader in the year, with $480 million invested in 72 deals.
  7. Africa’s funding shrunk by 38% YoY, while Southeast Asia’s funding declined by 51% YoY.

Wrapping Up!

As the global VC industry remains under pressure, the MENA region remains an attractive market due to constant investor interest, government backing, and consistent early-stage investments. The region could grind to outdo its earlier records in Q4 as it sustains its growth path well into 2025. The spotlight will remain on MENA because it will sustain its trend of driving the attention of the global community and defying the general tendencies of the emergent markets.

As the MEA region continues to grow, develop and adapt to the global economic environment, Arthur Lawrence is ready to be at the forefront. We leverage our expertise in talent acquisition, finance and accounting, customer experience, business automation and digital transformation to enable businesses across the MEA region to thrive and lead in the era of disruption. Contact us to learn more about how we help organizations in the Middle East and Africa.