Presight and NodeShift, a sovereign AI company which was part of Presight’s inaugural AI Accelerator Program, have announced a strategic partnership that includes joint go-to-market collaboration and investment support to expand the adoption of sovereign AI solutions across international markets.

Earlier, NodeShift has also secured investment through Presight’s venture capital arm, a global AI innovation fund (Presight–Shorooq Fund I). As part of NodeShift’s participation in Presight’s inaugural AI Accelerator Program, the company underwent a comprehensive six-month evaluation covering technology readiness, data sovereignty and regulatory compliance, enterprise scalability, and market fit. Following this process, the Presight-Shorooq Fund I made a significant investment in NodeShift, reflecting strong conviction in the company’s technology, leadership team, and long-term growth potential.

This strategic partnership combines Presight’s commercialization capabilities, global enterprise and government relationships, and applied AI expertise with NodeShift’s secure, compliant sovereign AI infrastructure. Together, the companies will pursue joint initiatives which enable organizations to deploy AI solutions that meet stringent data sovereignty, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

Magzhan Kenesbai, Chief Growth Officer, Presight, said: “From the very first pitch during the Presight AI Accelerator Program, it was clear the NodeShift team had the vision, capability, and ambition to build something truly differentiated. This partnership and investment underscore the tangible value our accelerator is already delivering — identifying high-potential AI technology and scaling it through real commercial engagement. NodeShift exemplifies what we set out to achieve; accelerating breakthrough sovereign AI technologies and creating meaningful, long-term growth opportunities for all parties.”

Since joining the accelerator, NodeShift has engaged with prospective customers across multiple sectors and is currently delivering a proof of concept with the Central Bank of the UAE, in parallel, the company is in active discussions with additional Presight customers, further demonstrating the platform’s applicability in mission-critical and regulated environments.

Mihai Marcuta, Co-Founder and COO of NodeShift, said: “This partnership, alongside the investment from the Presight-Shorooq Fund I, represents a major milestone for NodeShift. Presight’s global reach, sector expertise, and credibility across public and private sectors significantly strengthen our ability to scale, while enabling us to continue delivering AI solutions that meet the highest standards of security and compliance.”

NodeShift is a sovereign generative AI platform that enables organizations to safely use leading open-source and commercial AI models through a single, governed interface. Deployed on-premises or in air-gapped environments, NodeShift ensures sensitive data remains within the organization through built-in security guardrails, policy enforcement, and enterprise integrations, while delivering AI assistants, document intelligence, and collaboration tools in both Arabic and English.

Through this strategic partnership and investment, Presight and NodeShift are jointly positioned to meet growing global demand for sovereign AI by combining advanced infrastructure, investment backing, and coordinated market execution across sectors and geographies.

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The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, under the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, lauded the decision to establish committees to resolve family business disputes in the Emirate. The Council noted that this step strengthens the legislative framework supporting the stability and continuity of family businesses.

The Council stated that the formation of these committees is timely, given the growing role of family businesses in supporting the national economy. It will provide effective and efficient mechanisms to address disputes, ensuring business continuity, preserving cohesion within family businesses, and enhancing investor confidence and the overall business environment in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Khaled Abdul Karim Al Fahim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, said:
“This decision reflects a forward-looking leadership vision that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading economic hub. It underscores the leadership’s commitment to a comprehensive legislative and judicial framework that supports the sustainability of family businesses. These committees will contribute to a more stable and transparent environment, enabling family businesses to address challenges efficiently and ensure continuity and growth across generations.”

He added: “Family businesses are a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s economy, and this decision strengthens their ability to continue playing a vital role in economic development by providing specialised mechanisms to resolve disputes while safeguarding business stability.”

The Council affirmed that this step will further enhance Abu Dhabi’s business environment, reinforcing governance and sustainability principles in line with the Emirate’s vision for a diversified and competitive economy.

The committees will review disputes related to incorporation agreements, management, or ownership of family businesses headquartered in Abu Dhabi, whether between partners, family members, or third parties. They will also consider appeals against decisions issued by family councils in accordance with applicable legal frameworks.

The decision grants the committees broad authority to take preventive and urgent measures to ensure business continuity and protect companies’ reputation and financial standing. They may also seek specialised technical and legal expertise depending on the nature of each dispute.

It also prioritises amicable settlement through dispute resolution centres. Where this is not possible, the committees will issue binding decisions, subject to appeal, while ensuring the confidentiality of all case-related information.

The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and empowering family businesses, strengthening their contribution to Abu Dhabi’s economic growth and reinforcing the Emirate’s position as a global business hub.

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Letswork has launched its long-term office rentals classifieds, a new product designed to modernise how businesses discover and lease commercial office space across the UAE.

The new classifieds enables landlords, developers and workspace operators to list long-term offices and private suites, while giving startups, SMEs and enterprise teams a centralised, digital-first way to search, compare and enquire about office space. The rollout will initially focus on the UAE, with plans to expand into key MENA markets where Letswork already operates, including Riyadh and Cairo.

Launch partners include developers like Emaar and coworking operators such as Axeed Space, which recently opened in Al Quoz, reflecting early demand from both flexible workspace providers and large-scale commercial landlords seeking new digital demand channels.

The launch comes as businesses across the region assess their real estate strategies. Demand for hybrid leasing models, combining the security of long-term occupancy with the flexibility of on-demand access, has become a structural feature of how companies plan their workspace, not just as a temporary response to any single moment.

While many existing platforms in the region are primarily designed for residential listings, Letswork’s new classifieds is purpose-built for commercial real estate. It accounts for local market complexities such as free zones, Ejari requirements, licensing considerations and varied lease structures that businesses must navigate when securing office space.

“Commercial real estate in the region has lagged behind residential when it comes to digital infrastructure,” said Hamza Khan, Co-Founder and CEO of Letswork. “Companies are thinking about fixed commitments – what they need are options, visibility, and a platform that understands the full arc of how they find, use, and grow into their workspace. The UAE has built one of the world’s most sophisticated business environments, and we aim to support it with digital commercial real estate infrastructure that matches the way companies here actually operate, whether that is distributed teams, hybrid models, rapid scaling, or multi-jurisdiction complexity. That’s what we’re building.”

Built for Modern Leasing
The long-term office rentals classifieds allow businesses to:

• Browse verified commercial office listings with clear specifications
• Filter by location, size, lease terms and operating jurisdiction
• Enquire directly with landlords and operators through a single platform
• Combine long-term office leasing with access to coworking, meeting rooms and on-demand workspaces

For landlords, operators and brokers, the platform offers a demand channel built on something no general portal can match: behavioural intelligence on how companies actually work before they ever enquire about a long-term lease.

“Most platforms capture intent – someone searches, someone enquires, the trail goes cold,” said Omar Al Mheiri, Co-Founder and CPO of Letswork. “What’s different here is that we already understand how companies work before they look at a long-term lease. We see which neighbourhoods their teams gravitate to, how many seats they’re consistently using, what kind of spaces they need on different days. We’re connecting those signals into a single platform that serves the full lifecycle: a desk for today, a suite for the next three years, and everything in between. No other platform in the region is built to do that.”

Later this year, Letswork plans to expand the classifieds to include office sales, as well as explore financial solutions to support businesses entering longer-term leases, further streamlining the end-to-end office leasing journey.

“Our goal is to become the default infrastructure for how companies find and manage workspace,” added Khan. “Whether it’s for a day, a year or longer, we want to make that process simpler and more intelligent.”

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Infobip has supported thousands of startups and scaleups from over 120 countries in the first five years of its Startup Tribe Programme. The company launched its Startup Tribe Programme in May 2021 to help mission-driven startups and scaleups build and manage their customer communications and engagement strategy and grow their business. It does this by providing access up to $60,000 in credits for Infobip’s services and its global network of advisors, investors, and accelerators. In the first five years, Infobip has provided millions in value from its products and services to its programme members.

By eliminating the need to build a global communications infrastructure from the ground up, Infobip’s programme enables startups and scaleups to focus on what really matters: developing their product and scaling their business.

“HotelSync is proud to be a rapidly growing hospitality tech provider, and Infobip’s Startup Tribe programme has played a key role in supporting our scaling journey. Being part of Infobip Startup Tribe has been a gamechanger for HotelSync. Infobip’s platform has been instrumental in automatizing and optimizing essential workflows, from reliable transactional emails and secure OTP verifications to leveraging advanced tools like WhatsApp. Crucially, the generous credit programme has allowed us to reallocate significant resources from infrastructure costs directly into sales and marketing, which is often the biggest challenge for growing startups. Beyond the programme, we are committed Infobip users because of the platform’s exceptional stability and amazing support,” said Ilija Milovic, Startup Tribe member, Co-Founder & CTO at cloud property management system HotelSync.

“Infobip’s Startup Tribe programme gave us the support and credits we needed to accelerate our growth. The service has been amazing, and the platform does exactly what it is supposed to do, enabling our team to integrate quickly and ensure reliable communication with our users. Having a partner that provides stable infrastructure and responsive support has helped us focus on scaling Cleanster and delivering a better experience for both cleaners and customers,” said Gloria Oppong, Startup Tribe member, Co-Founder and CEO at Cleanster.

“In the first five years, our Startup Tribe Programme has helped new and ambitious firms achieve their business objectives and scale up through the engagement and reach offered by our global communications platform. As we celebrate Infobip’s 20th anniversary, our goal is to help the startups and scaleups we support to reach two decades in business with access to our market-leading services and global network of world-class investors, funds, and accelerators,” said Lucija Reić, Startup Ecosystem Team Lead at Infobip.

Startups and scaleups interested in joining the Startup Tribe program can apply here to gain access to Infobip’s communication infrastructure, technical support, and mentorship at no cost.

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Female Fusion announced the winners of its inaugural 2025 Female Fusion Awards at a special award ceremony, honouring women entrepreneurs and female-led businesses for outstanding achievement and growth throughout 2025.

The Female Fusion Awards recognise measurable business performance and impact achieved during 2025. Independently judged and not pay-to-win, the awards were open to all women entrepreneurs in the UAE, with sponsors excluded to ensure transparency.

“We created these awards because there’s very little real recognition for small and growing businesses,” said Jen Blandos, Founder and CEO of Female Fusion. “Too much of it is either for large corporates or it’s paid for. We wanted something that founders could genuinely earn. If someone looks back in five years and says winning this award was one of the moments that helped them step up, grow faster or think bigger, then we’ve done our job. This was our first year. We’re just getting started.”

2025 Female Fusion Awards Winners

• Heriot-Watt University Entrepreneur of the Year
  Dr. Anna Zickerman, UPANDRUNNING
• Crimson Legal Small Business of the Year
  Vanessa Gia Bayma, CBC Consultancy and Events
• Letswork Solopreneur of the Year
  Qadreya Al Awadhi, Bumblebee (Food)
• Jacky’s Business Solutions Young Female Founder of the Year (Under 30)
  Tia Simone Watson, LittleXWolf
• Market Buzz Impact & Sustainability Award
  Theresa Tsui, Skills3 Creative Enterprise for Social Impact
• TLB Business Advisory Services Ecommerce Business of the Year
  Latika Chawla, Giftbag.ae
• Professional Services Business of the Year
  Jenna Jenkins, Luxe Incorporations Corporate Services Providers LLC
• Address Beach Resort Food & Beverage Business of the Year
  Vanessa Gia Bayma, CBC Consultancy and Events
• Health & Wellness Business of the Year
  Dr Anna Zickerman, UPANDRUNNING
• Fashion & Beauty Business of the Year
  Layla Alhajjaj, Boho Salon

“Judging the Female Fusion Awards gave us a first-hand view of the ambition, resilience and capability of women building businesses across the UAE,” said Dr Nermeen Mustafa, Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

“It was inspiring to see founders combining strategic clarity with courage and determination to scale their ventures. At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, we place strong emphasis on practice-led learning and meaningful industry engagement. Recognising real entrepreneurial achievement and supporting initiatives that empower women in business strengthens the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region,” she added.

Winning came with practical support – including legal services for contract drafting, PR support, mentorship, memberships and co-working access.

Reacting to the win, Dr. Anna Zickerman, Founder of UPANDRUNNING, said: “To be named Heriot-Watt University Entrepreneur of the Year is a huge honour. It feels validating to have the business recognised in this way. The three months of PR support is a tremendous prize, and I’m excited to use it to expand our reach and strengthen our brand.”

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zypl.ai, a pioneering AI company applying synthetic data to AI decisioning in financial services, announced it has raised $5.5 million at a $80 million valuation from Silicon Valley-based Carbide Ventures and prominent business leaders, including Shukhrat Ibragimov. The investment marks a significant milestone in zypl’s growth trajectory and underscores deepening confidence in the company’s AI platform and rapid global expansion. The bridge round will power zypl’s ongoing growth across key markets enabling the deployment of next-gen synthetic data solutions for banks fueled by the company’s proprietary zGAN model.

“Carbide Ventures first invested in zypl a year ago and is thoroughly impressed with the team, product and growth over the past twelve months. When given the opportunity to invest more, we jumped on it immediately and are working diligently with the team to expand to new geographic markets and additional revenue streams,” said Dan Weirich, Carbide Ventures general partner.

Shukhrat Ibragimov serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), one of the world’s leading diversified natural resources companies, where he leads the group’s global strategy and modernization initiatives. ERG is one of the world’s largest producers of ferrochrome and cobalt and a major supplier of critical minerals used in batteries, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing. In addition to his role at ERG, Ibragimov serves as Chairman of the Board of Eurasian Bank, one of Kazakhstan’s largest privately owned banks and Eurasia Insurance Company, Kazakhstan’s leading insurance company.

zypl.ai has developed zGAN, a proprietary generative AI model focused on outlier synthetic data that optimizes predictive AI performance under macro volatility with two papers published on arXiv and recently presented at NeurIPS. The zGAN synthetic data generator is embedded within Lucid, zypl’s no-code AI platform enabling financial institutions to independently build and deploy AI models. The company serves 60+ financial institutions across 20 markets worldwide and is backed by Prosus Ventures, Carbide Ventures and others.

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Meta today announced the rollout of new AI‑powered tools designed to strengthen user support and enhance content enforcement across its family of apps. The company said the updates reflect its ongoing investment in advanced artificial intelligence to deliver faster assistance, reduce harmful content, and improve overall platform safety.

Meta confirmed that its new Meta AI Support Assistant is now being introduced across Facebook and Instagram in regions where Meta AI is available. First previewed in December, the assistant provides 24/7 support and is designed to resolve a wide range of account‑related issues from start to finish. The tool can answer questions, guide users through settings, and directly take action on tasks such as reporting scams or impersonation, managing privacy controls, resetting passwords, and reviewing content takedown decisions.

According to Meta, the assistant responds to most requests in under five seconds, significantly reducing wait times compared to traditional help center searches. Early user feedback has been positive, and the tool is now available in all languages supported by Facebook and Instagram for support topics.

Alongside support improvements, Meta detailed progress in deploying more advanced AI systems for content enforcement. These systems are designed to detect severe violations—including scams, impersonation, terrorism, child exploitation, drug sales, and fraud—more accurately and at greater scale.

Initial testing shows strong results. Meta reports that the new AI models are identifying 5,000 previously undetected scam attempts per day, reducing impersonation of high‑profile individuals by more than 80%, and doubling detection of violating adult sexual solicitation content while cutting error rates by over 60%. The systems have also demonstrated the ability to identify account takeovers and detect spoofed websites posing as legitimate brands.

Meta noted that these models operate across languages spoken by 98% of people online and can quickly adapt to cultural nuances, evolving slang, and region‑specific code words.

The company said it will gradually deploy these systems across its apps once they consistently outperform existing enforcement methods. While AI will take on more repetitive and high‑volume tasks, Meta emphasized that human expertise will remain central to oversight, appeals, and high‑impact decisions.

Meta added that rigorous testing and safeguards are in place to ensure accuracy, reduce bias, and maintain alignment with its Community Standards.

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Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP) has led the $2.5 million Pre Series A priced equity round in GAGA Inc., the Saudi edtech platform delivering live, interactive learning for students aged 4 to 18. The investment, made through Phoenix Venture Partners Innovation Fund (CEIC) Limited, marks GAGA’s first fully priced institutional round and reflects strong confidence in its market position, execution, and long-term growth potential.

GAGA has rapidly become a leading platform in Arabic online education, offering expert‑led live classes across more than 200 subjects and supported by a rigorously vetted educator network. Built specifically for young learners, GAGA’s live learning interface emphasizes real-time interaction, peer collaboration, and measurable outcomes, addressing a growing demand for high‑quality, accessible Arabic educational content across the Kingdom.

PVP’s lead investment reinforces its commitment to technology innovation across the MENA region, particularly in education technology, and aligns with its strategy to support high‑impact Saudi founders. The firm views the Kingdom as one of the region’s most dynamic tech markets, shaped by rapid digital transformation, strong youth engagement, and national initiatives that continue to accelerate sector growth.

Commenting on the investment, Steve Khayat, Founder & CEO of PVP, said: “Our investment in GAGA reflects our strong conviction in the team’s resilience, drive, and ability to deliver meaningful impact at scale. The platform elevates the quality and availability of Arabic educational content, giving young learners access to interactive, high‑quality experiences in their own language. In moments when global circumstances challenge us, we believe even more strongly in backing founders who create real impact, and our long‑term commitment to the GCC, including the Kingdom’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem, has never been stronger. GAGA is reshaping how students engage with learning in the Kingdom and serves as a powerful complement to the traditional schooling system. We are proud to lead this priced round and support GAGA’s next phase of growth.”

Abdullah Al-Khorasani, Co‑Founder & CEO of GAGA, added: “This round marks an important milestone in our mission to make world‑class, interactive Arabic learning accessible to every family in Saudi Arabia. With PVP’s belief in our vision, we will expand our educator network, strengthen our Arabic content, and accelerate our technology development to empower more students across the Kingdom.”

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Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) recently hosted an engaging session aimed at helping businesses strengthen their sales strategies and improve deal conversion. Titled “Pitch with Clarity and Confidence – Sales Strategies That Win Business and Close Deals,” the session focused on practical ways for businesses to communicate value more effectively and connect with customers with greater impact.

Industry experts addressed a common challenge faced by many businesses—sales pitches that focus heavily on products and services, rather than clearly demonstrating how they solve real customer problems. Through real-world examples, participants gained actionable insights into structuring sales presentations that are clear, relevant and easy for buyers to engage with, while also learning how to handle objections with confidence and build meaningful B2B connections. The session brought together entrepreneurs, founders, and decision-makers from diverse sectors.

Led by Mamoun Alamouri, Founder of SMOrchestra.ai, the session drew on over two decades of enterprise technology sales experience across the MENA region. His presentation, ‘Frameworks for Objection-Free Sales’, focused on the importance of building trust early in the sales process and removing potential objections before they arise.

Alamouri highlighted that most deals are not lost to competition, but rather due to lack of trust, confusion, or buyer indecision. He emphasised the importance of clear positioning, understanding customer concerns, and simplifying the decision-making process for buyers. Introducing a structured approach built around “signal, trust, convert,” he explained how businesses can guide prospects more effectively from initial interest to successful deal closure.

The session also challenged common sales misconceptions, including the belief that more techniques, more data, or stronger relationships alone lead to better results. Instead, the focus was placed on creating clarity, communicating value over features, and establishing credibility in a way that resonates with specific customer needs.

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said: “In today’s competitive landscape, the ability to communicate value with clarity and build trust quickly is what sets successful businesses apart. We are focused on equipping our business community with the mindset and practical tools needed to strengthen how they position themselves, connect with their audience, and accelerate their growth journey.”

This event is part of RAKEZ’s ongoing efforts to deliver hands-on insights that help businesses refine their strategies and improve performance.

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Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) has reported more than 7,500 licensing transactions in January and February, reflecting strong demand from innovation‑driven companies and reinforcing its position as one of the region’s leading hubs for technology– and research-focused enterprises. The transactions include new company formations and renewals, signalling continued momentum in Sharjah’s growing innovation economy.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SPARK, said the results underscore the strength and resilience of Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem. “These indicators reflect our commitment to driving growth, empowering businesses, and expanding global partnerships. Our focus remains on translating innovation into tangible economic value that supports sustainable development,” he noted.

Al Mahmoudi added that SPARK continues to build an integrated environment for entrepreneurs and innovators by offering advanced infrastructure, prototyping facilities, and growth pathways that strengthen Sharjah and the UAE’s standing as global hubs for advanced technologies.

The strong start to 2026 follows a milestone year in 2025, during which SPARK established more than 30 partnerships with local and international organisations, including Emirates Health Services, the European Union ecosystem, and the International Association of Science Parks. A major achievement was the launch of BASE39, a dedicated zone supporting emerging creative talent and enabling the development of design-led and artistic ventures.

As part of its global expansion strategy, SPARK is deepening collaboration with representative offices in key markets such as China and India to attract high‑potential technology companies seeking entry into the UAE and wider Middle East.

SPARK also partnered with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) to launch a startup package during the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, enabling the establishment of 130 startups. New all‑inclusive licensing packages have been introduced to further enhance ease of doing business for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Recently, SPARK has attracted more than 15 technology startups across priority sectors, contributing to initiatives in robotics, waste‑to‑energy, and advanced architectural technologies. Its 2026 strategy focuses on accelerating technology commercialisation, expanding government partnerships, and strengthening international collaboration.

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PRYPCO Blocks, the fractional real estate investment arm of PRYPCO, the region’s leading PropTech platform, has announced the launch of “Flip the Blocks,” a new investment strategy focused on unlocking value from undervalued properties in prime Dubai locations. By identifying assets priced below market value and enhancing them through renovation, the initiative opens access to professionally managed property flipping, with entry starting from as little as AED 2,000.

The launch comes at a time when Dubai’s real estate market continues to show underlying resilience, with investors becoming more selective and increasingly exploring value-driven opportunities alongside traditional long-term investments.

Transforming Property Flipping into a Scalable Investment Model
Property flipping has long been associated with entrepreneurial investors who identify undervalued homes, renovate them, and resell for profit. However, the process typically demands significant capital, hands-on oversight, contractor management, and deep knowledge of local market cycles.

Flip the Blocks transforms what has traditionally been an opportunity reserved for a select group of investors into a professionally managed investment model.  The model focuses on identifying properties in premium Dubai communities that are priced below market value. Each asset is evaluated for renovation feasibility, cost efficiency, market demand, and resale timing before acquisition.

Following purchase, the property undergoes a full renovation to improve its functionality, design, and overall market appeal. The renovations are focused on adding real value, with changes aligned to what buyers are looking for in that segment. Once completed, the property is brought back to market for resale, with the aim of achieving capital growth within a shorter timeframe.

When the property is sold, profits generated from the value created are distributed to participating investors. The entire lifecycle, from sourcing and renovation oversight to marketing and transaction execution, is handled by PRYPCO Blocks, allowing investors to gain exposure to property flipping without a large downpayment or operational involvement.

Lowering Barriers to Capital Growth
In its traditional form, property flipping has required high entry capital and personal management of risk. Flip the Blocks lowers these barriers by curating opportunities within a centralised, transparent framework. Investors are able to participate in premium resale-focused projects with lower capital compared to acquiring and renovating property independently, while receiving structured updates throughout the lifecycle of each asset.

The strategy is anchored in tangible value creation. Returns are derived from disciplined acquisition, structured improvements, and strategic resale rather than speculative price movement. By focusing on fundamentals and execution, PRYPCO Blocks aims to provide a more systematic pathway to short-term, capital-focused real estate exposure.

Expanding the PRYPCO Blocks Investment Model
The introduction of Flip the Blocks marks an evolution in PRYPCO Blocks’ offering, expanding beyond fractional access into structured resale strategies built specifically for capital growth. The move reflects broader changes in investor behaviour, where agility, efficiency, and defined exit pathways are becoming increasingly important.

With its first Flip the Blocks property launching this week, PRYPCO Blocks positions itself at the intersection of fractional ownership and real estate value creation, formalising property flipping into a managed, accessible investment strategy designed for Dubai’s fast-moving market.

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Wa’ed Ventures today announced a strategic investment in Resemble AI, a leading security company based out of California specializing in AI voice generation and real-time multimodal deepfake detection. The startup closed a $13 million strategic round last December, backed by investors including Google’s AI Future Fund, Sony Innovation Fund, Javelin, and Ubiquity.

The investment comes amid a sharp rise in AI-generated fraud globally. Saudi Arabia is proactively moving swiftly to address these risks through strong regulatory frameworks, including the Anti-Cybercrime Law, which criminalizes the spread of fake news or misinformation that threatens public peace, security, or national interest. At the same time, global deepfake-related scams caused more than $25 billion in losses in 2024, while deepfake incidents are projected to cause $40 billion in damage globally by 2027.

Wa’ed Ventures’ investment supports Resemble AI’s expansion into the Middle East, enabling organizations across Saudi Arabia to deploy secure, real-time AI detection technologies that align with regional data sovereignty and security requirements. “At Wa’ed Ventures, our role goes beyond funding – we work closely with founders to help them scale technologies that can compete globally while being rooted in Saudi Arabia’s priorities. As the Kingdom strengthens AI governance, digital trust, and content authenticity regulations, solutions like Resemble AI’s deepfake detection and synthetic media safeguards directly support efforts to ensure secure, ethical AI adoption across public and private sectors,” says Anas Algahtani, CEO of Wa’ed Ventures.

“The Middle East is facing an unprecedented surge in AI-generated fraud – deepfake incidents in Saudi Arabia alone increased 600% last year,” said Zohaib Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Resemble AI. “Organizations across the Gulf need detection capabilities they can deploy on their own infrastructure, with the speed and accuracy to catch threats in real-time. Wa’ed understands this urgency, and their backing accelerates our ability to bring that protection to the region.”

Resemble AI is a leader in AI voice generation and multimodal verification and deepfake detection, providing real-time solutions to combat AI-generated fraud. The company’s technology enables organizations to detect synthetic audio and media manipulation across both cloud and on-premise environments, supporting secure deployment in highly regulated industries. For more information, visit:  https://www.resemble.ai/

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For a growing number of students today, university is no longer just about lectures, exams, and placements. It is increasingly becoming a space to experiment, build, and sometimes even launch a business before graduation.

At BITS Pilani Dubai Campus (BPDC), this shift is quietly taking shape. Over the past few years, students here have been moving beyond academic projects to develop startups that are solving real-world problems—often while still completing their degrees.

The campus’ Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIED) has supported around 10 such ventures in the last two to three years. What stands out is not just the number, but the diversity of ideas and the fact that many of these startups are already finding relevance in fast-evolving sectors.

Some of these ventures are working at the intersection of technology and everyday life. Aayu, for instance, is exploring how generative AI can support doctors and patients with more informed healthcare decisions. Krypsm is building a platform aimed at making digital asset management simpler and more secure. In a very different space, OrbitArch is tackling challenges in satellite operations through AI-driven collision avoidance systems.

Others are focusing on more immediate, practical needs. UrbanNest is rethinking how residents access home appliances through shared, app-based systems, while Shipmitra is working on improving logistics efficiency through AI-powered coordination. BitBot Robotics is looking at last-mile delivery in urban environments, a challenge that continues to grow with the rise of e-commerce.

There are also ideas that reflect student life more directly. Aqademia, for example, is designed to help students deal with procrastination and improve focus using behavioural tools. On the business side, Deltor AI is helping organisations streamline operations through automation, while Genme is working on making financial flows in healthcare faster and more accessible. SWIRL, meanwhile, is exploring how online fashion discovery can become more personalised.

What connects these ventures is not just innovation, but the fact that they are being built alongside academic commitments. Some have already taken early steps into the market, securing initial funding, grants, or recognition through regional platforms.

According to Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, this reflects a broader change in how students are thinking about their future.“Students today are far more willing to explore unconventional paths. They want to build, experiment, and take ownership of ideas early on. Our role as an institution is to support that journey by providing the right environment, mentorship, and flexibility so that they can pursue entrepreneurship alongside their studies,” he says.

Part of that environment is built into the curriculum itself. Through initiatives like the New Venture Creation (NVC) course, students are introduced to the full journey of building a startup—from identifying a problem to developing a minimum viable product. This is complemented by access to incubation support, mentorship from alumni entrepreneurs, and opportunities to present ideas at competitions and industry forums.

Prof. Vilas H Gaidhane, Faculty In-charge, CIIED- BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, who is closely involved with the incubation ecosystem, sees this as a learning process as much as a business one. “It’s not just about launching a company. It’s about helping students understand how ideas evolve, how to test them, and how to navigate uncertainty. Even when a venture doesn’t move forward, the learning stays with them,” he explains.

In many ways, what is happening at BPDC reflects a larger trend across the region. As countries like the UAE continue to invest in innovation and entrepreneurship, students are finding themselves in an ecosystem that encourages experimentation and risk-taking.

For these students, the classroom is no longer the only place where learning happens. Increasingly, it is the starting point for something much larger.

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Flyby has appointed Tomaso Rodriguez as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. The move signals Flyby’s transition from early traction to scale as the company prepares for a Series A raise and accelerated deployment across Europe and the Middle East.

Over six years as CEO of Talabat, Rodriguez grew the business more than ninefold and led the company through its IPO on the Dubai Financial Market in December 2024. The listing raised $2 billion and valued the platform at $10.1 billion, making it the largest global tech IPO of 2024, oversubscribed by double digits.

Under his leadership, Talabat became the largest on-demand technology platform across MENA — serving over 6.5 million active customers across eight markets. He stepped down as CEO in November 2025 following a planned leadership transition, and now brings his strategic playbook to Flyby as Chairman of the Board. Rodriguez’s decision to chair Flyby sends a clear signal to the market: the company has reached a level of traction and maturity that’s ready for scale.

What began as targeted pilots in Munich, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai has evolved into a live, digital out-of-home network embedded directly into last-mile logistics. The infrastructure doubles as a new medium, with clients already allocating budgets to it. Flyby’s client roster includes global brands and regional powerhouses: L’Oréal, Red Bull, Tabasco, Motorola, and Western Union on the advertiser side; Publicis, Yango and WPP among agency partners; and aggregators including noon, Talabat, Careem, and Deliveroo.

The company has a clear path to reach 10,000 boxes by 2027, built on existing partnerships and a proprietary stack combining IoT-enabled hardware, rider-level data, and real-time digital engagement. The network also supports urban beautification and smart city programs — making Flyby as relevant to municipalities as it is to media buyers.

Commenting on the appointment, Cheyenne Kamran, Co-Founder and CEO of Flyby, said: “Two years in, the platform is live, revenue-generating, and ready for scale. Tomaso took Talabat from a regional platform to a $10 billion public company. His experience will be key as we enter our next phase, marking the start of our Series A and our expansion into multiple new markets.”

“Every day, hundreds of thousands of delivery riders navigate our streets, a truly visible presence. Flyby is the only company globally that has successfully turned delivery fleets into a live, high-tech media channel. We’re unlocking an entirely unexplored frontier for advertisers, allowing them to deliver dynamic, real-time messages in a way that simply hasn’t been possible until now. This is one of the most compelling technological leaps in the industry and it’s an exciting moment to be part of a team redefining a whole category,” said Tomaso Rodriguez, Chairman of Flyby.

The appointment comes ahead of Flyby’s targeted Series A, which will fund the expansion to 10,000 smart boxes by 2027, with a five-year roadmap to 50,000 boxes across the GCC and Europe. At that scale, Flyby operates one of the most granular real-time mobility datasets in urban delivery, creating value across media, logistics, and smart city infrastructure. As Chairman, Rodriguez will drive investor and partner engagement and help strengthen Flyby’s position across advertising, mobility, and data.

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The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has concluded the first edition of the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF), which brought together 12 women founders for a development journey focused on strengthening leadership skills and supporting venture growth. The initiative aims to support women-led companies and strengthen their presence within Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the wider region.

The programme provided a development platform for participating founders, focusing on enhancing leadership and venture management capabilities while connecting them with a network of investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners. The inaugural cohort also laid the groundwork for SWIF to evolve into a long-term initiative that supports the growth of women-led ventures and expands their impact within Sharjah’s entrepreneurial landscape.

H.E. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa said: “The progress demonstrated by the women founders through the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship reflects a strong level of maturity in how they manage their ventures, make informed decisions, and approach challenges with confidence. It underscores the importance of a supportive environment that can sustain and strengthen this development. This aligns with Sheraa’s approach to empowering women founders to grow their ventures and expand their impact, as the fellowship continues to build on this direction as a sustained platform supporting women founders through its future editions.”

Alongside leadership development, the fellowship also supported the growth of participating ventures. Fellows received financial support through an AED 500,000 grant provided by Fikri Business Consultants to support business development and expansion. Generously endowed by Dr. Asma Fikri and Amna Fikri, daughters of the late Dr. Mahmoud Mohamed Fikri, former WHO Regional Director, the grant honors his legacy of empowering women and advancing community well-being.

SWIF also contributed to advancing the regional conversation on women’s entrepreneurship through a collaboration with the Meem Foundation, which is conducting a research study examining funding gaps for women-led ventures. Fellows participated in the study as interview subjects, helping generate insights that can inform future policies, funding mechanisms, and ecosystem support for women founders across the region.

Behind these outcomes was a carefully designed fellowship experience. SWIF adopted a rigorous selection process that ensured participating founders were ready for their next stage of growth. The process included an evaluation by sheraa’s CEO, a weighted rubric, psychometric assessments, and behavioural interviews, focusing on founders already leading ventures with clear traction and the capacity to scale with intention.

The fellowship curriculum followed Sheraa’s 4D model: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deepen, guiding founders through a sequenced journey that connects personal leadership reflection with strategic venture development and broader ecosystem engagement.

The SWIF journey was delivered in collaboration with a strong network of partners who supported different stages of the programme. Delivery partners included Accenture, Publicis Groupe, Orbis Terra Media, the Pearl Initiative, Kearney, EY, and Microsoft, each contributing expertise across leadership development, branding, impact, and venture growth. The programme was further supported by key sponsors, including Fikri Business Consultants, Shurooq, Meem Foundation, and Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate, whose contributions enabled the successful delivery of the fellowship.

Throughout the programme, founders progressed through a curated SWIF journey designed to strengthen both leadership and venture development. This included a leadership retreat in Kalba, followed by a series of founder-focused engagements such as workshops and sessions with Accenture, and SWIF X Publicis’ Atelier Potentialis. The journey also featured conversations with ecosystem leaders, including a fireside chat with H.E. Haleema Al Owais, as well as practical sessions on personal branding delivered by Orbis Terra Media.

Founders had the opportunity to further develop their ventures through Scale Up MENA masterclasses and to deepen their understanding of impact measurement through a session with the Pearl Initiative. The programme concluded with a policy and advocacy readiness workshop with Kearney, alongside a closing conversation with Dr Asma Fikri, Impact Partner and grant donor to SWIF, bringing together key reflections from the journey.

As the programme unfolded, founders advanced both their leadership journeys and the growth of their ventures while building new relationships across the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For the twelve founders who formed the first SWIF cohort, the fellowship represents the beginning of the next chapter in their entrepreneurial journeys

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NEC X announced the seven startups selected for Batch 15 of its Elev X! Ignite program, a 12-month accelerator designed to help early-stage founders transform innovative ideas into seed-ready companies.
Chosen through a competitive multi-phase selection process from hundreds of applications across 34 industries, Batch 15 highlights clear emerging trends in the startup landscape. More than 70% of applicants were building B2B AI solutions focused on operational efficiency, while about 15% were developing physical AI technologies involving robotics or real-world automation. NEC X also noted growing interest in AI governance, safety and infrastructure.

Batch 15 founders will work closely with NEC X’s venture studio team, engineers, advisors and business mentors to accelerate product development, validate market fit and prepare for pre-seed-stage investment.

“Across industries, founders are rethinking how complex systems operate, and AI is becoming the foundation for that transformation,” said Shintaro Matsumoto, President and CEO of NEC X. “Batch 15 represents a group of entrepreneurs tackling some of the most operationally intensive challenges, from healthcare triage to satellite coordination. Through Elev X! Ignite, we’re helping these teams rapidly test ideas, leverage NEC technologies and build scalable businesses ready for global impact.”
Batch 15 companies are:

• AriesView – AI-powered intelligence platform for institutional real estate investors – turning complex documents and portfolio data into faster, sharper investment decisions.
• Opscom – Turns frontline security operations into defensible, audit-ready evidence, reducing compliance burden and exposure to contract, penalty and dispute risk.
• Fishlert – An automated text and email communication solution that maximizes pricing and negotiation power for fresh catch sales.
• FlightSuite.ai – A universal CRM agent that lets sales teams update contacts, log deals and manage pipelines naturally via SMS or browser, eliminating manual data entry across GoHighLevel, HubSpot and Salesforce.
• HumanLens – AI governance infrastructure for regulated industries. From “where is this model?” to auditable compliance – in days, not months.
• Manifest Space – Space traffic coordination and satellite identification to prevent collisions, improve visibility, and grow the orbital economy.
• Renna Health Inc. – A virtual clinical teammate for Emergency Rooms that engages patients early and often while they wait and autonomously acts on those conversations for risk stratification, documentation, disposition planning and more.

Each startup benefits from NEC X’s comprehensive support network, gaining access to NEC’s 45,000 patents, world-class researchers, expert-led workshops, product development resources and specialized investor readiness training. Startups can also leverage NEC’s global reach across more than 55 international markets and its $8 billion annual R&D ecosystem.

Together, these resources equip founders with the tools and connections needed to accelerate growth, scale globally and bring transformative solutions to market. Graduates of Elev X! programs successfully raise funding, gain early traction and scale operations. Recent alumni include Yadag, WeWalk, Milkyway X AI, Multitude Insights, Verdi and more.

For more information about Elev X! Programs, click here.

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XCath, a medical device company pioneering neuro-endovascular surgical robotics, part-owned by Crescent Enterprises, announced the successful completion of the world’s first in-human telerobotic stroke procedure.

The landmark remote robotic mechanical thrombectomy was performed using the XCath Iris Endovascular Robotic (EVR) System by Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, M.D. from a remote control room in Santiago, Panama, located 200 kilometers from the patient in Panama Clinic in Panama City. Local principal investigator, Dr. Anastasio Ameijeiras Sibauste oversaw the procedure and was situated with the patient at Panama Clinic.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and a global health crisis that claims over 5 million lives globally every year, and leaves 80 million people worldwide to live with post-stroke disability. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (LVO); however this lifesaving treatment is out of reach for most people. According to an American Heart Association study, worldwide access to MT as measured by median MT Access was just 2.79%.

The XCath Iris System, first demonstrated at Abu Dhabi Health in 2025, has delivered submillimeter precision surgery operated over a long-distance connection, showing no latency in the successful MT procedure. XCath’s Iris System is the only endovascular robotic system in development to achieve a neurointerventional treatment and is also the world’s only triaxial neurovascular robot to perform treatment. Following the successful telerobotic aneurysm procedures held in November 2025, the MT procedure further solidifies XCath’s position as the global leader in neurovascular and endovascular telerobotics.

Neeraj Agrawal, Executive Director of Crescent Enterprises and Board member at XCath said, “XCath has achieved what no other surgical robotics company has accomplished in stroke treatment, delivering a remote mechanical thrombectomy at the highest standard of care. As the UAE continues to invest in AI, robotics, and medical technology, XCath demonstrates how this ecosystem enables breakthrough innovation. This is truly technology delivered from the UAE to the world.

Agrawal added, “This milestone will help drive the regulatory and policy support needed to make remote treatment widely accessible. Telerobotics represent the future of surgery, and XCath is at the forefront of that transformation.”

Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of XCath said, “This is an important achievement for XCath as we pursue a world where access to lifesaving surgery is accessible no matter where you live through the power of telerobotics. This world-first telerobotic stroke procedure represents the collaborative efforts of neurovascular surgery and remote surgical robotics experts, in addition to funding and support of UAE-based Crescent Enterprises to enable XCath’s team of brilliant engineers and advisors including Dr. Fred Moll, Drs. Pereira and Sibauste and the incredible teams at the Panama Clinic in Panama City and Santiago to deliver this milestone.”

Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, who performed the surgery, said: “This surgery builds on the results of a demonstration held during Abu Dhabi Health last year to prove the technology and scale it up. Mechanical thrombectomy is proven to reduce mortality and disability in patients with ischemic stroke, but unfortunately access to the procedure is extremely low. That’s why the investment made in XCath’s technology, and the support of UAE’s innovation ecosystem is so critical to broadening access to mechanical thrombectomy for patients around the world.”

Dr. Periera noted: “The world changing experience of performing the first-in-human procedure matched the successful simulated procedures we performed previously, with imperceptibly low latency and no disruptions to the surgical workflow. It was a highlight of my career to be involved in this historic achievement.”

Telerobotic platforms can enable access to the surgery in places that would otherwise not be able to provide the treatment and may shorten time-to-treatment by bringing the surgeon to the patient, rather than the patient to a specialized clinic. Time-to-treatment is a critical determinant in stroke outcomes – “time is brain” and patients risk losing more than 2 million brain cells per minute until treatment is administered. In ischemic stroke, MT should take place typically within a few hours of stroke onset.

The successful surgery follows last week’s announcement that XCath secured $30 million in Series C funding co-led by Crescent Enterprises, bringing the total raised since the company’s inception to $92 million. The funds will support XCath’s ongoing efforts to bring the world’s first commercially-practical endovascular robot to the market as well as to perform a clinical telerobotic mechanical thrombectomy.

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Presight has unveiled the first six AI companies selected to receive investment through its AI Innovation Ecosystem, strengthening the pipeline of technologies designed to power next-generation intelligent systems at national and enterprise scale. 

The investments form part of the Presight–Shorooq Fund I (PSFI), a US$100 million global early-stage fund established in partnership with Shorooq.

The six companies to receive investment are located across the United States and UAE, and span sovereign AI infrastructure, vertical intelligence platforms for capital and industry, and edge-native intelligence systems. Together, these startups reflect Presight’s focus on identifying breakthrough applied intelligence systems primed for integration into complex, regulated environments where reliability, resilience, and governance are critical. 

World Model Architecture 

• AMI-Advanced Machine Intelligence advances world model AI architectures designed to help machines understand and interact with the physical world, enabling deeper reasoning, planning, and real-world interaction beyond traditional predictive AI architectures. Founded by Turing Award winner and former Meta Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, AMI is developing a new class of AI systems that learn from spatial and real-world data to model cause and effect. Headquartered in Paris with offices in New York, Montreal, and Singapore, the company is initially targeting enterprise applications across manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, and biomedical industries. 

Sovereign AI Infrastructure 

• NodeShift gives enterprises a secure, on-premises AI platform that enables users to use and deploy AI models while keeping all data within their own infrastructure. A participant in Cohort I of Presight’s AI Accelerator Program,  NodeShift has now entered into a strategic commercial agreement with Presight to scale its solutions and pursue joint go-to-market initiatives, reflecting the continued collaboration between Presight and startups participating in the program.  

Vertical Intelligence for Capital and Industry 

• Hebbia enhances institutional research and financial workflows in regulated capital markets. 
  
• Candid Intelligence applies AI to optimize procurement and bidding processes across infrastructure and public-sector environments. 
  
• Crunched turns complex company/market data into faster modeling, deeper insights, and decision-grade analysis for investors and operators, using its advanced AI financial intelligence platform 

Secure, Edge-Native Systems 

• Blue utilizes a voice-action model layer powering voice agents that can complete multi-step tasks directly on phones, avoiding APIs and integration overheads. 

A Structured Pathway from Innovation to Intelligent Systems 
Presight’s AI Innovation Ecosystem is the company’s growth engine, designed to identify, acquire, invest, accelerate and incubate the next generation of breakthrough AI intellectual property to ensure that emerging technologies are developed with deployment in mind from day one. Presight’s AI Innovation Ecosystem consists of an AI Investment Fund, an AI Accelerator Program, and Research and Development Labs. 

Through the Presight AI Accelerator Program, companies receive structured mentorship, access to world-leading compute infrastructure, fast-track commercialization pathways with enterprise and government clients within the G42 and Presight ecosystems, and technical integration support. This model ensures alignment with real operational and commercial requirements — enabling integration, contracts, and the development of defensible moats. 

Strategic capital vehicles such as PSFI strengthen this pathway by providing early-stage funding aligned to the same thesis, enabling companies to scale within sovereign and regulated environments. 

Together, incubation, capital, and deployment create a coordinated model for translating AI innovation into intelligent systems that deliver real-world impact. 

Magzhan Kenesbai, Chief Growth Officer of Presight, commented: “AI only creates lasting value when it can operate within real systems. These first investments reflect that conviction – spanning secure AI infrastructure, vertical intelligence platforms for capital and industry, and edge-native systems. Each of these companies is building technology designed for integration into complex, regulated environments. By combining operational environments, structured incubation through the Presight AI Accelerator, and strategic capital via PSFI, we are creating clear pathways from innovation to implementation – translating frontier AI into intelligent systems at scale.”  

Dr. Bilal Baloch, Partner at Shorooq, said: “When we launched this fund, our vision was to connect world-class AI innovators with the capital, regulatory support, and market access that our region offers. To have invested in six highly promising companies, after assessing over 1,000, outside our home market alongside leading peers in the US and Asia in 120 days is a marker toward that vision. We were most impressed that these founders are pushing the boundaries of what AI can do – from giving every app a voice interface to automating billion-dollar industries – and thereby allowing us to back varying theses across the AI stack. This is just the beginning; we believe the fund can be a bridge between East and West for AI, and we’re committed to accelerating more breakthroughs that will transform businesses and communities.” 

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Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone (ANCFZ) today signed a MoU with the DIFC Courts to strengthen the legal infrastructure underpinning its fast-growing business ecosystem and enhance investor confidence.

This cooperation aims to enhance value-added services for ANCFZ clients by enabling them to access a range of public services offered by DIFC, including DIFC Courts services such as the Small Claims Tribunal, Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal, Enforcement, Specialised Divisions, Probate, Hearing Room Rentals, Notary Service, Mediation Service, Wills service, Tejouri Digital Vault, Registration of Practitioners, the Pro Bono Programme (PBP), and the Volunteer Lawyer Service.

The MoU reflects ANCFZ’s forward-looking approach to building a globally competitive free zone environment supported by legal clarity, regulatory transparency, and institutional collaboration. As the Free Zone continues to scale, the partnership will enhance awareness among investors and businesses of the UAE’s internationally recognized dispute resolution mechanisms, while providing clearer pathways to trusted legal services through DIFC Courts.

Under the terms of the agreement, both entities will collaborate on joint outreach initiatives including seminars, conferences, and investor awareness programmes. The MoU also provides for the exchange of relevant legal publications, regulatory developments, and operational insights, ensuring greater alignment and knowledge-sharing between the two institutions.

The collaboration comes at a time when the UAE’s free zone ecosystem continues to play a central role in national economic diversification. The country is home to more than 40 multidisciplinary free zones offering 100% foreign ownership and tailored business services to global investors, particularly in logistics, technology, finance, and manufacturing. Industry projections indicate that free zones are expected to contribute approximately AED 257 billion to the UAE’s non-oil GDP by 2030, reinforcing their importance as drivers of foreign direct investment and international trade.

At the same time, established financial and legal hubs such as the DIFC continue to expand their global footprint, with registered firms rising nearly 40% in 2025 to over 8,800, supported by a robust legal and regulatory infrastructure that enhances investor certainty and dispute resolution reliability.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Nuaimi, Chairman of ANCFZ, said: “As we continue to expand our investor base and global reach, strengthening the legal and regulatory ecosystem surrounding our Free Zone is essential. This partnership with the DIFC Courts reinforces our commitment to transparency, governance, and international best practices, in line with Ajman Vision 2030 and the UAE’s broader economic diversification agenda.”

H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of the DIFC Courts, commented: “This Memorandum of Understanding reinforces legal certainty and investor confidence across the UAE’s free zone ecosystem. By extending access to the DIFC Courts’ internationally recognised services, the partnership strengthens the legal infrastructure supporting high-growth business communities.

Aligned with the DIFC Courts’ strategic priorities of international reach, judicial excellence, and effective enforcement, this collaboration further positions DIFC Courts as a leading global hub for dispute resolution and commercial certainty.” 

Rishi Somaiya, CEO of ANCFZ, added: “Investor confidence is built on clarity, speed, and legal certainty. By formalizing cooperation with the DIFC Courts, we are enhancing the value proposition of ANCFZ and ensuring that businesses operating within our ecosystem benefit from greater awareness of robust dispute resolution frameworks available in the UAE.”

For ANCFZ, this partnership builds on a year of accelerated growth and strong investor uptake. Established in October 2024, the Free Zone has successfully registered over 6,500 companies within its first year of operation, positioning itself as one of the UAE’s fastest-growing free zones and a notable contributor to foreign direct investment inflows.

ANCFZ’s fully integrated digital platform enables entrepreneurs to obtain a business license within two hours and complete visa processing within 24 hours. Its hybrid operational model, which combines advanced digital infrastructure with dedicated client support, ensures seamless regulatory compliance and efficient business setup, allowing investors to focus on scaling their operations.

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Nahda Capital Partners, a newly established private equity platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has filed for the registration of its inaugural private equity fund this week as it prepares to launch investment activities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

“Nahda” in Arabic refers to a renaissance — a renewal and resurgence. The firm chose the name to reflect its long-term mission of building enduring partnerships and contributing to the development of the region’s real economy, with a particular focus on supporting local founders, families and institutions.

Nahda Capital Partners is led by Iñigo de Luna, Founder and Managing Partner, and is building a control-oriented mid-market private equity strategy focused primarily on the UAE, Saudi Arabia and wider GCC. The firm will target resilient founder-led and family-owned businesses benefiting from structural regional growth and increasing institutionalisation, particularly companies undergoing generational transition or seeking institutional capital and operational support to accelerate their next phase of expansion across the GCC.

The founding partners bring significant international experience across private equity and investment banking, with a historical track record generating approximately 36% gross IRR across multiple economic cycles.

Key highlights of the strategy include a majority-investment approach in partnership with founders and family shareholders, and an operational value-creation model focused on professionalisation, operational improvement, governance strengthening, and selective buy-and-build expansion.

Nahda expects to focus on sectors including food production and distribution, healthcare, education, and industrial technology. The firm’s investment approach is guided by principles aligned with Sharia-compliant investing, including a focus on real-economy assets, prudent use of leverage, and disciplined governance.

“Nahda Capital Partners was established to partner with high-quality mid-market businesses across the GCC that can benefit from long-term capital and hands-on operational support,” said Iñigo de Luna. “These are difficult days and the priority is safety and de-escalation. At the same time, we view this as a severe but temporary shock rather than a change in the long-term trajectory of the UAE and the region. Our conviction has not changed: the GCC is structurally strengthening as a place to build businesses and allocate long-term capital.”

Subject to regulatory approval, the firm expects to commence fundraising in the coming weeks, targeting approximately $300 million for its inaugural fund to be managed from ADGM.

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Applications for the second cohort of the Madinah Tech Cultivator will close on March 22, 2026, marking the final call for founders, innovators, and technologists looking to deploy real-world solutions in one of the world’s most historically significant and strategically evolving cities.

Launched in partnership with Madinah Amanah, the Madinah Tech Cultivator is designed to bring together global innovators to address real urban challenges facing the city today. Unlike traditional accelerators focused primarily on mentorship and investment readiness, the Cultivator is built around a different premise. Technology should be implemented, tested, and scaled within real environments where it can create meaningful impact.

Through this initiative, innovators gain the opportunity to pilot and deploy solutions directly within Madinah’s urban ecosystem, working alongside government stakeholders, infrastructure leaders, and city operators.

“As cities evolve, innovation cannot remain confined to labs or pitch decks,” said Saad Shafee, Co-Founder of Madinah Tech. “The Madinah Tech Cultivator exists to bridge that gap. Our goal is to bring global innovators into the city, connect them with the right stakeholders, and create an environment where technology can be tested, implemented, and scaled to solve real challenges that impact everyday life.”

As Saudi Arabia continues its transformation under Vision 2030, cities like Madinah are becoming critical testbeds for technologies that support sustainable growth, intelligent infrastructure, and improved quality of life for residents and visitors.

The Madinah Tech Cultivator focuses on innovations across key sectors shaping the future of urban living:

• Sustainability and ecology
• Smart city and urban life
• Energy and climate technologies
• Mobility and connectivity

Madinah Tech is operated by Gingo Foundation, whose mission is to support tech‑driven innovation ecosystems and challenge the status quo of the global startup and venture capital ecosystem by redefining how innovation is built, funded, and scaled.

“Programs like the Madinah Tech Cultivator demonstrate how cities can become living laboratories for innovation,” said Anna Shevchenko, CEO of Gingo Foundation. “Our role is to help bring the right founders, knowledge, and ecosystem connections together so solutions are not just imagined but actually implemented where they matter.”

The program offers selected startups:

• Direct market access to pilot solutions in Madinah
• Hands-on mentorship from global technology leaders and Saudi market experts
• Strategic support to localize and deploy technology within the Kingdom
• An equity-free model with no participation fees

By connecting innovators with public institutions, infrastructure leaders, and industry experts, the Cultivator aims to accelerate technologies that can serve both Madinah and other cities across Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

With the second cohort nearing capacity, organizers encourage qualified innovators from around the world to apply before the March 22 deadline.

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