MENA Startup Funding Closes 2025 at $171.5M in December
December caps a record $7.5B year for MENA startups. Cybersecurity overtakes fintech as the month's top-funded sector.
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DXB Start·December 31, 2025·1 min read·3 months ago
MENA startup investment softened in December with 44 startups raising $171.5 million — a 38% YoY decline. Saudi Arabia dominated with $115 million, while the UAE recorded $21.4 million across 15 transactions. The data capped a record $7.5 billion year.
Cybersecurity led December with $63.4 million, followed by SaaS at $47.9 million. Fintech dropped to seventh with just $3.9 million — a stark reversal from usual dominance. B2B startups captured 90% of all capital.
Female-founded startups raised just $116,000 across two deals, highlighting the persistent gender funding gap in the region's venture ecosystem.