Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Venture capital activity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has witnessed a remarkable rebound in 2025, with total investments reaching $3 billion during the first nine months of the year, up 109% compared to the same period in 2024, according to MAGNiTT

Farah El Nahlawi, Research Manager at MAGNiTT, told Al Arabiya Business that the momentum began early in the year, as investments in the first quarter rose 71% compared to the last quarter of 2024. The trend continued through the year, peaking at $1.2 billion in the third quarter, marking the region’s highest quarterly total on record.

Al-Nahlawi attributed the growth to a series of mega-deals that accounted for more than half of the total investment value in Q3, alongside strong activity in deals below $100 million.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia together captured about 91% of total funding and over 70% of deal volume. The UAE led with $1.4 billion in investments, marking a 188% annual increase, while Saudi Arabia followed closely with nearly $1.3 billion across 173 deals, matching its total deal count from 2024.

Fintech dominated the scene, accounting for nearly 30% of total funding — close to $1 billion — driven by multiple large transactions exceeding $150 million. Other active sectors included fitness, telecommunications, and enterprise software.