MENAPT H1 Top 10 Fundings

MENAPT’s startup ecosystem saw $4.89 billion raised in H1 2025, more than 1.5x last year’s total. Yet deal count dropped sharply, from 550 to fewer than 300, underscoring a selective, top-heavy VC landscape.

The largest round came from Turkey’s Dream Games, securing $1.25 billion in debt financing, cementing its dominance with global hit Royal Match. Saudi fintech Lendo followed with $690 million, while BNPL unicorn Tabby raised $160 million in a Series E. Egypt’s Ollin Finance and Nawee, Turkey’s Seepay, UAE’s Flow48, and Saudi’s Forus Financial also made the list. Rounding out the top 10: Egypt’s Bokra and UAE’s OSN Plus.

The takeaway? Fewer rounds, bigger bets. Capital is flowing, but mostly to giants. Early-stage founders still face a grind, though upcoming IPOs in Saudi and Turkey may shift momentum.