MENA Startups Attract $279 Million in February Funding, UAE and Saudi Arabia Lead the Way

The startup ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region saw some exciting investment activity during February 2026. Startups there managed to secure over $279 million in total funding! These investments were spread across eight Arab countries, with several key markets seeing high funding levels. Gulf nations continued to clearly dominate the regional investment landscape. The UAE really led the way in funding. The United Arab Emirates grabbed the largest share, with its startups attracting a whopping $121.1 million. That's about 43.4% of all the funding in the region! These numbers truly reflect the huge amount of capital flowing into the UAE market, which is backed by advanced digital infrastructure and a supportive environment for entrepreneurs. Saudi Arabia came in second. The Kingdom secured $86.8 million in funding, making up about 31.1% of the total. These investments are part of Saudi Arabia's big push to boost its digital economy and grow its tech company base, all part of its ambitious Vision 2030 goals. This effort has really helped attract quality funding for its startups. Egypt showed a strong presence in North Africa. Its startups brought in $24 million in funding, which is about 8.6% of the region's total. This performance highlights Egypt's ongoing position as one of North Africa's biggest hubs for entrepreneurship, benefiting from its large local market and the growing demand for digital solutions. Morocco and Oman are also making their mark. Morocco ranked fourth with investments totaling $19.3 million, or about 6.9% of the funding. Meanwhile, Oman recorded $15.1 million in funding. This shows how these markets are becoming more attractive to investors who are looking for opportunities in emerging technology sectors and digital services. Even smaller countries had a presence. Despite economic challenges, Lebanon managed to maintain its spot on the regional funding map, securing $6.1 million. Qatar also recorded $3.1 million in funding, and Bahrain $2.8 million, with a focus on quality investments in advanced technology and digital services. Overall, Gulf nations dominated the funding. Together, the UAE and Saudi Arabia accounted for about 74.5% of the total funding in the region, with a combined value exceeding $207 million. While they led, other countries continue to attract investments, focusing on promising markets and emerging technologies. Here's a quick look at how the funding was distributed by country: UAE: $121.1 million (43.4%) Saudi Arabia: $86.8 million (31.1%) Egypt: $24 million (8.6%) Morocco: $19.3 million (6.9%) Oman: $15.1 million Lebanon: $6.1 million Qatar: $3.1 million Bahrain: $2.8 million So, February 2026 clearly shows that funding continues to flow into startups across the MENA region. The major Gulf markets still dominate the investment landscape, but North African markets and smaller countries are also seeing growing interest.