RIYADH: Startup investment in the Middle East and North Africa surged to $4.5 billion in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 523 percent quarter-on-quarter increase, according to data from Wamda and Digital Digest.
The quarter’s strong finish was powered by a record-breaking September, which alone accounted for $3.5 billion across 74 deals— up 914 percent month on month and 1,105 percent year on year.
Even excluding the $2.6 billion allocated for debt financing, September remained one of the most active months in the region’s history, with equity funding up 147 percent compared to August, representing an annual rise of 194 percent.
The figures suggest a return of investor confidence following a muted August, when total funding stood at $337.5 million.
Saudi Arabia was the driving force behind the September surge, with 25 startups raising a combined $2.7 billion.
