Startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa more than doubled in August 2026, even as dealmaking slowed sharply, with 27 startups raising a combined $375 million.
The total was 117% higher than July and 11% above August 2025. Yet the deal count fell 40% month-on-month, highlighting how heavily the month’s performance depended on a small number of large transactions.
The biggest was Moove’s $250 million Series C, which alone accounted for two-thirds of all capital deployed in August.
Still, the composition of funding marked a significant improvement from July. Debt accounted for only about 2% of total capital in August, compared with 56% the previous month, meaning the rebound was overwhelmingly driven by equity rather than structured financing.
The UAE returns to the top
