Funded Apps Startups in United Arab Emirates
The 26 app-sector funding rounds shown here span February 2020 through August 2025, with Dubai accounting for 24 of the 26 companies.
The 26 app-sector funding rounds shown here span February 2020 through August 2025, with Dubai accounting for 24 of the 26 companies. At the upper end of disclosed amounts, Altibbi raised $44M in a Series B (March 2022), WakeCap Technologies closed a $28M Series A in May 2025, and Ziina followed with a $22M Series A in September 2024. Hubpay ($20M Series A, February 2022) and LVL ($10M Series A, August 2023) represent the next tier.
Pre-seed deal flow runs consistently through the dataset, with six disclosed pre-seed amounts ranging from Savii's $100K (January 2022) to BoomLand's $1M (May 2023). Sharjah and Abu Dhabi each contribute a single company — Studio Nebula and Five Colors respectively — while the remainder are Dubai-based. Represented verticals include fintech (Ziina, Hubpay, Savii), food and dining platforms (Mealplanet, Lokalee, Eat), construction workforce tech (WakeCap Technologies), and mobility (Swvl, Udrive).
Most recent rounds
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Frequently asked
What are the largest disclosed rounds among UAE apps startups in this dataset?
Altibbi leads at $44M (Series B, March 2022), followed by WakeCap Technologies at $28M (Series A, May 2025) and Ziina at $22M (Series A, September 2024). Hubpay rounds out the next tier at $20M (Series A, February 2022), and LVL raised $10M at Series A in August 2023.
How concentrated is UAE apps funding activity in Dubai versus other cities?
24 of the 26 companies are Dubai-based. Sharjah accounts for one entry (Studio Nebula, a $10K round in March 2024) and Abu Dhabi for one (Five Colors, a $1M equity crowdfunding round in July 2021).
What app verticals appear most frequently in UAE funding rounds?
Fintech apps recur most visibly — Ziina, Hubpay, and Savii all raised across Series A down to pre-seed. Food and dining platforms (Mealplanet, Lokalee, Eat) show multiple entries, as does mobility (Swvl, Udrive). WakeCap Technologies and Altibbi represent construction workforce tech and digital health respectively.
What is the typical deal size at pre-seed stage for UAE apps startups?
Among the six pre-seed rounds with disclosed amounts, figures range from $100K (Savii, January 2022) to $1M (BoomLand, May 2023). Sheba Joy ($290K), Bazaara ($230K), Fanzword ($200K), and Lifemost ($650K) all fall within that band. Speaklab Business closed an additional undisclosed pre-seed in December 2023.
How active has UAE apps funding been in 2024 and 2025?
Seven of the 26 rounds closed in 2024 or 2025. The largest are WakeCap Technologies' $28M Series A (May 2025) and Ziina's $22M Series A (September 2024), followed by Mealplanet and Lokalee each raising $6M seed rounds in August 2024 and January 2024. Swvl also closed an undisclosed round in November 2024.
Which round stages appear at Series B, and what did those companies raise?
Two companies reached Series B within this dataset: Altibbi ($44M, March 2022) and Joi Gifts ($1M, April 2022), both Dubai-based and both closing within the same six-week window in early 2022.
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