Gulf investors continued to channel capital into a range of sectors including industrial robotics, fintech, consumer beauty products, workforce housing, and alternative accommodation as September concluded.
UAE-based venture fund Shorooq and Presight, an AI-focused company under G42, joined a $100 million Series A funding round for Maven Robotics, a Santa Clara, California-based startup specializing in autonomous industrial robots. The financing, which included participation from RoboStrategy, LocalGlobe, Vine Ventures, and XTX Ventures, will support Maven’s expansion of hardware production. Founded in 2024 by Hamza Derbas, Maven develops autonomous robots targeting logistics and manufacturing environments, with initial applications such as mixed-case palletizing and tote handling. The company reported that its robots operate up to 16 hours daily at customer sites and maintain a reliability rate exceeding 99 percent.
In Saudi Arabia, fintech platform eraD raised $22 million in a Series A funding round led by Middle East Venture Partners. Additional investors included 500 Global, Saudi Venture Capital, and S60 Ventures alongside financial firms such as ANB Capital, Conjunction Capital, and Araya Ventures. Founded in 2022 by Salem Abu-Hammour, Faris Yaghmour, Abdulmalik Al-Meheini, and Youssef Said, eraD provides Shariah-compliant working capital financing of up to SAR 10 million ($2.6 million) to small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The company has deployed over SAR 500 million in financing and recorded more than SAR 4 billion in funding requests. EraD noted significant growth in sectors including logistics, medical equipment, and wholesale distribution. The new funding will support product development focused on industrial, logistics, and manufacturing sectors, as well as regional expansion and staffing.
UAE-based consumer company Amaani secured $5 million in Series A funding to expand its beauty brand AIZA. The round was led by BECO Capital with participation from Homegrown Ventures and Peak XV’s Surge, bringing the total capital raised to $8 million. Founded in 2023 by Shubham Poddar, Amaani launched AIZA in December 2024, offering skincare and haircare products inspired by Arab region ingredients such as dates, black seed, frankincense, rose, and bakhoor. The brand has seen net revenue rise more than ninefold in the first half of 2026, expanding from primarily digital sales to physical retail through outlets like Ounass and Utra Beauty stores in the UAE. Plans are underway to enter the Saudi Arabian market with launches in Jeddah and Riyadh, followed by expansions into Kuwait and Qatar later this year.
Saudi startup Rela secured undisclosed investment from Yazeed Al Rajhi & Brothers Holding as part of its growth strategy to expand workforce housing across the Kingdom. Rela, founded earlier in 2026 by Salman Al Jabrin, provides licensed employee accommodation and property management services via a technology platform linking property owners and developers with businesses. The company offers comprehensive housing-related services including transportation and catering, consolidating multiple needs for corporate clients.
Saudi investment firm Pinnacle Capital increased its stake in Gathern, a Riyadh-based alternative accommodation platform. Gathern, founded in 2016 by Latifah Al-Tamimi and Faisal Al-Anazi, operates a digital marketplace offering apartments, villas, chalets, farms, and camps across Saudi Arabia. Pinnacle’s additional investment was made through its Pinnacle Growth & Secondary Fund, though financial details were not disclosed. Pinnacle initially backed Gathern during its Series B round in August 2025, which raised between $7.1 million and $8.7 million and was led by Sanabil Investments.