Startup investments in the Middle East and the Gulf are no longer driven solely by the size of local funding rounds; rather, the participation of Gulf funds in global technology deals has become one of the most prominent drivers of growth in investment values associated with the region.
Data from the first week of November 2026, according to an entArbi report, reveal that the value of new deals and investments exceeded 5.109 billion dollars, with the artificial intelligence sector capturing more than 5.105 billion dollars, clearly reflecting the growing role of Gulf capital in financing advanced technology companies.
However, reading these figures reveals that the lion’s share of the investment value does not come from local startup rounds, but rather from Gulf participation in massive international rounds, led by Canada’s Cohere.
Cohere leads the scene.. 5.1 billion dollars reshape the investment map
Cohere’s Series E funding round, valued at 5.1 billion dollars, represents the primary driver of investment value during the week, with participation from Prosperity7 Ventures, an affiliate of Saudi Aramco.
The deal reveals the expansion of Saudi investments into global artificial intelligence companies, particularly those targeting enterprise artificial intelligence applications and developing advanced solutions for businesses.
This participation gains additional importance amid global competition to fund artificial intelligence companies and the rising capital requirements associated with developing advanced models and the computing infrastructure needed to operate them.
Saudi Arabia combines global investment with building local companies
Saudi presence is not limited to participating in global funding rounds, but extends to local companies developing artificial intelligence-based solutions.
Persona, which raised 630 thousand dollars in a pre-seed round, showcases a model of early-stage investments targeting brand and commerce development using artificial intelligence.
Conversely, Aramco Ventures’ investment in Finland’s ROTOBOOST reflects the expansion of investment interest into energy transition and low-carbon hydrogen technologies, enhancing the diversity of sectors in which Saudi capital operates.
These moves indicate two parallel investment tracks: participating in global companies with advanced technological capabilities, and supporting startups developing new products and solutions.
Qatar expands cross-border investment through ALPHA10X
The 5 million dollar funding round of France’s ALPHA10X, led by Qatar’s GrowthX Capital, reflects the continued trend of Gulf investors toward European companies specialized in artificial intelligence.
This deal highlights the importance of investing in specialized technological applications, such as predictive artificial intelligence, which relies on data analysis to develop tools supporting decision-making and operational forecasts.
It also confirms that Gulf investments in technology are not restricted to the local market, but extend to building international investment portfolios in advanced sectors.
Oman strengthens its presence in fintech through Mamun
Despite the huge difference in funding sizes compared to artificial intelligence deals, Oman’s Mamun funding round of 3 million dollars represents an important development in the fintech market.
The company aims to develop trade finance and credit scoring solutions, enabling the expansion of financial services tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises.
This reflects ongoing opportunities for fintech companies in Gulf markets, particularly in developing financing tools more closely tied to the needs of commercial enterprises and supply chains.
What do the investments of the first week of November reveal
The week’s deals present a picture of three main trends in Gulf investment:
- Artificial intelligence leads capital allocation: advanced global companies capture the largest share of investment value.
- Gulf funds expand international investments: Saudi Arabia and Qatar strengthen their participation in technology company funding rounds outside the region.
- Local investments focus on specialized solutions: startups in branding, fintech, and energy transition attract funding to support product development and expansion.
Thus, the record figure registered by the investments of the first week of November not only reflects the rise in funding volume, but also reveals a shift in the nature of Gulf capital, moving from investing in local companies to participating more heavily in building the global technology ecosystem.
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