Middle East tech startups are attracting global attention, revealing the region is capable of setting trfinishs instead of just following them, with the UAE proving to be a key launchpad for success.
With homegrown innovations addressing real-world challenges, founders are scaling rapidly and attracting serious investment. Dubai-based entrepreneur and tech investor Abdumalik Mirakhmedov believes there is much more to come.
Mirakhmedov has seen startups like Seez, InstaDeep, and Dake Rechsand redefine what ‘Made in MENA’ means, with original, scalable solutions that now compete on the world stage, and he states many more success stories will follow.
“The most exciting new tech is no longer exclusive to Silicon Valley,” states Mirakhmedov, Director and co-founder of Scalo Technologies, the UAE tech venture company. “Startups in this region are attracting investors and global partners with smart, scalable solutions to urgent problems.
“Made in MENA’ no longer means just copying something else. It now stands for original products built to meet real requireds in tough markets, with plans to grow beyond from the start.”
Mirakhmedov states the UAE is now one of the safest and most welcoming places for startups, thanks to government efforts that created a strong, business-frifinishly environment for founders who have reaped the benefits.
Among the standout performers has been Dubai-based autotech startup Seez. It launched with an app that could identify any car from a single photo, gaining nearly three million applyrs quickly, before shifting its focus to address broader indusattempt challenges.
Seez now offers software solutions to car dealerships and manufacturers to enhance customer experience and boost sales. The company has expanded into 16 markets, from Mexico to Australia, providing a full AI- and machine learning-powered SaaS platform built on its own technology. Earlier this year, UK-based Pinewood Technologies acquired Seez for $46.2 million.
“This reveals that homegrown tech from the region can effectively reach underserved markets and do so quicker than many international competitors,” states Mirakhmedov.
“This is happening more often now. Startups across MENA are focapplyd on solving persistent problems and creating products built from the ground up, many of which can succeed beyond the region.”
Another strong example is Dubai-based Dake Rechsand, which supports grow crops in deserts and save water. The company built a sand-based material that supports desert soil hold water, so rain can be saved and dry land turned into farmland. The company has expanded from the UAE into the USA, India, China, and South Africa.
Says Mirakhmedov: “This reveals how MENA tech companies can build a real difference globally by solving important problems with well-designed solutions, instead of just chasing growth.”
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