Morocco Advances to Fourth Place in Startup Funding in the Middle East and North Africa
The entrepreneurial scene in the Middle East and North Africa is witnessing unprecedented momentum in July 2025, with startups recording 57 funding rounds totaling $783 million. This represents a jump of 1411% compared to the previous month, more than double what was achieved in July 2024.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE Lead, with Morocco Rising
Saudi Arabia topped the regional ranking with $396.5 million spread across 16 startups, followed by the UAE with $359 million through 22 rounds. Iraq secured third place thanks to an exceptional deal for “InstaBank” valued at $15 million. Morocco successfully claimed the fourth position, surpassing Egypt, thanks to a Series A funding round for Ora Technologies amounting to $7.5 million. Egypt fell to fifth place with funding that did not exceed $4 million across seven companies, affected by economic and currency fluctuations.
Ora Technologies: A Catalyst for Morocco’s Rise
The entry of Morocco into the regional big leagues can be attributed to the rise of Ora Technologies, which specializes in last-mile services. Founded by Omar Alami, the company offers solutions that include the meal delivery application “Kooul” and the electronic payment wallet “Ora Cash” to enhance financial inclusion. The company raised $7.5 million in a round led by the Azur Innovation Fund, providing a strong boost and allowing Morocco to make a notable mark on the investment map.
Strong Sector Dynamics
The Deeptech and e-commerce sectors dominated the scene, accounting for over $439 million, or 56% of the total funding. Deeptech took the lead with $250.3 million, advancing for the first time in months, followed by the e-commerce sector, driven by the “Ninja” deal ($250 million). The SaaS sector came in third with $89 million, while the fintech sector (at $61 million) experienced slight deceleration.
Signs of a New Phase
These figures indicate that the third quarter of 2025 is starting with upward momentum, as the funding volume since the beginning of the year has surpassed what was achieved throughout 2024. This reflects the growing strength of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, with emerging markets like Iraq and Morocco joining traditional hubs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
