# MENA startup funding rises 108% in third quarter, led by Saudi fintech

_Published Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 12:08 AM EDT · Capital · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![MENA startup funding rises 108% in third quarter, led by Saudi fintech — Primary](https://cdn.wamda.com/feature-images/ba4b3bb7f0bd18d.jpg)

Startups across the Middle East and North Africa raised $1.65 billion through 145 deals in the third quarter of 2026, up 108% from the previous quarter, Wamda and Digital Digest reported. Deal volume rose 39%, but funding remained approximately 63% below the $4.5 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Fintech attracted $1.03 billion across 35 transactions. Saudi companies Barq, Tabby and Lendo accounted for $762.5 million, concentrating the rebound in a few large deals. Debt financing represented $441 million across 10 transactions, or 26.8% of total investment. Female-led startups received $12.7 million through 16 deals, less than 1% of total funding.

## Sources

- [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/10/mena-startup-funding-jumps-165-billion-q3-saudi-arabia-taking-lead)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/4qqSNClYG8J7KH6Lx_nXp5
Published: 2026-10-13T04:08:44.735Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-13T09:31:17.483Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)