A weekly round up of the top headlines from the digital sector in MENA, covering startups, corporate and the public sector.

Investments & Acquisitions

Odiggo, Cairo based spare parts marketplace, raises $180k seed from angel investor http://bit.ly/2PVyUtE 

eMushrif, Oman based smart school bus solution, raises $1M from Phaze Ventures, Oman Technology Fund’s Wadi Accelerator, Sparklabs Energy, Myrad Holding, Bahrain’s Dividend Gate Capital, and angel investors http://bit.ly/2VkdD2t 

Kitab Sawti, Arabic audibook platform, raises $6M Series A from Bonnier Ventures, Paltel Group, Kaaf Investments, Northzone, and individual investors http://bit.ly/2Vgk1rv 

ArqamFC, Cairo-based sports data startup, gets acquired by UK’s StatsBomb for undisclosed amount http://bit.ly/2J9SmlD

PwC Middle East acquires Teambase Consulting, UAE based Data Analytics Consulting firm http://bit.ly/2V3DxT8 

Checkout.com, global payment gateway, raises $230m in record European Series A led by Insight Partners and DST Global http://bit.ly/2H3gnbT (Checkout founder and many leaders are Dubai based, they also have a strong foothold in the city)

Sector News

Lebanon gets it’s own Fintech focused hub: StartechEUS FinHub http://bit.ly/2vGgrrm 

Google Assistant launched in Saudi Arabia, Egypt http://bit.ly/2V3Uayh (support for Arabic language was released earlier)

Wahed becomes the first globally-accessible halal robo-advisor, 130 countries http://bit.ly/2VOpmGe

SoftBank considers IPO of $100B Vision Fund https://reut.rs/2PNQkIu

Aramex signed over 1,000 Saudi nationals onto crowd-based delivery fleet http://bit.ly/2V1BqPZ

BookMyShow, Indian entertainment ticketing platform, announced 5 year strategic partnership with Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena http://bit.ly/302vJF2 

Dubai Future Foundation signed an agreement with Dubai Development Authority and TECOM Group Dubai to allow startups in AREA 2071 (DFF) to setup license through the in5 platform (by TECOM) http://bit.ly/2YiWFyJ 

Further Readings

Tristar Group, Dubai based logistics company, plans for IPO and booked Bank of America and Citigroup for the process http://bit.ly/2J4lxqe

Gulf Capital and Waha Capital hold merger talks http://bit.ly/2VnQX1h

Saudi launches “Special Residency” program “ الإقامة المميزة” which includes: extended and permanent residency visas for non-citizens in the Kingdom http://bit.ly/2YlSWQZ

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