MENA’s startup ecosystem has expanded to 33 unicorns, but women-founded companies continue to receive only a small share of venture capital funding.
Startups in the region raised $1.7B across 242 investment rounds during the first half of the year, according to Wamda data. Women-founded companies secured just $2.5M, or 0.14% of the total. By comparison, companies founded by men raised about $1.6B through 213 deals.
The funding gap persists as more women enter entrepreneurship. The GoDaddy Global Entrepreneurship Survey 2025 found that women owned 51% of the small businesses surveyed in MENA, with 63% established within the past five years.
In Abu Dhabi, authorities issued 3,058 new commercial licences to Emirati women during the first half of 2026, according to the announcement.
Investor diversity may influence access to capital. Founders Forum Group data cited in the report shows that venture firms with at least one female partner are 2.3 times more likely to invest in women-founded companies. That figure rises to 4.7 times when women account for at least 30% of a firm’s partners.
Women angel investors allocate about 35% of their investments to women-founded companies, compared with 13% among male investors. The report also notes that 56% of women entrepreneurs in the UAE operate a side business, often to support financial independence and fund early-stage ideas.
Experts cited by Fortune say governments, sovereign wealth funds and family offices could help broaden the funding base for women-founded startups.
Source: Jawlah
