Oman-based climate technology company 44.01 has secured strategic investments from Swiss building materials group Holcim and Japanese energy company JERA as it moves towards scaling its carbon mineralisation technology and expanding into international markets. The investment brings two major industrial players into the company’s investor base, strengthening its position in the growing market for permanent carbon storage. Founded in Muscat in 2020 by Talal Hasan, Karan Khimji and Ehab Tasfai, 44.01 was built around a different approach to tackling carbon emissions: turning captured carbon dioxide into rock. The company uses naturally occurring geological processes to convert CO₂ into stable minerals underground, offering an alternative to conventional carbon storage methods. The latest investments build on the company’s earlier fundraising and industrial partnerships. Existing investors, including Air Liquide’s venture capital arm ALIAD and Climate Investment, have also provided additional funding. The investment amounts and equity stakes have not been disclosed. The Founders Behind Oman’s Carbon Mineralisation Startup 44.01 was established by Talal Hasan, Karan Khimji and Ehab Tasfai, who set out to…

Saudi Arabia’s artificial intelligence company HUMAIN has signed financing agreements worth up to SAR 2.5 billion ($667 million) with the National Infrastructure Fund (Infra) to expand the computing and power infrastructure needed for its AI data centres. Announced on November 9, 2026, the agreements cover two facilities: up to SAR 1.1 billion ($293.3 million) for graphics processing units (GPUs), and up to SAR 1.4 billion ($373.3 million) for essential power infrastructure. The agreements were signed in Riyadh on November 8. The financing marks the first transactions under Infra’s AI Data Center Financing Program and represents a step towards building the infrastructure required to support large-scale AI computing in Saudi Arabia. <Cite refs={[“turn702075search1″,”turn702075search2”]}/> Two Financing Facilities to Support AI Infrastructure The first facility, valued at up to SAR 1.1 billion, will support the procurement and deployment of GPUs representing approximately 25 megawatts (MW) of IT load. GPUs are specialised processors used to train and run AI models, making them a central component of modern AI infrastructure. The second facility, worth up…

From a digital wedding RSVP idea to a platform that has powered more than 3,500 events, the Malaysian entrepreneur has spent 16 years building technology around the real needs of event organisers. An event may last a day, a weekend or perhaps a week. But behind those few days are months of planning, hundreds of decisions and countless details that need to come together at exactly the right time. For organisers, even a small failure in registration, check-in or communication can affect the entire experience. Yusno Yunos understood the power of technology long before he entered the event industry. His early career took him from Carnegie Mellon University to large-scale technology projects at Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Yet the idea that eventually became Evenesis did not come from a corporate assignment or a market research report. It came from organising his own wedding. Sixteen years after establishing the company, Yunos has built an event technology business that has powered more than 3,500 events, served over five million attendees and supported…

Saudi Arabia-based Persona, a venture studio focused on building consumer brands around creators and digital communities, has raised $630,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Upturn. The investment will support the expansion of its existing brand portfolio, the development of a live commerce platform and its growth across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. Founded by Adel El-Masri, Persona works with content creators, influencers, fan communities and media intellectual property (IP) owners to turn established audiences into consumer businesses. Rather than simply helping creators promote products, the company partners with them to develop and co-own brands, while managing the operational work required to bring those products to market. The company currently operates eight brands across food and beverage (F&B), fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), beauty, retail and lifestyle. With the new investment, Persona plans to expand these businesses and bring more creators and community owners into its venture studio model. <Cite refs={[“turn230455search1″,”turn230455search4”]}/> Persona’s $630,000 Pre-Seed Round Led by Upturn The $630,000 round was led by Upturn, a venture builder focused on…

Saudi Arabia’s artificial intelligence company HUMAIN has brought Riyadh-based technology firm CNTXT into its operations, adding enterprise AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data capabilities as it expands its ambition to build a global AI ecosystem. Developing an advanced artificial intelligence model is only one part of building a successful AI business. For large organisations, the bigger challenge often comes later: integrating that technology into existing systems, protecting sensitive information, managing data and making AI work reliably across everyday business operations. Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN is taking a significant step towards addressing that challenge by bringing another technology company into its growing ecosystem. On November 3, 2026, HUMAIN announced that Riyadh-based CNTXT had joined its platform. The transaction brings CNTXT’s technology solutions, workforce, enterprise expertise and established customer relationships into HUMAIN, strengthening its ability to deliver AI solutions to businesses and government organisations. The financial terms and ownership structure of the transaction have not been disclosed. From AI Infrastructure to Real-World Enterprise Solutions Launched in May 2025, HUMAIN is a Public Investment…

For many startup founders, legal advice becomes a priority only when something goes wrong. A disagreement between co-founders, an investor reviewing company documents, or an intellectual property dispute can suddenly turn legal matters into urgent business challenges. Jordanian lawyer Omar Taweel believes founders should approach things differently. Legal thinking, in his view, should be part of building a business from the beginning, not something brought in only when a problem appears. His professional journey has been shaped by an interest in understanding how things work, questioning established practices, and helping people find the confidence to speak. Over the years, this approach has taken him beyond traditional legal practice and into the world of entrepreneurship, technology communities, and startup development. As a co-founder of Taweel Law, established in 2006 with his sister, Omar has built a legal practice that works with established companies as well as entrepreneurs developing new products, services, and business models. His work has also connected him with startup communities and business activity across several markets. But his…

A doctor’s work does not end when a patient leaves the consultation room. There are medical records to review, clinical notes to complete, research to conduct, prescriptions to prepare and letters to write. For many healthcare professionals, these responsibilities take up hours that could otherwise be spent with patients. Dr Zaid Al-Fagih experienced this reality firsthand while working as a doctor in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Today, he is using that experience to build Rhazes, a clinical artificial intelligence platform designed to help doctors manage more of their daily work. His journey into healthcare technology was shaped by two very different environments. One was the highly developed British healthcare system, where he trained and practised medicine. The other was his humanitarian work during the Syrian conflict, where he volunteered as a first responder and first-aid trainer in settings with limited resources and access to medical expertise. Together, these experiences led him to a question that would eventually become the foundation of Rhazes: how much more could a doctor…

Founded by Taoufik El Jamali, Amine Chouki and Omar Al Shoubaki, the advertising technology startup is expanding into the US and Europe after reporting more than fivefold revenue growth. A business can spend thousands of dollars advertising on Google, Meta and TikTok, attract potential customers and generate sales. But there is a problem: advertising platforms do not always receive accurate information about which customers actually make a purchase. When tracking systems fail, browser restrictions block data or offline sales remain disconnected from online campaigns, advertising algorithms lose valuable information. This makes it harder for businesses to understand what is working and where their marketing budgets should go. San Francisco-headquartered startup Journify is building technology to address this problem. The company has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round at four times its previous valuation, marking another major milestone in its expansion. The round was led by Al Mada Ventures and co-led by existing investor Silicon Badia. Existing investors Shorooq and Bunat Ventures also increased their investments, while Du…