DIEZ doubles Oraseya Capital fund to AED 1B

DIEZ doubles the venture capital fund managed by its investment arm, Oraseya Capital, from AED 500 million to AED 1 billion.

The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) announced doubling the venture capital fund managed by its investment arm, Oraseya Capital, from AED 500 million to AED 1 billion.

In a statement, DIEZ said the expansion aims to strengthen Oraseya Capital’s capacity to support companies with global growth potential, while reinforcing its role in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

DIEZ has also increased Oraseya Capital’s maximum investment per company from $3 million to $6 million (equivalent to AED22 million), strengthening its ability to participate in larger funding rounds and support companies at more advanced stages of growth.

Its investment scope will also expand beyond companies directly linked to the UAE to include global companies of strategic relevance to the country, opening access to a broader range of opportunities across international markets.

The expansion will broaden Oraseya Capital’s investments to support entrepreneurs across different stages of their companies’ growth, including beyond Series B funding rounds. This will allow the fund to invest in companies with proven business models and growth potential while continuing to support early-stage startups.

The expansion will help meet the needs of promising companies as they advance through their growth stages. It will also strengthen Oraseya Capital’s role in building the next generation of unicorns, supporting Dubai’s economy and enhancing the emirate’s appeal as a global business hub and a gateway to regional and international markets, the statement said.

The increase in the fund’s size follows the results achieved by Oraseya Capital since its launch in November 2023. Its portfolio currently comprises 66 active companies, with an average of 25 investments annually.

The fund has also completed eight cohorts of its SANDBOX program, providing selected companies with $150,000 in investment, alongside LAUNCHPAD, a six-month program supporting entrepreneurs.

The performance of companies in the Oraseya Capital portfolio highlights the economic impact of its investments. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) across portfolio companies has grown from approximately $180 million at the time of investment to $387 million today, of which $140 million was generated in the UAE.

Companies in the portfolio have raised a combined $1.1 billion, demonstrating their ability to attract further capital and sustain growth. These results underscore the fund’s role in helping technology companies scale, expand into new markets, and compete globally.

Oraseya Capital focuses on high-growth companies led by exceptional founders and teams, targeting large markets. Its portfolio spans fintech, proptech, artificial intelligence, media and advertising, marketing tech, sustainability and healthcare, digital commerce, and edtech.

Oraseya Capital will place a strategic priority on emerging technologies, with a strong focus on companies developing solutions in healthcare and longevity, fintech digital assets, and Artificial Intelligence. This approach aims to support innovations that can transform how people live, work and produce, while helping build leading companies in emerging economic sectors from Dubai.