- The World Economic Forum and the Bahrain Economic Development Board are presenting the 100 most exciting start-ups of the Arab World.
- The start-ups have been selected out of almost 400 applications and are representing 17 countries and sectors such as education, energy, environment, finance, health, media and mobility
- The entrepreneurs will benefit from a tailored programme with industry and government leaders to discuss the future of their industries at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, on 6-7 April at the Dead Sea, Jordan
For the full list of the 100 Arab start-ups, visit wef.ch/100arabstartups19

Dead Sea, Jordan, 1 April 2019 – The World Economic Forum and the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) have
selected the 100 most promising Arab start-ups of 2019. This initiative aims to
further integrate the Arab world’s most promising start-up entrepreneurs into a
national and regional dialogue on pressing challenges. Selected entrepreneurs
will participate in the official programme of the upcoming World Economic Forum
on the Middle East and North Africa where they will engage with industry and
government leaders to discuss the future of their industries and how to add
value to society.
“The Arab world will need its private sector to address youth unemployment, the
current skills gap for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the inclusion of
women in the workforce. Start-ups, and the entrepreneurs building them, are key
to a strategic public-private dialogue on these issues and to creating
corresponding new opportunities in society,” said Mirek Dusek, Deputy Head of
the Centre for Geopolitical and Regional Affairs, Member of the Executive
Committee, World Economic Forum.
Among the selected start-ups are: the world’s first halal investment platform
(Wahed, UAE); a biotech company that uses camel milk to develop antibodies
(MonoJo, Jordan); a company that uses augmented reality for surgeons to
contribute remotely to clinical procedures (Proximie, Lebanon); an app
that reinvents public transport with fixed fares and booking (Swvl,
Egypt); a platform to meet fellow football players and book pitches (Malaem,
Bahrain); a production company shaping its country’s cultural landscape
(Akkasa, Oman); a bracelet that detects epilepsy seizures and sends alerts to
care-givers (Epilert, Tunisia); the first coding booth camps for the Arab world
(Coded, Kuwait); an app for civic engagement (Clean City M3kod, Morocco); and a
company conducting a range of mapping including that of cultural heritage sites
with autonomous drones (FalconViz, Saudi Arabia).
“Across the Middle East, entrepreneurs are devising increasingly innovative
ways to tackle the evolving societal challenges of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution with novel applications of technology. These efforts need to be
encouraged, recognized and supported by investors, business leaders and
policy-makers. The 100 Arab start-ups initiative is not just a platform for
recognizing promise but a way to bring great minds together to discuss the
limitless possibilities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the next
breakthroughs that the regional ecosystem can deliver. The Bahrain Economic
Development Board (EDB) is proud to partner with the World Economic Forum on
the search for the 100 Arab start-ups shaping the future,” said Khalid Al
Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the EDB.
The initiative welcomed back start-ups selected in 2017, including: Elves
(Egypt), an AI concierge service; Daraty (Syria), a toolkit for children to
learn electronics; and Careem (UAE), the Arab world’s first unicorn company
recently sold for $3.1 billion.
With a 31% increase in investments compared to 2017, a new record was reached
for regional start-up funding last year, according to data from
Magnitt, a company twice selected among the 100 Arab start-ups initiative.
Foreign investment remained stable in 2018 with 30% from outside the Arab
world, while fintech took over e-commerce as the top industry as a result of an
8% increase in deals since 2017.
Selection committee
A selection committee of experts on the start-ups ecosystem in the region
worked with the World Economic Forum and the EDB to screen and select the 100
start-ups.
- Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Saudi Technology Ventures (STV)
- Ahmed El Alfi, Founder and Chairman, Sawari Ventures
- Amir Farha, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Beco Capital
- Areije Al Shakar, Director and Fund Manager, Al Waha Venture Capital Fund; Senior Vice-President, Bahrain Development Bank
- Hala Fadel, Founder and Managing Partner, Leap Ventures
- Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner, Wamda Capital
- Mirek Dusek, Deputy Head of the Centre for Geopolitical and Regional Affairs, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum
About the meeting
With the full support and presence of Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the meeting will convene over 1,000 key leaders from government, business and civil society, as well as leaders from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the Levant and North Africa, and key international stakeholders from East Africa, Europe and the United States. Building on the Forum’s Annual Meeting in January in Davos-Klosters and its theme of Globalization 4.0, the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa will take place under the theme, Building Platforms of Cooperation.
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).