Cairo from above, as seen from Cairo Tower in the city's Zamalek district. Founded in Cairo, ArabyAds which is now headquartered in the UAE, has tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. Getty Images
Cairo from above, as seen from Cairo Tower in the city's Zamalek district. Founded in Cairo, ArabyAds which is now headquartered in the UAE, has tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. Getty Images
Cairo from above, as seen from Cairo Tower in the city's Zamalek district. Founded in Cairo, ArabyAds which is now headquartered in the UAE, has tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. Getty Images
Cairo from above, as seen from Cairo Tower in the city's Zamalek district. Founded in Cairo, ArabyAds which is now headquartered in the UAE, has tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan. Getty Imag

Egypt's start-up ArabyAds raises $30m to expand into new markets


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

Egyptian AdTech start-up ArabyAds has raised $30 million from its latest funding round as it seeks to expand into new markets regionally and internationally.

ArabyAds' pre-Series B funding came from AfricInvest, a pan-African investment firm managing alternative asset classes including private equity, venture capital and private credit, the investor said in a statement on Tuesday.

The AdTech company will use the proceeds to expand its footprint into new markets in north and Sub-Saharan Africa, further invest in its tech and hire more people to boost growth.

"Our fundamentals are strong, and as one of the fastest and profitably-growing companies in the Mena region, ArabyAds is now looking to expand its presence in newer markets where it can leverage its scalable, secure, and end-to-end platforms to help e-commerce businesses scale effortlessly across the globe," Mahmoud Fathy, chief executive and co-founder of ArabyAds, said.

Founded in October 2013 in Cairo, with headquarters in the UAE and tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan, ArabyAds specialises in digital advertising. The company, which employs 300 people, opened its business headquarters in Dubai in 2016, according to its website.

In 2019 it secured $6.5m in Series A funding from EQ2 Ventures, the investment arm of Choueiri Group. In 2020, it acquired Dubai's AdFalcon and in 2021 it purchased influencer marketing platform Dmenta.

The number of e-commerce transactions powered by ArabyAds' platforms so far in 2022 reached nearly 9.6 million, while these transactions totalled 12,355,414 in the full year of 2021, according to its website.

“This funding round enables us to increase the pace of our international expansion, providing ArabyAds an opportunity to further deliver meaningful technology solutions to e-commerce companies globally," Gulrez Alam, chief investment and strategy officer at ArabyAds, said.

The deal is the eighth investment for AfricInvest’s Maghreb Private Equity Fund IV, which provides growth capital to small and mid-cap companies to expand regionally and across the African continent, with the aim of spurring productivity growth and sustainable job creation.

AfricInvest has raised $1.9 billion across 21 funds, according to its website.

AfricInvest has invested in more than 170 companies in 25 African countries in key growth industries, including financial services, agribusiness, consumer, retail, education and healthcare.

Ad spending in the digital advertising market is projected to reach $616bn in 2022, up from $537bn in 2021, according to Statista.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

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2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

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Torque: 175Nm

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IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)

Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)

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Transmission: eight-speed automatic

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MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

Updated: August 23, 2022, 8:46 AM`