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# Weekly Roundup: The Middle East tech news and startup deals
- URL: https://www.techloy.com/weekly-roundup-the-middle-east-tech-news-and-startup-deals-3/
- Published: 2022-01-16T20:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2022-04-18T19:18:33.000Z
- Author: Techloy
- Tags: Tech in the Middle East, / Startups, / Money, Roundup

Here are the technology news, startup, and VC deals we tracked across the Middle East region this week.

- Israeli cybersecurity firm **Pentera** (formerly Pcysys) **raised $150 million** in a funding round led by K1 Investment Management, bringing the company's valuation to $1 billion, with plans to expand into new markets including the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.
- Iraq-based food delivery app **Alsaree3**, and its sister company on-demand last-mile delivery platform Al Zajel, have raised a new bridge round totaling **$3.2 million**, led by existing investors including Iraq Tech Ventures and Innovest ME.
- Israeli data analytics startup **Placer**, which provides location-based foot traffic data, has raised a **$100 million** Series C funding round at a $1 billion valuation.
- **Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) raised $206 million in December 2021** across 44 deals, a 27.5% decrease month-on-month, and a 215% increase year-over-year. Saudi Arabia-based startups received the most investment at a total value of $99.5M. \[Wamda\]
- Courier services company **DHL Express has opened an $80 million** **robotic sorting facility** near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, in what seems to be the Middle East's largest robotic sorting centre.
- Saudi Arabia-based social trading platform **Dawul raised $5 million** in a seed round led by RAED Ventures, to expand its network across the Middle East and North Africa region.

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