Women-led Gulf Businesses Outpace Capital

The startup sector in the Middle East and North Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with the number of unicorn companies reaching 33 and attracting $1.7 billion in venture capital funding during the first half of 2026. There is a greater focus on companies founded by men, which received $1.6 billion, compared to only $2.5 million for women-founded companies—a figure that accounts for approximately 0.14% of the total funding. The funding gap remains wide, as female-led companies account for less than 4% of equity transactions in the Gulf region, despite 51% of small businesses in the area being owned by women. The decline in funding for women-owned companies is attributed to limited investor diversity and insufficient participation in capital allocation decisions, with female entrepreneurs relying more heavily on self-funding. Experts emphasize the need to broaden the investor base and increase their engagement to foster greater growth in women-led companies capable of expansion, especially as the number of women establishing businesses in the region continues to rise.

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