Key Takeaways
- • Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) doubled the size of Oraseya Capital's venture fund from AED500 million to AED1 billion ($272 million), giving the investment arm more capital for later-stage companies.
- • Maximum investment per company rises from $3 million to $6 million, and the mandate now covers companies of strategic relevance to the UAE wherever they are based.
- • Oraseya has 66 active portfolio companies and averages about 25 investments a year, according to DIEZ.
- • DIEZ says Oraseya was the UAE's most active investor by deal count in 2024 and 2025 and retained that position in the first half of 2026, citing MAGNiTT data, ranking second across MENA.
Summary
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) has doubled the size of Oraseya Capital's venture fund to AED1 billion ($272 million), according to the primary report. The expansion gives Oraseya more capital to back companies at later stages of growth and broadens its remit internationally. The maximum investment per company increases from $3 million to $6 million.
The mandate will now cover companies of strategic relevance to the UAE wherever they are based, extending beyond businesses with a direct link to the country. The original remit ran from pre-seed through Series B, targeting companies in Dubai and international businesses seeking to establish operations there. The expanded mandate now includes companies beyond Series B, while Oraseya will continue investing early.
DIEZ launched Oraseya in November 2023 with an AED500 million fund. Oraseya now has 66 active portfolio companies and has averaged around 25 investments a year, according to DIEZ. The authority said the fund ranked as the UAE's most active investor by deal count in 2024 and 2025 and retained that position in the first half of 2026, citing MAGNiTT data. It ranked second across MENA by both overall deal count and early-stage activity in that six-month period.
The SANDBOX accelerator, which began in 2022 before becoming part of Oraseya, targets pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups with a $150,000 investment and five months of support covering fundraising, commercial development and access to investors. The next cohort is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
The mandate will now cover companies of strategic relevance to the UAE wherever they are based, extending beyond businesses with a direct link to the country. The original remit ran from pre-seed through Series B, targeting companies in Dubai and international businesses seeking to establish operations there. The expanded mandate now includes companies beyond Series B, while Oraseya will continue investing early.
DIEZ launched Oraseya in November 2023 with an AED500 million fund. Oraseya now has 66 active portfolio companies and has averaged around 25 investments a year, according to DIEZ. The authority said the fund ranked as the UAE's most active investor by deal count in 2024 and 2025 and retained that position in the first half of 2026, citing MAGNiTT data. It ranked second across MENA by both overall deal count and early-stage activity in that six-month period.
The SANDBOX accelerator, which began in 2022 before becoming part of Oraseya, targets pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups with a $150,000 investment and five months of support covering fundraising, commercial development and access to investors. The next cohort is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
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