Business

Oraseya Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has been named “Venture Capital Firm of the Year” at the Entrepreneur Middle East Awards 2025, in recognition of its role in advancing Dubai’s innovation ecosystem and supporting high-growth, technology-driven startups.

The award underscores Oraseya Capital’s contribution to strengthening the emirate’s venture landscape in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai as a global hub for the digital economy and advanced technologies.

Over recent years, Oraseya Capital has implemented a differentiated investment model designed to catalyse innovation and accelerate the growth of future-focused industries. Leveraging DIEZ’s specialised economic zones and its dedicated venture platform, the fund provides founders with access to capital, structured capacity-building programmes, and a business-friendly regulatory environment.

While Oraseya Capital invests across the full early-stage spectrum — from pre-Seed to Series B — 2025 marked a particularly active year at the Series A and Series B stages, backing high-growth companies such as Calo and Nymcard as they scale and institutionalise.

During 2025, Oraseya Capital completed 25 new investments, expanding its portfolio to 61 active companies across priority sectors including fintech, logistics, artificial intelligence, PropTech, SaaS platforms, and digital health. These investments contribute to job creation, talent development, and technology commercialisation, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a preferred destination for technology-led expansion.
According to MAGNiTT (2025), Oraseya Capital is the most active venture investor in the UAE, the second most active Series A investor in MENA, and the fourth most active VC overall across the region.

At the earliest stages, Oraseya Capital operates SANDBOX, its programmatic pre-Seed and Seed platform, which provides structured support across governance, commercial readiness, operational planning, and investor engagement. This disciplined approach equips founders with the foundations needed to progress successfully toward Series A and B growth.

Hassan Waheed, Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Treasury at DIEZ and Partner at Oraseya Capital, said:
“Oraseya Capital is a cornerstone of DIEZ’s strategy to support innovative startups and enhance the competitiveness of Dubai’s economic zones. This award highlights the fund’s role in strengthening the emirate’s investment landscape, enabling technology-driven enterprises, and advancing national priorities for diversification and digital transformation.”

He added:
“Being recognised as ‘Venture Capital Firm of the Year’ reflects our disciplined investment strategy, our focus on technology-driven enterprises, and our commitment to empowering high-potential founders. We remain dedicated to accelerating future-focused industries and supporting Dubai’s vision for a diversified, innovation-led economy.”

Oraseya Capital continues to distinguish itself by going beyond traditional venture investment, actively partnering with portfolio companies through hands-on guidance and strategic involvement to ensure sustainable growth and long-term success.

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