Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) doubled its venture capital fund Oraseya Capital on 11 October 2026 — from AED 500 million to AED 1 billion. The maximum ticket per company rose from USD 3 million to USD 6 million (around AED 22 million), and the fund's mandate now extends beyond Series B. The priority sectors are fintech, artificial intelligence, healthcare and digital commerce.
The expansion was announced by Dubai Media Office. Oraseya Capital is the investment arm of DIEZ, launched in November 2023. According to MAGNiTT, it has been the most active early-stage investor in the UAE by deal count for three consecutive years: in 2024 and in H1 2026 it ranked first in the UAE and second in MENA — both overall and in the early-stage segment. For founders this means a materially bigger lever on the term sheet: one cheque can now cover a full round rather than a slice of pre-seed or Series A.
What changes in the fund's parameters
Two of Oraseya's headline numbers — fund size and the maximum ticket per company — doubled, and the stage mandate was lengthened:
- Fund size: AED 500 million → AED 1 billion.
- Maximum ticket per company: USD 3 million → USD 6 million (~AED 22 million).
- Stages: the prior pre-seed → Series B range is now joined by support beyond Series B — the fund can follow portfolio companies all the way to pre-IPO.
Early rounds remain in scope, but Oraseya is no longer forced to exit at Series B — it can hold and add on through later stages. For founders that creates a second local source of follow-on capital at the most fragile point of the journey: between Series B and an IPO or M&A exit.
Target sectors
The Dubai Media Office release lists Oraseya's priority sectors as fintech, proptech, artificial intelligence, media and advertising, marketing tech, sustainability, healthcare, digital commerce and edtech. The strategic focus inside that list is health and longevity, digital assets within fintech, and AI.
What it means for founders and investors in the UAE
Doubling the capital of a local institutional fund is a rare signal for an early-stage market. For founders who already have a UAE entity, the bigger Oraseya narrows the "local gap" in financing between Series A and Series B, and the new ticket size can close a late-stage round without a mandatory co-investor. For international teams only considering landing in the Emirates, it is one more argument to set up operational presence — the process for registering a company in the UAE is unchanged, but access to local capital is now meaningfully wider.
In parallel, a bigger fund drives demand for senior engineers and management in exactly the niches Oraseya prioritises. The usual route for bringing those hires in from abroad is the Golden Visa for specialists — a 10-year residency without a sponsor that removes the main friction when relocating a team.
Context: portfolio and the DIEZ ecosystem
At the time of the announcement, Oraseya Capital's portfolio stands at 66 active companies, with an average of 25 investments per year. According to Dubai Media Office, annual recurring revenue across the portfolio grew from USD 180 million to USD 387 million, of which USD 140 million is generated inside the UAE. The portfolio's combined capital raised has reached USD 1.1 billion.
DIEZ is the umbrella Dubai authority that groups several thematic free zones, including technology- and e-commerce-focused ones. For start-ups registered in those zones, Oraseya Capital is a native channel for early-stage funding. DIEZ Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said that doubling the fund "reflects our confidence in Dubai's position", and Executive Chairman Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni called the decision a confirmation of "the strength of Oraseya Capital's model".
Primary source: Dubai Media Office press release of 11 October 2026. This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Fund terms, ticket sizes and stages can change — check the current parameters and selection criteria on Oraseya Capital and Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority corporate channels.
