Top 10 UAE Startups to Watch in 2025: Disruptors Across Fintech, Gaming, and Real Estate

Friday, 25 July 2025

The UAE continues to establish itself as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. With strong government support, access to funding, and a strategic location, the Emirates—especially Dubai—have become fertile ground for startups revolutionizing industries from fintech to gaming.

As we move into 2025, here are 10 promising UAE-based startups making waves and set to shape the future of their respective sectors.

Table of Contents

• Bayzat – Reshaping HR and Insurance Tech
• Fenix Games – Gamers as Stakeholders
• Flare Network – Expanding Blockchain Utility
• Huspy – Fintech Meets Real Estate
• Nümi – The Future of Metaverse Gaming
• Qashio – Revolutionizing Corporate Spend
• Tarabut Gateway – Open Banking Powerhouse
• Tabby – Buy Now, Pay Later Leader
• YallaMarket – Grocery Delivery in 15 Minutes
• Zenda – Smarter School Payments
• Frequently asked questions

1. Bayzat – Reshaping HR and Insurance Tech

Bayzat, a pioneering HR and insurance platform, is transforming how businesses manage employee benefits, payroll, and insurance. Trusted by over 1,000 companies, Bayzat streamlines operations and ensures companies go beyond traditional HR services. With over $28M raised and rapid growth, it’s one of the key SaaS startups to watch in the region.

2. Fenix Games – Gamers as Stakeholders

Founded by veterans from Activision and EA, Fenix Games is bridging gaming and blockchain. The startup empowers players to become stakeholders via NFTs, DAOs, and blockchain interoperability. With $150M in funding, Fenix is poised to disrupt the Web3 gaming ecosystem in 2025 and beyond.

3. Flare Network – Expanding Blockchain Utility

Flare Network is making waves in the Layer 1 blockchain space by enabling real-world data integration into decentralized apps. Focused on bridging Web2 and Web3, Flare supports smart contract scalability, data feeds, and more. With $11.3M raised, it’s a rising star in blockchain infrastructure.

4. Huspy – Fintech Meets Real Estate

Huspy is simplifying property buying, selling, and financing in the UAE. By offering mortgage solutions and property listings under one roof, it empowers users to get better home deals. Backed by $37M in funding and a fast-growing user base, Huspy is disrupting the traditional real estate model.

5. Nümi – The Future of Metaverse Gaming

Nümi is redefining virtual experiences by creating an immersive metaverse gaming platform for content creators and gamers. With over $20M raised, its focus on interactive, user-generated entertainment is attracting global attention.

6. Qashio – Revolutionizing Corporate Spend

Qashio is a fintech startup offering virtual and physical corporate cards with advanced spend management tools. Its platform gives companies real-time control over expenses. With $12M raised and clients like Instashop and Kitopi onboard, Qashio is leading the charge in business expense automation.

7. Tarabut Gateway – Open Banking Powerhouse

Tarabut Gateway is the MENA region’s first regulated open banking platform, providing seamless API access to financial institutions. With $58M in funding and robust security features, it enables smart financial services for the future of banking in the UAE.

8. Tabby – Buy Now, Pay Later Leader

Tabby has become a household name in the UAE with its flexible, interest-free BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) model. It allows users to shop online or in-store and split payments over time. With a valuation of $660M and $58M in recent funding, Tabby is one of the region’s fintech unicorns in the making.

9. YallaMarket – Grocery Delivery in 15 Minutes

YallaMarket promises ultra-fast grocery delivery in under 15 minutes. Targeting urban dwellers, the startup’s quick commerce model has caught investor interest, with $2.2M in seed funding. Its hyperlocal approach is reshaping online grocery shopping in the UAE.

10. Zenda – Smarter School Payments

Zenda is transforming how parents manage school fees with flexible payment options and financial tools for education planning. Launched in 2021 and already raising $9.6M, Zenda helps families gain better financial control over school-related expenses.

From fintech disruptors like Tabby and Qashio to gaming innovators like Nümi and Fenix Games, these UAE-based startups are setting the tone for the region’s tech-forward future. As we head into 2025, keep an eye on these companies—they’re not just scaling locally, but also setting benchmarks globally