Dara Holdings, the family office of Saudi billionaire Lubna Olayan, has stepped up its investments in female-led startups across the UAE, reinforcing its commitment to bridging the gender financing gap in the region’s business landscape. Since mid-2024, the firm has actively directed funding toward empowering women entrepreneurs in traditionally male-dominated industries.
In February 2025, Dara Holdings took part in a $10 million seed funding round for Qeen, a Dubai-based artificial intelligence startup co-founded by former Google executive Dina Alsamhan. This investment is a testament to the firm’s dedication to supporting women-driven enterprises and fostering technological innovation in the Middle East.
Qeen specializes in AI-driven solutions tailored for the e-commerce sector. Its autonomous AI agents handle key business functions, including content creation, marketing, and conversational sales, allowing online retailers to optimize efficiency. The funding round, spearheaded by Prosus Ventures with contributions from Wamda Capital and 10x Founders, has brought Qeen’s total funding to $12 million. The capital will be used to scale the platform and expand its customer reach.
Despite the rise in female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), securing investment remains a major hurdle for women-led startups. In 2023, only 52 out of 583 funded startups in the MENA region were founded by women, with these companies receiving only a small portion of the total capital raised. This disparity underscores the necessity for targeted investments that empower women in business.
Dara Holdings’ investment strategy aligns with a growing movement to support female entrepreneurs who are pioneering innovations across multiple sectors. By backing startups like Qeen, the firm is not only driving technological progress but also promoting gender inclusivity within the startup ecosystem.
The UAE remains at the forefront of startup activity in the MENA region. In 2024, the country led startup investments, attracting $1.1 billion across 207 deals—a 15.4% increase from 2023. While these figures signal strong growth, the share of funding directed toward women-led ventures remains disproportionately low, highlighting the continued need for initiatives like those spearheaded by Dara Holdings.
Lubna Olayan, a key figure in Saudi Arabia’s business community, has long championed women’s economic empowerment. Through Dara Holdings, she leverages her influence and resources to support female entrepreneurs, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic business environment in the region.
