This article examines the rise and global potential of Arab startups, defining them as innovative and agile enterprises designed to address unmet needs through scalable business models. Unlike traditional businesses, startups prioritize rapid growth, technological innovation, and external funding. The study highlights the critical role these startups play in driving innovation, generating employment, and bolstering economic growth. Success stories such as Aramex, Careem, and Souq.com demonstrate how strategic investments, technology integration, and an understanding of local markets can propel Arab startups to global prominence. The article also explores the challenges facing Arab startups, including regulatory barriers, financial constraints, and market dynamics. Looking forward, the future of Arab startups appears promising, driven by digital transformation, a tech-savvy youth demographic, and supportive government policies. Building a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem will be crucial for fostering innovation, promoting sustainable development, and diversifying the region's economy
Admin. (2017, December 12). Entrepreneurship and startup. Phantran.net. Retrieved from https://phantran.net/entrepreneurship-and-startup/
Admin. (2019, August 3). Startup: Definition and potential evaluation. Phantran.net. Retrieved from https://phantran.net/what-is-a-startup/
Alshaar, A. M. K. (2023). Exploring the digital landscape: Opportunities, challenges, and strategies in digital entrepreneurship. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 27(4), 1–14.
Altibbi. (2024). About. OurCrowd. Retrieved from https://www.ourcrowd.com/startup/altibbi
Bahoshy, P. (2019). The start-up ecosystem in the Arab world 2019. MAGNiTT. Retrieved from https://magnitt.com/research/startup-ecosystem-arab-world
Banerjee, A. (2023). Amazon’s acquisition of Souq.com: Synergies in the GCC region. NeilsonJournals Publishing.
?irjevskis, A. (2023). Predicting explicit and valuing tacit synergies of high-tech-based transactions: Amazon.com’s acquisition of Dubai-based Souq.com. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 16(2), Article 123. https://doi.org/[insert DOI if available]
Dubai Chamber Digital. (2024). Startup Dubai Guide: 2024 edition. Retrieved from https://www.dubaichamberdigital.com/en/knowledge-hub
Egyptinnovate. (2019). Instabug: The Egyptian startup improving experience for 1.5 billion users worldwide. EgyptInnovate. Retrieved from https://egyptinnovate.com/en/success-stories/instabug-egyptian-startup-improving-experience-15-billion-users-worldwide
Hamamsy, O., Syed, A.-R., Khoury, L., & Alkasmi, A. J. (2018). Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa: How investors can support and enable growth. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com
Enginsoy, S. (2023, July 5). Analysis of Middle East & Africa startup ecosystems. StartupBlink. Retrieved from https://www.startupblink.com/blog/analysis-of-middle-east-africa-startup-ecosystems/
Fuhrmann, J., & Kryut, B. (2019, November 1). Deal logic: Careem/Uber. WHU Finance Society. Retrieved from https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-whu/files/761/Deal_Logic_Careem_Uber.pdf
Gad, N. (2024). Naif Al Rajhi Investment acquires strategic stake in Mawdoo3. Sharikat Mubasher. Retrieved from https://en.sharikatmubasher.com/media-hub/news/21452914/naif-alrajhi-investment-acquires-strategic-stake-in-mawdoo3
Hegazi, A. (2018). Startup Arabia: Stories and advice from top tech entrepreneurs in the Arab world. Transformena Publishing.
Livingston, J. (2008). Founders at work: Stories of startups' early days. Apress.
Magalhães, R. P. C. (2019). What is a startup? A scoping review on how the literature defines startup. Católica Porto Business School.
Merani, M. (2017, May 22). JadoPado founder steps down from Noon.com. Zawya. Retrieved from https://www.zawya.com
Mikle, L. (2020). Startups and reasons for their failure. SHS Web of Conferences, 83, Article 01046. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20208301046
Moteria, D. (n.d.). How Talabat works? Talabat business model and revenue channels explained. Elluminati Inc. Retrieved from https://www.elluminatiinc.com/talabat-business-model/
Puri-Mirza, A. (2024). Startups and venture capital in MENA - Statistics & facts. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/4716/start-ups-and-venture-capital-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/
Sayani, M., & Moonesar, I. A. (n.d.). Gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage in the global shipping and logistics industry: The case of Aramex.
Author. (2019). Meet Tamatem: Jordan’s leading mobile game publishing studio. The Startup Scene. Retrieved from https://thestartupscene.me/BehindTheStartup/Meet-Tamatem-Jordan-s-Leading-Mobile-Game-Publishing-Studio
Statista. (2024). Number of tech startups in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2024, by country. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1489755/mena-number-of-tech-startups-by-country/
Tracxn. (2024). Namshi company profile. Tracxn. Retrieved from https://tracxn.com/d/companies/namshi
Venture Staff. (2018). Tamatem: A Jordanian success story. Tamatem. Retrieved from https://tamatem.co/news/tamatem-a-jordanian-success-story/
Wamda. (2024). Naif Al Rajhi Investment buys strategic stake in Jordan’s Mawdoo3. Wamda. Retrieved from https://www.wamda.com/2024/11/naif-al-rajhi-investment-buys-strategic-stake-jordan-mawdoo3
Wamda. (2020). The state of pre-seed startups in MENA. STEP. Retrieved from http://backend.wamda.com/api/v1/downloads/publications/state-pre-seed-startups-mena
Wikipedia. (2022). Instabug. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instabug
Wikipedia. (2024). Careem. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Careem
Alshaar, A. M. K. (2024). From Local to Global: Inspiring Success Stories of Arab Startups. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(12), 2863–2878.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
