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Navigating the AI Revolution: Strategic Investments in MENA

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 24, 2025

Emergence of AI as a Boardroom Priority

In recent years, artificial intelligence has transcended buzzword status to become a strategic focus for investors and startups across the Middle East and North Africa. With AI venture funding reaching $224 million in 2024—a 66% year-over-year increase that now accounts for 12% of all VC dollars—the region is witnessing a dramatic shift in how technology is leveraged for growth.

Early-Stage Trends And Investment Challenges

Muhammad Zeeshan Hassan, Chief Investment Officer at Wa’ed Ventures, notes that before ChatGPT captured public attention, the regional landscape was fragmented. Today, nearly one in three startups in the investment pipeline identifies as an AI company. Although this surge in interest bodes well for fundraising potential, it also poses a challenge for investors striving to discern genuinely innovative ventures from those riding the hype wave.

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Despite this promising momentum, the MENA region still faces a scarcity of later-stage AI companies. The majority of deals—93% between 2022 and 2024—occur at the seed stage due to limited funding capacity. As investors have expressed, while there is a clear appetite for established AI models, capital constraints force a focus on early-stage opportunities, particularly in sectors like fintech where differentiation is key in a saturated market.

Bridging The Technical Knowledge Gap

A notable challenge in the region is the technical illiteracy among many venture capitalists. Unlike investors in Silicon Valley, who often have deep technical expertise or entrepreneurial experience, many MENA funds maintain a generalist approach. This mismatch in evaluating AI innovations can lead to missed opportunities and suboptimal capital deployment. To counter this, Wa’ed Ventures, backed by Aramco, has assembled a panel of global AI experts, ensuring that investments are guided by a robust technical understanding.

Localizing Innovation For Long-Term Impact

The strategic launch of a $100 million AI fund by Wa’ed in 2023 underscores the importance of localizing core technological capabilities within Saudi Arabia. Investments in companies such as chipmaker Rebellions, the compute platform aiXplain, and regional innovators like Elevatus and Intella demonstrate a commitment to building sustainable infrastructure far beyond mere application. As Hassan articulates, the focus is on foundational enablers—compute power, chip technology, and agentic platforms—that will drive enduring value in the region.

A Cautious But Visionary Outlook

While the current landscape is marked by robust enthusiasm, industry leaders remain pragmatic. Founders are urged to align valuation expectations realistically, especially in an environment distinct from Silicon Valley’s high-octane ecosystem. Encouragingly, regional policymakers have shown positive engagement, and initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, along with partnerships involving global chipmakers such as NVIDIA and AMD, signal a forward-looking commitment to overcoming talent and infrastructure challenges.

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Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 16, 2026

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

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Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.