News

Procural Has Secured $1.2 Million In Seed Investment

The Bahrain-based startup is set to scale and expand the reach of its innovative platform.

Published

3 years ago

March 2, 2023

procural has secured $1.2 million in seed investment

Procural is an AI-driven procurement service that matches B2B vendors and buyers using advanced algorithms and data. The platform offers a cloud-based infrastructure, customizable workflows, automated purchase orders, and real-time budget tracking.

Now, the Bahrain-based startup has secured a seed investment of 1.2 million USD from Flagship Holding and BenchMatrix in a bid to accelerate product development and boost market growth.

“We found a gap in the market and have developed a secure, scalable solution that can be accessed from anywhere. By streamlining the purchasing process, businesses can save time and money while ensuring compliance with their procurement policies. This investment is a validation of our platform’s credibility and potential, and we’re excited to work with Flagship Holding and BenchMatrix to take Procural to the next level,” says Uzair Usman, the chief executive and co-founder of Procural.

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With an extensive suite of data-driven analytical features, Procural helps businesses to manage procurement, track spending, and identify opportunities for cost savings and improvements in process efficiency. The platform helps to digitize the entire procurement process flow, from request to fulfilment, increasing their clients’ sourcing outreach.

With the new funding, Procural will expand its team, improve the platform’s feature set, and accelerate growth, helping the company to become the go-to procurement solution for businesses looking to streamline their workflows.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

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The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.