News

Revibe Has Raised $2.3 Million For Planned MENA Expansion

The Dubai-based online marketplace for refurbished electronics plans to expand across the region while contributing to the circular economy.

Published

3 years ago

July 10, 2023

Nour Nasir

Revibe

Dubai-based startup Revibe has raised $2.3 million in a seed funding round that will allow it to expand its product portfolio across the MENA region, while enhancing the refurbished electronics platform’s contribution to the circular economy.

The investment was led by Egypt’s Flat6Labs and French-based venture capital fund Resonance, plus several other angel investors. Revibe, which primarily sells refurbished smartphones, laptops, and tablets, will now be able to scale its supply chain and diversify its portfolio to include other categories of electronics later this year.

The company was able to grow 500% within seven months across the Gulf countries, with a particular focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“Our success has come from always meeting our pledge to customers. But we are expanding all the time, and our goal is to gradually introduce all categories of electronics,” explained Hamza Iraqui, co-founder of Revibe.

Revibe’s strategy aligns with the concept of the circular economy — an economic system that focuses on reducing the use of new natural resources and minimizing waste.

Also Read: Dubai-Based Startup Alfii Raises $2.5 Million In Seed Funding

“Refurbished electronics represents a massive opportunity, especially in this time of economic challenges and growing climate awareness, where consumers are more mindful of their carbon impact while facing decreased purchasing power,” noted Maxime Le Dantec, partner and co-founder at Resonance.

Revibe was founded in 2022 and uses a business-to-consumer selling model that offers refurbished electronics at 30-70% less than brand-new items. The company’s team of engineers makes a 50-point check on all products listed on the marketplace and uses artificial intelligence to monitor quality and meet its strict selling standards.

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.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

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.