News

Toothpick Is Aiming To Digitize Dentalcare In The UAE & Beyond

The Dubai-based dental health startup has ambitious plans to revolutionize the way we approach oral health.

Published

4 years ago

January 31, 2023

toothpick is aiming to digitize dentalcare in the uae and beyond

Last year, the global dental market’s value was estimated at nearly $40 billion. Despite being immensely profitable, the sector remains decidedly old-school in its approach to digitization and cloud-based solutions. For that reason, startups have enormous potential to help dentalcare providers streamline their operations and patient journeys while enhancing supply chains.

One of those startups, known as Toothpick, is a homegrown, UAE-based venture that allows dentists to find products and services in their local marketplace and matches them to various financial solutions.

Toothpick is another success story from AREA 2071, the government-funded startup accelerator helping Dubai become a leading player in the world’s interconnected digital economy. The startup is the first healthtech innovator globally to attempt to digitalize the dental industry and has acquired over 50,000 subscribers, 390 local suppliers, and sold nearly 70,000 products.

Although founded and based in Dubai, Toothpick has expanded its services into Egypt, Lebanon, and Qatar while recently signing agreements for the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti markets. The company’s next target regions are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and, if successful, the lucrative Asian and American markets.

Also Read: How To Find The Best Remote Work Opportunities In The Middle East

“We were inspired by the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to aim as high as possible. Being immersed in the spirit of Emirates Towers and seeing the motivational quotes from the UAE’s leadership on a daily basis instilled confidence. We have attempted to integrate the UAE’s approach to problem-solving into our thinking and company structure, which has led us to achieve some significant milestones and will propel us to further success,” says Sary Azakir, Managing Partner of Toothpick.

As part of Toothpick’s pre-seed funding round, the company raised $2.8 million and is set to generate over $15 million during its Series A Round.

Related Topics:HealthTech Toothpick United Arab Emirates

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NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders

A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2026

Nour Nasir

neopay wants to follow merchants across channels and borders

It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.

The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.

For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.

“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.

Also Read: In Kuwait, Your Surgeon Might Be Operating From Another Country

NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.

The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.