500 Global and Sanabil Investments have selected eight startups for the latest Sanabil Accelerator, backing AI, fintech, healthtech, and digital infrastructure innovation across MENA.
500 Global, the global multi-stage venture capital firm, and Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have unveiled the 11th cohort of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, selecting eight early-stage startups developing technologies for sectors shaping the future of the MENA economy.
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Running from April 5 to July 1, 2026, the hybrid accelerator supports founders building solutions across artificial intelligence, fintech, payment infrastructure, healthcare diagnostics, fraud prevention, insurance technology, regulatory compliance, and digital content monetisation.
The latest cohort was selected from more than 690 applications, underscoring the increasing depth and competitiveness of the region’s startup ecosystem.
According to the programme organisers, this year’s selection prioritised startups demonstrating strong execution, disciplined operations, clear business fundamentals, and the ability to scale in dynamic market conditions.
In response to ongoing market uncertainty across parts of the Middle East, the accelerator adopted a hybrid structure, with its first two phases delivered entirely online. The format allows founders to access mentorship, investor networks, and operational support while maintaining flexibility as they build their businesses.
Unlike traditional accelerator programmes, Batch 11 focused on practical execution support, with a strong emphasis on AI-enabled businesses and digital infrastructure startups tackling foundational challenges across the region.
“Batch 11 reflects the rising calibre and ambition of founders building from the region today,” said Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA. “We are seeing entrepreneurs develop globally relevant companies with stronger execution, deeper innovation, and clearer paths to scale. We remain committed to empowering these founders with the capital, mentorship, and network needed to accelerate their growth.”
A spokesperson for Sanabil Investments said the latest cohort demonstrates the strength of the region’s next generation of entrepreneurs, particularly those building solutions in sectors critical to long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth.
The spokesperson added that the accelerator remains focused on providing ambitious founders with the institutional support, strategic insight, and market access needed to scale businesses with both regional and global potential.
With Batch 11 concluding in July, applications are open for the next cohort, inviting startups from across the MENA region to join one of the region’s leading early-stage accelerator programmes.
The latest cohort reflects a broader shift in regional venture capital, with investors increasingly backing startups building AI-driven enterprise software, financial infrastructure, and industry-specific technologies that address long-term structural opportunities across the Middle East.
Why 500 Global and Sanabil Partnership Matter to MENA
The latest Sanabil Accelerator cohort reflects where venture capital in MENA is heading. Investors are increasingly prioritising startups building AI infrastructure, fintech, enterprise software, healthtech, and compliance technologies sectors, expected to underpin the region’s next phase of digital growth.
For founders, selection into the accelerator provides more than funding. Access to mentorship, investor networks, and strategic partnerships can significantly improve a startup’s ability to scale across the GCC and beyond. For the wider ecosystem, the programme reinforces
Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a regional startup hub is supported by PIF-backed initiatives that are accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship in line with Vision 2030.
