Softbank, Sanabil Inject $125 Million in SMEs

Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Softbank, Sanabil Inject $125 Million in SMEs

Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Unifonic said it will continue its growth after the recent investment to expand internationally (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia-based engagement platform Unifonic announced its half a billion Saudi riyal ($125 million) Series B funding round, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sanabil Investments.

Less than three years after raising the largest Series A funding round in the Middle East at the time, Unifonic has quadrupled in size.

Unifonic plans to continue this growth trajectory and will be accelerating product development and hiring to expand into new markets around the globe whilst bolstering its leading market share across the Middle East.

“At Unifonic our mission has always been to empower organizations to engage and communicate seamlessly with their customers," highlighted Ahmed Hamdan, founder and CEO at Unifonic.

"Our team is our anchor and together we aim to continue this journey and serve our clients in the best ways possible.”

Managing Partner for SoftBank Investment Advisers Faisal Rehman said, “Our investment team on the ground in Riyadh has followed Unifonic for some time and we have witnessed first-hand the company’s progress in establishing significant market leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

"We look forward to supporting the Unifonic team in scaling the platform across the Middle East and other emerging markets.”

A spokesperson for Sanabil Investments added: “Unifonic is poised to play a significant role in accelerating digital transformation initiatives for public and private enterprise in the Middle East. And so, we wanted to be a part of their journey, resulting in one of our largest investments in high growth, a high-impact technology company in Saudi Arabia."

"We believe we can play a significant part in strengthening their strategic position and supporting their future international growth while aligning with the country’s vision of fostering innovation.”



Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
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Syria, World Bank Discuss Tools to Support Syrian Economic Recovery

People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
People wait their turn in a queue outside an ATM in Damascus on April 16, 2025. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

Members of the Syrian government and a delegation from the World Bank discussed in Damascus tools to support Syria's economic recovery, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Sources told Reuters on Saturday that Syrian officials are planning to attend the annual spring meetings held by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, D.C. this month, which would be the first such visit in at least two decades.

Syria has around $15 million in arrears to the World Bank which must be paid off before the international financial institution can approve grants and provide other forms of assistance.

But Damascus is short of foreign currency and a previous plan to pay off the debts using assets frozen abroad did not materialize, according to two people familiar with the matter.

A technical delegation from the World Bank met with Syria's Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh on Monday, according to the Syrian state news agency Sana.
The meeting, which was the first public meeting between the Syrian government and the World Bank, included discussions on strengthening financial and economic ties between the two sides.
Bernieh also highlighted the negative effects of the international sanctions imposed on Syria and policies of the former regime on the country's financial and banking sector.