GCC Tech Scene: What’s Working and What’s Missing

✅ What’s Working

1. Government Support is Real

From Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to the UAE’s digital transformation plans, GCC governments are no longer just regulators — they’re active catalysts. Whether through startup visas, public-private funds, or digital infrastructure, the region is clearly betting big on tech.

In Kuwait, the public sector is catching up, but the hunger for transformation is visible — especially in healthtech, fintech, and logistics.

2. Funding Has Found Its Feet

Gone are the days of pitch decks being met with blank stares. Now, we have active VCs, angel syndicates, and family offices making real tech bets. Yes, many still prefer “safe” models (e-commerce, delivery, marketplaces), but early-stage capital is no longer the bottleneck it once was.

3. Digital Adoption is Sky-High

With one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world, GCC users are tech-ready. From online banking to grocery delivery, user behavior supports innovation. This creates a fertile testing ground for bold ideas — if executed well.

❌ What’s Still Missing

1. Original Products (Not Just Localized Copies)

Too many startups are regional clones of global giants. While that’s a good entry point, we must move beyond replication and create category-defining products that export value out of the GCC. Building for local problems is great — but let’s aim for local products with global standards.

2. Technical Depth in Founding Teams

A lot of startup teams are business-heavy, relying on outsourced development. That’s a short-term fix — but without technical co-founders or in-house engineering culture, it’s hard to build defensible IP or iterate fast enough to win.

3. Open Ecosystems & APIs

We’re still in a fragmented era — especially when it comes to logistics, fintech, and health data. Unlike in the U.S. or Europe, it’s hard to build integrations without friction. Public APIs, standard protocols, and open sandbox environments are sorely needed.

4. Product Culture

Shipping fast, iterating faster, and listening to users is still new for many local teams. Product-led growth isn’t just about features — it’s about mindset. This culture shift needs time, but it must be nurtured intentionally.

💡 What We Can Do

• Invest in talent — not just salaries, but long-term training, mentorship, and technical leadership.

• Open up ecosystems — encourage banks, telcos, and logistics players to create usable APIs and startup sandboxes.

• Celebrate builders — highlight engineers, designers, and product managers — not just founders.

• Think export — GCC tech shouldn’t just serve the region; it should scale beyond it.

👋 Final Thoughts

The GCC tech scene is no longer on the sidelines — it’s a player on the global stage. But to lead, not just follow, we need to rethink how we build. The foundation is strong. The tools are here. Now it’s on us — the builders — to create something meaningful, scalable, and uniquely ours.

Let’s get to work.