In brief: ‘Muslim TripAdvisor’ merges with UAE travel booking site, banks $16m

Dubai-based HolidayMe on Wednesday announced that it is merging with Malaysia-based startup Tripfez to form one of the world’s largest Muslim-focused online travel agencies. The newly merged entity has also raised US$16 million in a series C funding round led by Kuala Lumpur-based VC firm Gobi Partners.

Source: DealStreetAsia

Selangor-based Tripfez provides sharia-compliant holiday bookings and tips, with the BBC describing it as “TripAdvisor focussing on serving the global Muslim traveller.”

It previously raised US$750,000 seed funding from Gobi Partners, Malaysia’s Intres Capital, and Qunar co-founder Douglas Khoo.

Other investors in this latest round included India-based Accel Partners, UAE-based Global Ventures, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, and Lebanon-based B&Y Venture Partners.