Singapore-based VC firm Golden Gate Ventures has opened its first Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) office in Saudi Arabia.

The move follows Singapore’s push for greater ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and aims to speed up the development of MENA’s startup ecosystem.

General partner Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani and senior advisor Hussain Abdullah, said to have extensive ties in the region, will oversee the new office.