Saudi Arabia-based BirdEye has secured SAR 2.2 million (US$586,000) in a pre-seed funding round from a private tech-focused fund, according to a company statement.

The startup, founded in November 2024 by Abdullah bin Omairah and Abdulrahman Al Hassan, is based in Riyadh.

BirdEye plans to use the funds to expand its retail digital platform within Saudi Arabia.

The company also intends to hire local talent in software development, sales, marketing, and user experience design.

🔗 Source: Mubasher Info

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Saudi retail tech startups ride a growing digital transformation wave

BirdEye’s funding comes amid a significant surge in Saudi Arabia’s digital retail landscape, with registered e-commerce businesses reaching 40,953 in 2025, marking a 10% year-on-year increase 1.

This growth aligns with Vision 2030’s goals to enhance the digital economy and increase e-commerce’s share in retail, with projections suggesting the fashion e-commerce sector alone will exceed $3 billion by 2028 2.

The broader Saudi startup ecosystem is gaining momentum, ranking 38th globally and 3rd in the Middle East, with funding across sectors reaching $94 million in November 2024, an 88% increase from the previous month 3.

BirdEye’s focus on operational efficiency tools for retailers addresses a critical need, as PwC research shows 68% of Middle Eastern retail CEOs are prioritizing operational improvements to enhance profitability 4.

The investment signals growing confidence in retail technology solutions that can help traditional retailers adapt to changing consumer behaviors, particularly as Saudi Arabia aims to increase the modern trade and e-commerce contribution to 80% by 2030 5.

2️⃣ SME digitalization emerges as a key pillar of Vision 2030 economic diversification

BirdEye’s mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises with technology directly supports a central Vision 2030 objective, as SMEs currently contribute only 20% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP—a figure the government plans to significantly increase through regulatory reforms and improved funding access 5.

The pre-seed funding of SAR 2.2 million ($586,000) represents a relatively modest but strategic investment compared to the average funding of $24.2 million per company among Saudi Arabia’s top 25 startups, highlighting the focus on early-stage retail innovation 6.

Vision 2030’s emphasis on digital infrastructure development, including the target of 90% high-speed broadband coverage in urban areas, provides the foundation needed for retail tech solutions like BirdEye to scale effectively 5.