ShipBee Secures QR855,000 in Pre-Seed Funding Led by GrowthX to Build AI-Powered Logistics Ecosystem
Reading Time: 2 minutesShipBee, the AI-powered digital logistics startup transforming end-to-end delivery services across Qatar and the MENA region, has successfully closed its Pre-Seed funding round, raising QR855,000 from institutional and angel investors. This round was led by GrowthX (Angel VC) and supported by two individual investors, valuing the startup at QR3.57 million. In addition to external funding, ShipBee’s co-founders Tamer Raafat and Amer Azani have bootstrapped the company with over QR150,000, showcasing deep founder commitment to revolutionising logistics with smart technology. “This funding empowers us to scale our vision of simplifying logistics through cutting-edge technology,” said Tamer Raafat, Co-Founder & CEO of ShipBee. “We’re building an AI-driven ecosystem that makes logistics seamless for businesses and consumers across Qatar and the wider MENA region.” Launched in March 2024, ShipBee is building a one-stop digital logistics platform that integrates: ShipBee’s ecosystem enables real-time visibility, smart routing, scalable delivery operations, and seamless B2B and B2C logistics integration. ShipBee has already established major partnerships with industry leaders including Snoonu, Qatar Post, DHL, NEXX (China), and a growing number of local retail and service providers. Recognised for its innovation, ShipBee: This Pre-Seed round will support: Dr. Allan Villegas, a member of the QSTP executive board, has also joined ShipBee’s Board of Directors, further strengthening the company’s strategic direction. “As Qatar positions itself as a global logistics hub aligned with Vision 2030, ShipBee is helping lead that transformation,” said Hamad Al Hajri, CEO of GrowthX and Founder of Snoonu. “We believe in their vision and proudly support this next phase of growth.”
Kingdee expands its footprint into the Middle East, opening Qatar office
Reading Time: 3 minutes25 February 2025, Doha – Qatar: Kingdee International Software Group Company Limited（0268 .HK）announced today the opening of its regional headquarters in Qatar’s Free Zones, marking its official entry into the Middle East market. The establishment of this regional headquarters has been facilitated through the support of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar, Invest Qatar, the investment promotion agency of Qatar and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ). Founded in 1993, Kingdee is a globally renowned enterprise management cloud SaaS company listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Expanding its global presence has been one of Kingdee’s key strategic objectives. In December 2023, Kingdee and QIA announced an agreement in which QIA would invest around $200 million in the company. This investment recognised Kingdee as a category leader and key enabler of enterprise cloud transformation in China. The investment in Kingdee aligns with QIA’s strategic objective to invest in leading companies and technologies in global digitalisation trends. Robert Xu, Chairman and CEO of Kingdee Group stated: “Today marks a pivotal moment in the global expansion plans of Kingdee. Following the investment by QIA in December 2023, we are excited to further strengthen our collaboration with Qatar by opening our first office in the Middle East, in Qatar’s Free Zones. Kingdee plans to leverage Qatar as a bridgehead for expanding our footprint into the Middle East and North Africa markets, drive the digital transformation of local enterprises and supporting Qatar to achieve its “Qatar National Vision 2030. We are excited to collaborate with QIA, Invest Qatar and QFZ to bridge the gap between Kingdee and the Middle Eastern market, supporting Kingdee’s international growth strategy.” Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA stated: “QIA has been an investor in Kingdee since 2023 and recognises the company’s expertise in enterprise digitalization and cloud services in China. We are confident that Kingdee will succeed in their expansion and will bring a valuable offering to the Middle East market.” Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, CEO, Invest Qatar, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Kingdee to Qatar. The establishment of their regional headquarters in Qatar marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to attract leading global technology companies to our region. This collaboration underscores Qatar’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment that supports innovation and digital transformation. We look forward to working closely with Kingdee, the Qatar Investment Authority, and the Qatar Free Zones Authority to drive forward our shared vision of economic growth and technological advancement, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy.” On this strategic move, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani, CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), said: “Kingdee’s decision to establish its regional headquarters in our free zones reaffirms Qatar’s position as a leading hub for digital innovation. This partnership, developed through the joint efforts of Qatar Investment Authority, Invest Qatar, and Qatar Free Zones Authority, reflects our collective drive to achieve Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy — the final wave of the Qatar National Vision 2030. By integrating Kingdee’s expertise into our technology ecosystem, we accelerate digital transformation and strengthen Qatar’s role as a gateway for next-generation solutions to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth.” QFZ will provide Kingdee with a strategically positioned platform to strengthen its regional presence, cultivate high-impact collaborations, and contribute to the evolution of enterprise digitalisation. As a publicly listed company with over 31 years of history, Kingdee has reinforced its product R&D and implementation capabilities through serving more than 7.4 million customers worldwide. Kingdee SaaS solutions are used in 172 countries and regions worldwide, supporting 42 languages and serving over 1000 customers to achieve overseas digital operations. “We are confident in our ability to deliver professional enterprise digital solutions to Qatar and the regional market.” Kingdee, leveraging its industry expertise and the management models of China’s leading enterprises, can provide end-to-end digital solutions encompassing financial management, supply chain optimisation, and production operations to local businesses. This empowers regional enterprises to enhance management efficiency and strengthen competitive capabilities. The establishment of Kingdee Qatar represents a strategic milestone in Kingdee’s commitment to delivering localised services from Qatar’s Free Zones to global clients. Guided by the principle of “think globally, operate locally,” the company will synergize regional business acumen with technological strengths, integrating AI-driven digital technologies and management expertise to provide comprehensive one-stop solutions. This initiative will accelerate the development of the Middle East’s software and internet industries through technological empowerment.
