UAE-Based Holo Bags US$22 Million Series A To Fuel GCC Expansion

UAE-based fintech platform Holo has raised US$22 million in what has been billed one of the GCC’s largest Series A rounds of 2025.

The round was led by Riyadh-based investment firm Impact46, with participation from Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company, Saudi institutional investors Rua Growth Fund, anb seed, and MoreThan Capital, alongside returning backer Oryx Fund, a MENA-focused early-stage investment vehicle managed by Salica Investments and Dubai Future District Fund.  

Launched by Michael Hunter and Arran Summerhill in the UAE in 2020, Holo set out to simplify the homebuying process with digital mortgage solutions built for the region. By combining technology with a human touch, the company streamlines transactions and makes ownership more accessible, with it today operating in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.  

Hunter, the company’s co-founder and CEO, told Inc. Arabia that this Series A round marks a turning point for Holo’s mission. “This milestone is about more than capital—it’s about validation of our vision,” he said. “Closing one of the region’s largest Series A rounds gives us the fuel to accelerate that mission—by doubling down on technology, amplifying our marketing, and expanding into new markets.” 

The investment also reflected strong confidence from noteworthy backers, which Hunter attributed to the company’s vision and proof of execution. “We’ve shown strong traction, a scalable model, and a deep understanding of what this market needs,” Hunter said. “That combination made heavyweight investors believe in where Holo is headed. Being backed by local heavyweights in the venture capital market is proof of this.” 

Armed with the fresh capital, Holo is now aiming to deepen its push into Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, scaling its product and engineering teams, while forging stronger partnerships to meet surging demand for digital homeownership solutions. “Our edge comes from deep local insight paired with global expertise,” Hunter said. “Saudi is undeniably complex, but we approached it with intentionality from day one. Joining the Fintech Saudi accelerator with Flat6 Labs gave us a front-row seat to the market dynamics and helped us build relationships with key stakeholders early on. From there, we made it a priority to be on the ground—living and breathing the homebuying journey in Saudi, rather than trying to serve it remotely. While the core process mirrors global markets, success here hinges on a hyper-local product and team. That local foundation, combined with the scale and tech we’ve built regionally, is what sets Holo apart.” 

Here, Hunter highlighted AI and automation as being integral to removing bottlenecks from the homebuying journey. “Homebuying is traditionally a very manual, fragmented process, and most delays stem from unnecessary human touchpoints,” Hunter said. “That’s where technology steps in—not to replace people, but to remove friction and give consumers speed and transparency. At Holo, we’ve built an AI-driven backbone that works behind the scenes to accelerate transactions and surface real-time data and insights for buyers. This way, customers still feel supported and informed, while the heavy lifting happens seamlessly in the background.” 

For startups looking to follow Holo’s lead in terms of building a successful business, Hunter urged going back to the basics. “In fast-moving emerging markets, it’s tempting to chase growth and headlines, but the fundamentals matter more than anything,” he said. “The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that distribution, licensing, and trust take longer than your financial model predicts—and that’s okay. Spend the early phase obsessing over solving a genuine pain point with a product that works at scale, not just for a niche."

Image courtesy Holo.