Book contents
- Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Vignettes
- Contributors
- 1 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems from Emerging Markets and Their Unicorns: An Overview
- 2 Unicorns from Emerging Economies: A Framework for Analysing Their Genesis and Nature
- 3 Unicorns: From Silicon Valley to a Global Phenomenon?
- 4 Finding the Unicorns: A National Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Approach
- 5 Where Unicorns Are Born: Innovation Hubs in China
- 6 A Supply–Demand Model of Indian Start-Ups and Unicorns
- 7 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Unicorns in Southeast Asia
- 8 Latin American Unicorn Firms: Transcending Entrepreneurial Hubs
- 9 Can the MENA Region Build Its Indigenous Start-Up Unicorns? Analysis of Unicorns and Soonicorns and the Supporting Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
- 10 Nurturing Unicorns and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Africa: Harnessing Policy Innovation for Digital Transformation
- 11 China Private Sector Innovators: Established Disruptors and New Challengers
- 12 Brazilian Unicorns and Their Triggers of Scalability
- 13 A Unicorn under Sanctions: The Case of Yandex
- 14 What Lies Ahead for Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Glossary
- Index
- References
9 - Can the MENA Region Build Its Indigenous Start-Up Unicorns? Analysis of Unicorns and Soonicorns and the Supporting Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2025
Book contents
- Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Vignettes
- Contributors
- 1 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems from Emerging Markets and Their Unicorns: An Overview
- 2 Unicorns from Emerging Economies: A Framework for Analysing Their Genesis and Nature
- 3 Unicorns: From Silicon Valley to a Global Phenomenon?
- 4 Finding the Unicorns: A National Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Approach
- 5 Where Unicorns Are Born: Innovation Hubs in China
- 6 A Supply–Demand Model of Indian Start-Ups and Unicorns
- 7 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Unicorns in Southeast Asia
- 8 Latin American Unicorn Firms: Transcending Entrepreneurial Hubs
- 9 Can the MENA Region Build Its Indigenous Start-Up Unicorns? Analysis of Unicorns and Soonicorns and the Supporting Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
- 10 Nurturing Unicorns and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Africa: Harnessing Policy Innovation for Digital Transformation
- 11 China Private Sector Innovators: Established Disruptors and New Challengers
- 12 Brazilian Unicorns and Their Triggers of Scalability
- 13 A Unicorn under Sanctions: The Case of Yandex
- 14 What Lies Ahead for Unicorns from Emerging Economies
- Glossary
- Index
- References
Summary
Since the late 2000s, the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region has seen an acceleration of growth in technology-based entrepreneurship, particularly in the e-commerce, fintech, logistics and transportation sectors. However, in a region with a combined population of more than 450 million and a GDP of US$3.5 trillion, coupled with unlimited prospects across a diverse portfolio of economic sectors, having only ten unicorns means they remain rare. This chapter shares the historical evolution and profiles of these unicorns and soon-to-be unicorns (soonicorns) in the region as of 2023. The existing supporting ecosystem is analysed in terms of talent, investments, markets, regulations and enablers as well as what needs to change to scale and maximise their impact. The key findings indicate that while the current unicorns are based in only three MENA markets: Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, their scope of operations and reach is regional; unicorns support and build on regional integration and complementarities between markets, talent and investments. Regionalisation is the key enabler for expanding the number of technology-based unicorns in MENA.
Keywords
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- Information
- Unicorns from Emerging EconomiesCreating Value through Technology and Innovation, pp. 245 - 281Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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