MENA Startups Pioneering IoT & Smart Device Solutions

Building smarter cities requires not only smarter infrastructure, but everyday devices that communicate with and learn from each other. Ranging from household appliances to tools of heavy industry, the Internet of Things (IoT) in today’s age encompasses a network of devices outfitted with sensors and software that enable them to go beyond the traditional definition of a machine. Across the Middle East and North Africa, many startups have begun leveraging this concept, either through hardware or software, to bring new kinds of solutions across a range of industries.

From health-tech startups bringing pre-natal care to rural communities to space-bound satellites, here are six startups pioneering IoT and smart device solutions across the MENA region.

FortyGuard (UAE)

Abu Dhabi-born startup FortyGuard is building AI to cool down cities through their smart ‘Urban Cooling’ hardware, and IoT sensors that map micro-climates in extreme heat. Founded by CEO Jay Sadiq in 2020, FortyGuard is part of Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, and was named a UAE Future100 company in 2025 by the country’s Ministry of Economy. On a mission to provide heat relief and stop cities from turning into heat islands in our warming world, FortyGuard also produce wearable modules for outdoor workers to prevent heatstroke by providing real-time haptic alerts for their users.

DeepEcho (Morocco)

On a mission to democratize quality ultrasound for underprivileged women, Morrocan startup DeepEcho developed AI-powered ultrasound devices that allow minimally trained health workers in rural Morocco to perform complex prenatal diagnoses. Founded by Youssef Bouyakhf (CEO) and Dr. Saad Slimani (CMO) in 2020, DeepEcho received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its social mission of improving prenatal care and reducing infant and maternal mortality rate, and has also received support from Microsoft, Nvidia, Plug and Play and Orange.

Nadeera (Lebanon / UAE)

Lebanese startup Nadeera was one of the early pioneers in the IoT space in the Middle East when they launched in 2020, providing smart hardware for waste management as well as IoT-enabled bins and RFID tags that identify recyclables. As a social enterprise, its founders Rabih El Chaar (CEO) and Reem Khattar (COO) were on a mission to utilize technology to help communities recycle more and recycle better. Their smart collection platform, ‘Yalla Return’, enable residents to recycle and receive feedback and rewards for every bag that they drop off, gamifying the experience of cleaning up one’s community.

Kumulus (Tunisia)

Tunisian startup Kumulus is all about making water from air. As a ‘deep-tech’ hardware company, their Kumulus-1 machine (roughly the size of a mini-fridge) produces 20–30 litres of drinking water per day from air humidity. These smart devices are fully connected to the IoT, allowing users and fleet managers monitor water quality, filter life, and production levels via a mobile app.

Founded by Iheb Triki (CEO) and Mohamed Ali Abid (CTO) in 2021, Kumulus closed a $3.5 million seed round backed by Bpifrance and regional VCs in June 2025.

DarbCo (Jordan)

Founded in 2017 by Monther Fadel (CEO) and Amjad Khalil, DarbCo offers fully automated robotics solar panel cleaning solutions. Their autonomous robotic hardware, built specifically for the Middle Eastern desert climate, cleans solar panels without using water, a scarce resource in this climate. Besides improving the efficiency of the solar panels by cleaning them from dust, their technology utilizes IoT connectivity to report on panel efficiency and maintenance needs to a central cloud.

SARsatX (Saudi Arabia)

A university spin-off from KAUST's TAQADAM Accelerator in 2019, SARsatX brings IoT to space in order to monitor Earth and provide satellite data that helps governments and businesses make more informed decisions. SARsatX develops small satellite constellations that provide Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, allowing for real-time IoT monitoring of infrastructure, oil pipelines, and maritime borders regardless of weather or light conditions.

Founded by Amru Alamoudi (CEO), Ahmed Alzubairi (CTO), Muhannad Almutiry (CBO) and Matthew McCabe (CSO), SARsatX secured a $2.6 million seed round in May 2025 in a funding round led by TONOMUS, the cognitive technology arm of NEOM.