article author: Arab News Author: Sun, 2026-06-28 16: 13 RIYADH: Private debt has overtaken venture capital as the dominant source of startup funding in the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia accounting for the vast majority of the GCC’s $4. 1 billion in structured credit deployment in 2025, according to an industry report. Data released by Stride Ventures showed that private debt, including venture debt and growth credit, expanded more than eightfold from around $500 million in 2024, underscoring a rapid shift in how high-growth companies across the region are financing expansion. Main category: Business & Economy Tags: GCC debt startups Financing



