18. POINTCHECKOUT

Payment gateway for loyalty points Founders: Bashar Saleh and Tarek Ghobar

Funding: $600,000

Investors: 500 startups, Arzan VC, Dubai Angel Investors, Hala VC, Dtec Ventures and Composite Ventures

Country: U.A.E Date of establishment: 2017

PointCheckout allows users to make purchases online with accumulated loyalty points. It has processed over 50 million points worth over $700,000 since its start. Notable customers include Bank al Etihad, Cairo Amman Bank and Umniah Telecom. Saleh previously founded two technology startups and helped raise over $2.2 million. Ghobar has worked in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E. and in the EU.