Shorooq Deepens Doha Roots as Snoonu Founder Backs Its Growth and AI Funds
•February 10, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The dual investment ties a leading Gulf operator to Shorooq’s capital platforms, reinforcing Doha’s emergence as a regional hub for scaling AI‑driven, late‑stage ventures. It highlights growing institutional confidence in GCC tech ecosystems and cross‑border growth potential.
Key Takeaways
- •Shorooq adds Snoonu founder as dual‑strategy investor
- •Late‑stage fund backed by Qatar Investment Authority
- •AI fund supported by Presight‑G42 partnership
- •Investment amount undisclosed, emphasizing strategic alignment
- •Doha positioned as GCC tech scaling hub
Pulse Analysis
Shorooq’s latest move underscores a broader shift in Gulf capital markets toward sector‑agnostic, stage‑spanning funds. By pairing a late‑stage growth vehicle with a global AI fund, the firm taps into two high‑growth trajectories that are attracting sovereign wealth and corporate backers alike. The Qatar Investment Authority’s involvement lends the growth fund deep regional liquidity, while Presight‑G42 brings technical expertise and AI‑centric deal flow, creating a hybrid platform that can nurture startups from seed to scale‑up without fragmenting ownership.
Hamad Al‑Hajri’s participation reflects the rising influence of operator‑investors in the GCC. As the founder of Snoonu, a home‑grown logistics platform, Al‑Hajri brings product instincts, market networks, and a founder’s perspective that complements Shorooq’s institutional discipline. This blend of hands‑on operational insight and capital rigor is designed to accelerate cross‑border platform building, helping Gulf companies achieve the global standards required to compete with Silicon Valley and Asian rivals. The partnership also expands Shorooq’s network of strategic advisors, enriching deal sourcing and portfolio support.
The strategic emphasis on Doha signals the city’s ambition to become the GCC’s tech scaling hub. With sovereign backing, AI expertise, and a growing pool of operator‑investors, Qatar is positioning itself as a launchpad for category‑defining companies that can scale across the Middle East and beyond. This alignment of capital, talent, and ecosystem infrastructure is likely to attract more multinational AI projects and late‑stage exits, reinforcing the region’s trajectory toward a diversified, knowledge‑based economy. Stakeholders should watch how this model influences future fund structures and regional competitiveness.
Shorooq deepens Doha roots as Snoonu founder backs its growth and AI funds
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UAE-based investment firm Shorooq has announced that Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder of Snoonu, will invest across two of the firm’s flagship strategies: its late-stage growth fund and its global AI fund.
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The late-stage growth vehicle is backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, while Shorooq’s AI strategy is supported by Presight–G42.
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The amount of investment remains undisclosed.
Press release:
Shorooq today announced at Web Summit Qatar that Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder of Snoonu, will invest across two of the firm’s flagship strategies: its newly launched late-stage growth fund, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, and its global AI fund, backed by Presight–G42. The commitments underscore a shared conviction that the next generation of category-defining companies will be built at the intersection of ambitious founders, deep institutional capital, and ecosystems capable of scaling technology globally—an advantage increasingly visible across the GCC.
For Shorooq, the partnership marks a deeper alignment with the region’s technology trajectory and a continued investment in building enduring, cross-border platforms from the Gulf. By welcoming Hamad as an investor across both late-stage growth and AI, Shorooq expands its network of operator-investors shaping the region’s digital economy from within, while reinforcing its long-term ambition to originate, support, and scale breakout companies capable of competing globally—with Doha as a strategic node in that journey.
Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner at Shorooq, commented, “Hamad Al-Hajri represents the new Gulf builder—an operator with real velocity, sharp product instincts, and a global bar for excellence. His decision to back both our late-stage growth strategy, supported by the Qatar Investment Authority, and our AI strategy, backed by Presight–G42, is a strong signal of where the region is heading. We are proud to deepen our roots in Doha and to continue building a platform that connects Gulf ambition with global outcomes—quietly, consistently, and at scale.”
Commenting on the partnership, Hamad Al-Hajri, Founder of Snoonu, said, “The Gulf is entering a decisive phase in its technology journey. What attracted me to Shorooq is its ability to back founders across stages and sectors while maintaining institutional discipline and global standards. Investing across both the late-stage growth and AI strategies reflects my deep belief and immense pride that the most impactful companies of the next decade will be built right here in this region — proudly rooted in Qatar and the GCC, yet engineered and scaled to compete and win worldwide."
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