Dubai-based Qlub has raised $30 million in a funding round co-led by UAE venture capital firm Shorooq Partners and Germany’s Cherry Ventures, with participation from Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi-listed e&, and China’s Legend Capital.
Founded in 2021 by Eyad Alkassar and Mahmoud Fouz, Qlub offers a QR-based payments platform for restaurants, enabling customers to browse menus, place orders, and settle bills via their smartphones without requiring staff interaction.
The company stated that it will utilise the capital to expand internationally and develop new product features. Qlub currently operates in over 3,000 restaurants across nine markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil, Qatar, Kuwait, and South Korea.
Qlub has not disclosed exact financial metrics but claims to process transactions worth several billion dollars annually and serve millions of users monthly. The latest funding adds to a growing list of capital raises in the Middle East’s digital payments sector, as firms seek to scale beyond regional borders and meet demand for contactless ordering and settlement.
The investment comes as global restaurant technology startups attract increasing investor interest, with firms such as Sunday, Square, and Toast competing to digitise dining experiences. For Mubadala and e&, the deal aligns with broader efforts to support regional fintech infrastructure and consumer-facing digital platforms.
