India, Oct. 6 -- From Nykaa to Mamaearth, and Blue Tokai to Go Colors, an expanding roster of Indian startups is looking to the Middle East. For many, the MENA region is not just another market - it's both a bridge to global expansion and a gateway to deep-pocketed investors. But cracking into these $4 Tn+ economies is no easy feat. Doors tend to open faster if you know the landscape - or better still, if you already have backers in the region.

Take the case of Zaara Biotech's Najeeb Bin Haneef. In 2019, he left Kerala for Dubai with little more than an idea: using algae and seaweed to build sustainable FMCG products. A year later, his pitch won the confidence of TCN International, which committed $10 Mn. By 2022, his startup had set up ...