- UAE-founded gifting platform CADO has raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed round, led by Sanabil 500 alongside a German family office and several high-net-worth and angel investors.
- Founded in 2019 by Leila Al Marashi, CADO’s platform combines creativity, logistics, and technology to make corporate gifting more intelligent, seamless, and emotionally meaningful.
- The new funds will drive expansion in Saudi Arabia and support international growth, beginning with CADO’s launch in New York.
Press release:
CADO, the UAE-founded premium gifting platform, has announced the close of its $4.5 million pre-seed funding round, marking a major step in its mission to redefine the global gifting economy. The round included participation from Sanabil 500, a venture capital and startup acceleration initiative in the MENA region; and a group of high-net-worth and angel investors.
Founded by Leila Al Marashi, CADO began as a three-person startup in Dubai and has since scaled into a regional leader operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States. The platform digitalises and elevates the gifting experience, merging creativity, logistics, and technology to make corporate gifting smart, effortless, and emotionally resonant.
“When I started CADO, my vision was to modernise and elevate the art of gifting; to blend innovation with meaning and make every gesture effortless yet deeply personal,” said Leila Al Marashi, Founder and CEO of CADO. Our expansion into Saudi Arabia has been an inspiring part of our journey, where we’re building an ecosystem that connects artisans, suppliers, and businesses with a shared commitment to excellence and creativity. This milestone allows us to continue expanding across the region and beyond, shaping a future where gifting is as intelligent as it is heartfelt.”
The new funding will accelerate CADO’s expansion in Saudi Arabia, where it is developing a community ecosystem linking artisans, artists, suppliers, and investors. It will also fuel the company’s international growth, beginning with its launch in New York.
Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner, Sanabil 500, said: “CADO is redefining what modern gifting means for today’s connected world. Their model merges creativity, technology, and cultural relevance—creating a new global category rooted in human connection.”
Following its appearance on Shark Tank UAE and the launch of its New York operations, CADO is positioning itself as the first global gifting powerhouse to emerge from the Middle East, bridging local craftsmanship with global innovation.