Journify, a Dubai-based startup helping brands turn first-party data into ad performance, has secured new funding from regional heavyweights including Shorooq Partners, Bunat Ventures, and Plug and Play. The fresh capital will fuel product development, regional expansion, and the rollout of its AI-powered data activation engine across the Gulf.
In the last six months, Journify has grown revenue fivefold and doubled its valuation, an aggressive trajectory powered by demand for privacy-first, high-ROI marketing solutions in the GCC.
Real-Time Results for GCC Brands
Journify is gaining ground by solving a clear problem: brands in the Gulf are sitting on valuable customer data but lack the tools to turn it into efficient ad spend. Journify’s platform plugs that gap.
Retail giant Jarir saw a 182 percent increase in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) and slashed its Cost Per Purchase (CPP) by 51 percent after activating campaigns through Journify on Meta. Baytonia, a growing e-commerce brand, achieved an 80 percent boost in ROAS and a 44 percent drop in CPP on TikTok.
This kind of performance is drawing attention from brands across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond.
AI Infrastructure Built for a Privacy-First Future
With regulators tightening data policies and consumers becoming more protective of their information, first-party data is becoming a strategic asset. Journify is betting on this shift by investing in agentic AI systems that automate campaign optimisation and tailor ad experiences in real time.
In today’s privacy-first world, brands need solutions that deliver both growth and profitability,” said Taoufik El Jamali, CEO and Co-Founder of Journify. “We’re rethinking how brands connect with customers, and the numbers speak for themselves.”
El Jamali launched Journify with Omar AlShoubaki and Amine Chouki, combining backgrounds in data science, product design, and growth strategy. The trio is building what they describe as the performance backbone for the next era of digital advertising in the Middle East.
MENA’s $7 Billion Digital Ad Market Has a Data Problem
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of the fastest-growing digital ad markets globally, with spending reaching $7 billion in 2024, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). But despite that growth, many brands still struggle with fragmented data and weak attribution.
That’s the opportunity Journify is seizing. By helping companies activate and monetise their customer data, the startup positions itself as both a compliance partner and a growth driver.
The Bottom Line
Journify isn’t just building another ad tech product. It’s staking a claim in the future of marketing in the Gulf. With fresh capital, proven results, and growing brand demand, the company is scaling fast across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the broader Gulf region.
Its AI-powered infrastructure already activates first-party data across platforms, including Meta, TikTok, Snap Inc., and Google, delivering clear, measurable returns. Jarir Bookstore recorded a 182 percent boost in ROAS on Meta, while Baytonia achieved a 44 percent drop in CPP on TikTok.
As cookies disappear, privacy expectations rise, and AI reshapes customer engagement, brands need smarter, faster, more ethical ways to grow. That is exactly what we’re building,” said El Jamali.
For brands in MENA looking to compete in a post-cookie world, Journify isn’t optional. It may already be essential infrastructure.
This article was rewritten with the aid of AI
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