VUZ, the Dubai-based immersive video platform, has raised $12 million in a Pre-Series C funding round to accelerate its expansion across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Africa, Asia, and the United States — bringing total capital raised to over $35 million.
IFC Leads the VUZ Funding Round
The round was led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, with participation from Al Jazira Capital, Crosswork VC Success Fund, and several prominent Saudi family offices. CrossWorks Mobile Software AG also joined as a strategic investor.
The IFC's involvement is notable: the institution typically focuses on banking and infrastructure projects in emerging markets. Its decision to back a consumer tech startup signals growing institutional confidence in the so-called "immersive internet" and its potential to transform digital media.
What VUZ Does
Founded in 2017 by Khaled Zaatarah, VUZ (formerly known as 360VUZ) lets viewers watch live events — football matches, fashion shows, concerts, red-carpet ceremonies — from every angle using 360-degree immersive video. The platform is available on smartphones, smart TVs, Apple Vision Pro, Oculus headsets, and its proprietary VUZGo device.
The company holds four global patents and has amassed a library of over 30,000 hours of premium immersive content, including exclusive broadcast rights to La Liga, Serie A, and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). VUZ has also integrated with more than 40 telecom operators worldwide.
Rapid Growth and Profitability
VUZ achieved EBITDA profitability in 2024, alongside 80% year-over-year gross profit growth — a significant milestone for a media tech scaleup competing against YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The platform's 100-plus content creators collectively reach over 100 million people, and the company has logged nearly 3 billion lifetime screen views, with a target of 5 billion by 2026.
Founder Zaatarah credited IFC's decision to invest as validation of the business model: "They pick only emerging markets, and our quick and steady growth in content and creators caught their attention. The company is now in a position to expand its activities around the world."
Global Expansion Plans
The fresh capital will fund VUZ's push into high-growth markets where demand for immersive experiences and next-generation media is accelerating rapidly. Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain core markets, while Africa, Asia, and the US represent the next frontier.
The move builds on VUZ's $20 million Series B raised in October 2022, and positions the platform as a challenger in the global streaming space — differentiated by exclusive, venue-quality live experiences that flat-screen competitors cannot replicate.
