CADO Raises $4.5 Million to Redefine Global Gifting Through Creativity and Technology

CADO, a UAE-founded premium gifting platform, has secured $4.5 million in pre-seed funding, marking a major milestone in its mission to reshape how the world gives and connects through gifts. The round drew participation from Sanabil 500, a regional venture acceleration initiative, a German family office, and several angel and high-net-worth investors.

Transforming the Art of Gifting

Founded by Leila Al Marashi, CADO began as a small three-person startup in Dubai. Today, it has grown into a regional leader operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States. The company blends creativity, logistics, and smart technology to make corporate gifting meaningful, efficient, and personalized.

Al Marashi describes her vision as modernizing gifting while keeping it human and heartfelt.

“When I started CADO, my goal was to merge innovation with meaning—to make every gesture effortless yet deeply personal,” she said.

CADO’s expansion into Saudi Arabia has become a defining step in this journey. There, it is building a collaborative ecosystem that connects artisans, suppliers, and businesses committed to quality and creativity.

Strong Backing and High-Profile Clients

CADO’s impressive client base includes over 500 repeat partners, among them some of the world’s most respected brands:

• Luxury and retail: Cartier, Gucci, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Ralph Lauren, Net-a-Porter
• Hospitality and travel: Accor Hotels, Jumeirah Group, ExecuJet
• Finance and technology: Julius Baer, American Express, LinkedIn, TikTok, Netflix

This global portfolio reflects CADO’s ability to bridge the gap between corporate goals and emotional connection. This helps it in creating gifts that go beyond products to become experiences.

Accelerating Regional and Global Growth

The $4.5 million pre-seed investment will power CADO’s next phase of growth.

• In Saudi Arabia, the company is deepening its ecosystem by linking artisans, artists, suppliers, and investors into a unified gifting network.
• Internationally, CADO will use the funds to expand into New York, bringing Middle Eastern craftsmanship and cultural storytelling to a global audience.

According to Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at Sanabil 500, “CADO is redefining modern gifting. Their model fuses creativity, technology, and cultural relevance to create a new global category rooted in human connection.”

Building a Global Gifting Powerhouse

Following its appearance on Shark Tank UAE and launch in New York, CADO is positioning itself as the first global gifting powerhouse to emerge from the Middle East. Its mission is clear—to combine artistry, innovation, and cultural storytelling into a seamless gifting experience that connects people and brands worldwide.