HolidayMe, a United Arab Emirates-based travel agency backed by holding company Al Sanie, has raised $16m in a series C round led by venture capital firm Gobi Partners, according to E27.
The round included participation from Accel Partners, Global Ventures, Algebra Ventures and B&Y Venture Partners.
HolidayMe’s online platform offers holiday packages, activities and travel arrangements across the Middle East.
The company has agreed to merge with hotel booking site Tripfez and will use the series C funding to support its expansion across Southeast Asia following the merger.
HolidayMe will also integrate Tripfez’s rating system, which scores hotels on how Muslim-friendly their rooms and amenities are.
The two companies are also working on an Umrah package, aimed at Muslims doing a pilgrimage to Mecca, which will be launched in Malaysia and then Indonesia.
In March this year, HolidayMe raised an undisclosed amount of series B funding from unnamed investors, taking its funding to $23m.
Al Sanie made its initial $4m investment in the company in 2015 and joined a $7m series A round a year later. That round also included financial services firm BMO Financial Group, which participated through its asset management subsidiary, F&C Overseas Investment.