Unipal
Founded 2020 Β· 53 employees on LinkedIn Β· 4 known investors
Unipal is a mobile app that gives students a digital student ID and access to discounts and offers on food, coffee, fitness, electronics and other categories from local and regional merchants. It serves students, who sign up for free, and includes features like a discount map and a savings tracker.
Also known as Unipal, Inc.
Investors Β· 4
Also in the syndicate Β· 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Unipal operates a mobile platform that provides university students and youth with a digital student ID and access to exclusive discounts from partner brands. Offers span cafes, restaurants, self care, fitness, healthcare, entertainment, shopping, a study hub and other services, with listed partners including food outlets, an entertainment venue and eSIM provider Airalo. Students sign up for free, and the site displays a running "Student Savings Counter" denominated in Bahraini dinars [0][1].
On the merchant side, Unipal sells brands access to the student and Gen Z segment through a separate business portal. Partner businesses receive dashboard analytics on student purchases, first-time users and store performance metrics, a ratings and reviews feature, an in-app chat channel for responding to student feedback, and an offer page in the Unipal app. The business site references tiered plans at different budgets and states the platform is trusted by more than 1,000 brands, with testimonials from Jahez and Wingman [2].
The company was founded in 2020 by Ali Alalawi (CEO and co-founder) and Ali Al Shaer, and operates in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with the site localised in English and Arabic for Bahrain and Riyadh [0][1][5][6][7].
Founding story
Unipal was launched in 2020 in Bahrain by co-founders Ali Alalawi, who serves as CEO, and Ali Al Shaer, combining technology and design to give university students exclusive discounts on products and services such as restaurants, cafes, electronics and sports equipment [5][6][7].
Business model
Unipal is free for students, who register to obtain a digital Unipal ID used to redeem offers. Revenue comes from the business side, where brands subscribe to plans that give them a presence on the app, a merchant dashboard, engagement tools and access to the student audience [0][2].
Paid plans for partner businesses, described as a range of tiered plans at different budget levels, providing dashboard access, ratings and reviews, student chat and brand showcasing on the app; student membership is free [0][2].
Traction
By January 2025 Unipal reported approximately 60,000 users and more than 350 brand partners in Bahrain, plus 160,000 users and 250 brand partnerships in Riyadh within eight months of entering that market. In July 2023 the company said it had acquired 74% of Bahrain's student population. Its business site cites more than 1,000 brands, and the consumer site displays a cumulative student savings counter of about 2.9 million Bahraini dinars [0][2][5][6][7].
Latest developments
In early January 2025 Unipal announced a Pre-Series A round of undisclosed size backed by members of the Falak Angels Syndicate, with proceeds directed at growing its user base across the Middle East and Africa, deepening regional and global brand partnerships and adding more personalised platform features [6][7].
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as a student discount and brand engagement platform in the Gulf, describing itself as aiming to become the leading student platform in the Middle East and beyond; press coverage characterises it as a Bahraini edtech venture and a leading provider of student-centric offerings in the Middle East and Africa [5][6][7].
Combines a free digital student ID and verified student audience with merchant-side tooling β purchase analytics, demographic breakdowns of redemptions, reviews and direct chat β that a partner merchant described as enabling tailored offers to university students not achievable through other channels [2][6].
Technology
A consumer mobile app issuing a digital student ID for offer redemption, paired with a web platform for merchants that provides analytics on student purchases, first-time user identification, key store metrics, ratings and reviews, and direct chat with students. Consumer-facing sites are localised by country and language (Bahrain and Riyadh, English and Arabic) [0][1][2].
Go-to-market
Student acquisition through free membership and a catalogue of brand offers, combined with direct brand partnership sales via a dedicated business site and inbound contact forms. Geographic expansion has proceeded city by city, starting from Bahrain and moving into Riyadh with plans for the Eastern Province and Jeddah [0][2][5].
Two sides: university students and Gen Z youth in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia who use the app for discounts, and consumer-facing brands and merchants β restaurants, cafes, fitness, healthcare, entertainment, retail and services businesses, including regional players such as food delivery firm Jahez β that want to reach the student segment [0][2][6][7].
Geography
Headquartered in and originating from Bahrain, with operations in Saudi Arabia focused on Riyadh; the platform serves Bahrain and Riyadh with English and Arabic versions, and stated plans to expand to the Eastern Province and Jeddah and more broadly across the Middle East and Africa [0][1][5][6].
History
Founded in 2020 in Bahrain, Unipal built out its home market to the point that by mid-2023 it stated it had reached 74% of the country's student population. In July 2023 it announced a $500,000 follow-on round from Flat6Labs, Tenmou, GTS Alive and angels, earmarked for entry into Riyadh and later the Eastern Province and Jeddah. It said at the time that a further round was planned for early 2024. By early 2025 the company reported 60,000 users and over 350 brand partners in Bahrain and 160,000 users and 250 brand partners in Riyadh achieved within eight months, and announced a Pre-Series A round backed by members of the Falak Angels Syndicate [5][6][7].
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 3
launches, deals, and filingsUnipal raised a Pre-Series A round backed by members of the Falak Angels Syndicate; the amount was not disclosed. The company said proceeds would go toward expanding its user base across the Middle East and Africa, strengthening brand partnerships and further developing the platform.
Unipal announced a half-million-dollar funding round led by Flat6Labs and Tenmou, who both increased their earlier investments, joined by European student platform GTS Alive and angel investors. The company said the capital would fund expansion into Riyadh and subsequently the Eastern Province and Jeddah.
$500K source β
Following its 2023 round, Unipal set out to replicate its Bahrain traction in Saudi Arabia, beginning with Riyadh and targeting the Eastern Province and Jeddah thereafter; by early 2025 it reported 160,000 users and 250 brand partnerships in Riyadh within eight months.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- Unipalunipal.me Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Unipal do?
- Bahrain-born app giving university students a digital ID and exclusive discounts from partner brands in Bahrain and Riyadh.
- Who are Unipal's investors?
- Unipal's investors include Doha Tech Angels.