London and Dubai-based deep tech startup 1001 AI has raised $9 million in seed funding to accelerate the rollout of its artificial intelligence infrastructure platform across the Gulf. The round was led by CIV Capital, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital. Strategic angel investors also joined the round, including Stanford researcher Chris Ré, Amjad Masad of Replit, Amira Sajwani of DAMAC Group, Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud, and Hisham Al Falih.
The company was founded by Bilal Abu Ghazaleh, a former engineer at Scale AI, who is building what he describes as an artificial intelligence native operating system for high-stakes industries such as aviation, logistics, construction, and oil and gas. Abu Ghazaleh said the company aims to reduce inefficiencies across Gulf infrastructure sectors, where operational waste is estimated to exceed $10 billion each year.
The platform integrates machine learning models with domain-specific operational data to help enterprises coordinate complex workflows in real time. Early pilot programs are already running with aviation and construction clients in the region.
Proceeds from the seed round will be used to expand engineering and operations teams in London and Dubai. The company also plans to launch its first commercial product later this year. 1001 AI said several enterprise clients in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already testing its system.
Abu Ghazaleh’s experience at Scale AI, where he worked on artificial intelligence systems for enterprise and government projects, has shaped 1001 AI’s focus on real-world operations rather than general-purpose software. He said the company’s goal is to become the decision-making layer behind infrastructure and industrial operations in the region.
The investment comes at a time when Gulf governments are accelerating national programs to embed artificial intelligence into public and private infrastructure. In the United Arab Emirates, the National AI Strategy aims to make the country a global hub for artificial intelligence. In Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 is driving major investments in data, automation, and smart infrastructure through entities such as PIF and Mubadala.
The round highlights a growing investor appetite for deep tech ventures in the Middle East and North Africa. Investors are increasingly backing companies that apply advanced technologies to the physical economy, including transportation, logistics, and energy. With support from international funds and a strong base in Dubai, 1001 AI aims to position itself as a leading provider of artificial intelligence infrastructure across the Gulf and beyond.
1001 AI raises $9 million to expand AI infrastructure across the GCC