1001 AI Secures $9 Million Seed Funding to Revolutionize Operations in MENA
London, UK – Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh has recently relocated to London, splitting his time between the UK and Dubai, as he embarks on an innovative journey with his startup, 1001 AI. With nearly a decade of experience in the U.S., including a pivotal role at Scale AI, Abu-Ghazaleh aims to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency across critical sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Significant Funding Round
1001 AI has successfully completed a $9 million seed funding round, spearheaded by investors including CIV, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital. The round also attracted prominent global and regional angel investors such as Chris Ré, Amjad Masad (CEO of Replit), Amira Sajwani (DAMAC), Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud (RAED Ventures), and Hisham Alfalih (Lean Technologies).
Tackling Industry Inefficiencies
Abu-Ghazaleh emphasized the startup’s mission to address inefficiencies prevalent in high-stakes industries such as aviation, logistics, and oil and gas through an AI-driven operating system designed for optimized decision-making. "In sectors like airports, ports, construction, and oil and gas, we see over $10 billion in inefficiencies across the Gulf states," stated Abu-Ghazaleh in an interview with TechCrunch. He highlighted the tremendous potential for improvement within the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar alone.
The founder pointed out that efficiencies in airport operations could generate substantial savings that benefit both airports and airlines. Notably, he mentioned that a staggering nine out of ten major projects in the region fail to meet their schedules or budgets, indicating that even slight enhancements in operational efficiency could result in significant financial savings.
Upcoming Product Launch and Market Strategy
1001 AI plans to unveil its first product by the end of this year, positioning itself to provide its decision-making AI to new ventures. The startup has already initiated discussions with leading construction firms and airports within the Gulf region.
A Background in AI Innovation
Born in Jordan, Abu-Ghazaleh moved to the United States for higher education and subsequently integrated into Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem. His career path included a role at Hive AI, followed by a position at Scale AI in 2020, where he advanced to the position of Director of GenAI Operations, overseeing a contributor network for training data annotation.
Despite an opportunity to join Scale’s international public sector arm, Abu-Ghazaleh pivoted to launch 1001 AI following a strategic shift at Scale after a significant investment from Meta.
MENA’s Growing AI Landscape
The Gulf region—particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia—has emerged as a frontrunner in AI adoption, with governments actively investing in local AI ecosystems. Initiatives such as G42 in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia’s National Center for AI exemplify this trend, with billions of dollars earmarked for developing AI infrastructure and attracting global talent.
Abu-Ghazaleh believes this robust investment climate, combined with an urgent demand for AI solutions, presents a prime environment for testing and deploying innovative technologies. Unlike many AI startups focused on software solutions, 1001 AI is dedicated to transforming real-world operations. "The MENA region holds substantial potential for our approach, particularly in mission-critical infrastructure that remains under-digitized," stated Deena Shakir, a partner at Lux Capital.
Innovative Decision-Making System
While still in development, the AI system designed by 1001 AI aims to streamline operations by integrating data from existing client software, modeling workflows, and providing real-time directives. This automation means an operations manager would no longer need to manually dispatch resources but could rely on the AI system to efficiently manage tasks like rerouting vehicles or reallocating staff.
Abu-Ghazaleh noted, "Our system enables orchestration to happen automatically, using real-time data for adjustments without the need for human input."
Future Plans and Growth Strategy
As the product nears its launch, 1001 AI is committed to building a robust operational foundation. The team plans to immerse themselves with clients, employing co-development strategies to tailor solutions specifically to their operational requirements.
The recent funding will facilitate early deployments in aviation, logistics, and infrastructure while bolstering recruitment efforts in engineering and operations across Dubai and London.
Looking five years ahead, Abu-Ghazaleh envisions 1001 AI becoming the premier orchestration platform for critical industries within the Gulf, with aspirations for global expansion thereafter.
