Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder of 1001 AI, is spearheading a bold mission to tackle inefficiencies across the Gulf’s most critical sectors. With $9M in seed funding, 1001 AI aims to revolutionize aviation, logistics, and oil & gas, addressing over $10 billion in operational waste and paving the way for smarter, automated workflows. Early customer deployments are planned by year-end, signaling a transformative shift for regional industries.
“Airports, ports, construction, and oil & gas alone represent over $10 billion in inefficiencies in the Gulf,” says Abu-Ghazaleh. “The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are ripe for AI-driven optimization, and 1001 AI is uniquely positioned to deliver it.”
Investors are confident in the company’s vision. Deena Shakir of Lux Capital highlights, “We’re extremely bullish on AI that tackles real-world industrial challenges at scale.” Neeraj Arora of General Catalyst adds, “Bilal is building a decision engine to automate complexity, creating the foundational platform that this market will rely on.”
The funding will accelerate workflow automation, enable real-time insights, and drive efficiency at scale, fundamentally transforming sectors traditionally slowed by manual operations. By combining technology with industry expertise, 1001 AI promises faster operations, smarter decision-making, and significant cost savings across the region.
With this strategic investment, 1001 AI is positioned to redefine MENA’s industrial landscape, delivering a new era of productivity, innovation, and AI-driven growth.
