Transforming Critical Industries: 1001 AI Secures $9M to Innovate in MENA
In a significant boost for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh’s startup, 1001 AI, has successfully raised $9 million in seed funding to revolutionize critical industries through artificial intelligence. With a focus on sectors such as aviation, logistics, and oil and gas, 1001 AI aims to tackle inefficiencies that cost billions in the Gulf alone. Abu-Ghazaleh, a former Scale AI executive, is leveraging his experience to create an AI-native operating system designed to enhance decision-making in these high-stakes environments.
The potential for improvement is staggering, as Abu-Ghazaleh highlights that inefficiencies in just a few key industries could lead to savings exceeding $10 billion. By targeting mega-projects that often exceed budgets and timelines, 1001 AI is poised to make a substantial impact. The startup plans to launch its first product by the end of the year, with aspirations to become the go-to solution for orchestration in the region’s critical sectors.
As 1001 AI prepares for its first customer deployment, the question remains: will this innovative approach to AI in MENA set a new standard for operational efficiency in industries that are ripe for disruption?
Original source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/20/scale-ai-alum-raises-9m-for-ai-serving-critical-industries-in-mena/