1001 builds sovereign AI operating systems for critical-infrastructure operators across the Gulf. Its software sits above the systems an operator already runs and builds a live model of the operation itself, mapping every asset, process, dependency and constraint so teams can predict issues, automate decisions and optimize operations while keeping full local ownership and governance of their AI. Target sectors include aviation, ports, logistics, energy and manufacturing. The company was founded in 2025 by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, previously at Scale AI, and is dual-headquartered in Dubai and London.
Funding
1001 closed a $9 million seed round in October 2025 led by CIV, General Catalyst and Lux Capital, with angels including Stanford's Chris Re, Replit's Amjad Masad, DAMAC's Amira Sajwani and Lean Technologies' Hisham Al-Falih. In June 2026 it raised a $30 million Series A led by Lux Capital, with PIF-owned Sanabil Investments, 9Yards and Hanabi joining and existing backers General Catalyst and CIV increasing their commitments, taking total funding to roughly $39 million.