1001 AI
Category: AI in Supply Chain / Logistics
Building sovereign AI operating systems for critical infrastructure in the Gulf region, targeting aviation, ports, energy, and construction sectors. 1001 AI was founded in 2025. The company is led by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh. Based in London, UK & Dubai, UAE. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $39M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Lux Capital, Sanabil Investments (PIF), General Catalyst, CIV, 9Yards, Hanabi, Chris Ré (Stanford AI Lab), Amjad Masad (Replit), Amira Sajwani (DAMAC), Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud (RAED Ventures), Hisham Al-Falih (Lean Technologies), Karim Atiyeh (Ramp).
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- London, UK & Dubai, UAE
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $39M
Value proposition
1001 develops an AI-native operating system that sits above existing operational systems, creating a live working model of the entire operation to predict issues, automate decisions, and optimize workflows in real-time — with full local ownership and governance of AI systems.
Products and solutions
Sovereign AI Platform (AI-powered intelligence layer for decision-making, orchestration, and optimization), Solutions for Construction (delay prediction, risk management), Ports (container throughput optimization, congestion prediction), Energy (grid efficiency, demand forecasting, predictive maintenance), Airports (turnaround time reduction, disruption prevention)
Unique value
Sovereign AI — systems built, owned, and governed locally so clients retain full control of critical infrastructure; embedded engineering model where teams work on-site with clients; applied AI focused on physical-world operational problems rather than frontier models
Target customer
Gulf airlines, port operators, shipping companies, energy firms, construction companies, and other critical infrastructure operators in the GCC/MENA region
Industries served
Aviation, Ports & Logistics, Energy (Oil & Gas), Construction & Industrials, Manufacturing
Technology advantage
AI-native operating system that unifies data from existing software, models operational workflows, and issues real-time directives; domain expertise from Scale AI alum; embedded co-development sprints with clients; sovereign/local governance model tailored for Gulf national security concerns
How they differentiate
Unlike C3 AI (US-focused enterprise AI) or Palantir (defense/intelligence focus), 1001 is purpose-built for Gulf/MENA critical infrastructure with a sovereign AI model that ensures local data governance. Uses an embedded engineering approach (teams work on-site with clients) rather than pure SaaS. Focuses on applied AI for physical-world operations rather than frontier LLMs.
Main competitors
C3 AI, Palantir Technologies, Cognite
Key partnerships
Initial pilots with tier-one logistics operators and regional developers in the Gulf, backed by Lux Capital, General Catalyst, CIV, Sanabil Investments (PIF-owned)
Notable customers
Initial pilots with tier-one logistics operators and regional developers in the Gulf (specific names not publicly disclosed)
Major milestones
Founded Aug 2025 by Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh (ex-Scale AI), $9M Seed round Oct 2025, $30M Series A round Jun 2026 led by Lux Capital, First customer deployment targeted by end of 2025
Market positioning
Early-stage but well-capitalized startup positioning as the go-to sovereign AI platform for Gulf critical infrastructure, leveraging the region's push for AI adoption and local technology sovereignty
Geographic focus
GCC/MENA region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) with plans to expand globally within 12 months
About Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh
Ex-Scale AI Director of GenAI Operations; Ex-Hive AI (computer vision); BS Computer Science, Yale University
Latest news about 1001 AI
More AI in Supply Chain / Logistics companies
Official website: https://1001.ai/
