Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh had only recently relocated to London when we spoke, now dividing his time between there and Dubai.
After spending almost ten years in the United States—including a period at Scale AI—he’s channeling that expertise into his latest project: 1001 AI, a startup focused on building AI infrastructure for vital sectors throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The company recently secured $9 million in seed funding, with CIV, General Catalyst, and Lux Capital leading the round. Other investors include both international and regional figures such as Chris Ré, Amjad Masad (Replit), Amira Sajwani (DAMAC), Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud (RAED Ventures), and Hisham Alfalih (Lean Technologies).
Abu-Ghazaleh explained that his two-month-old startup aims to eliminate inefficiencies in high-impact fields like aviation, logistics, and oil and gas by introducing an AI-driven operating system to support decision-making.
“When we examine the leading sectors—airports, ports, construction, and oil and gas—we identify over $10 billion in inefficiencies just within the Gulf,” he shared in a conversation with TechCrunch. “That figure only covers markets like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Even without factoring in other industries, the opportunity is enormous.”
For instance, streamlining airport operations can multiply cost savings, benefiting both airports and airlines. He also noted that nine out of ten major projects in the region experience delays or budget overruns, so even modest improvements in efficiency could result in substantial financial savings.
1001 AI intends to market its decision-making AI to new developments after launching its initial product, which is expected by the end of the year. Abu-Ghazaleh said the company is already in discussions with some of the Gulf’s top construction companies and airports.
Originally from Jordan, Abu-Ghazaleh moved to the U.S. for his studies and later became part of the Bay Area startup ecosystem. He started in a product role at Hive AI, a computer vision startup, before joining Scale AI in 2020 during its rapid growth phase. There, he advanced from operations associate to director of GenAI operations, overseeing the scaling of the contributor network that annotates and labels training data.
He was later set to transition to Scale’s international public sector division, which develops AI solutions for foreign governments. However, after Meta invested in Scale and the company shifted its focus, Abu-Ghazaleh left to establish 1001 AI.
The Gulf region, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has emerged as a leading adopter of AI technologies. From state-backed initiatives like G42 in Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s National Center for AI, governments are pouring billions into building domestic AI infrastructure and attracting international talent.
Abu-Ghazaleh believes that this combination of ambition, funding, and urgency makes the region an ideal environment for testing new solutions. Unlike most AI startups that focus on software or enterprise applications, 1001 is targeting physical operations, an area where its investors see even greater potential in the Middle East.
“We’re highly optimistic about AI that can address large-scale, real-world challenges—such as improving flight turnaround at airports, streamlining cargo movement at ports, or enhancing construction site operations,” said Deena Shakir, partner at Lux Capital. “The MENA region is especially promising in this regard, with essential infrastructure that remains largely undigitized and ready for transformation.”
Although the product is still being developed, Abu-Ghazaleh shared some insights into its functionality. The platform integrates data from a client’s existing systems, maps out operational workflows, and provides real-time instructions to boost efficiency.
“Currently, an operations manager might have to call someone directly to redirect a fuel truck or dispatch a cleaning crew to another gate,” Abu-Ghazaleh explained. “With our platform, this coordination is automated. The AI system leverages real-time information to reroute vehicles, reassign teams, and modify operations without the need for manual intervention.”
Unlike most early-stage AI companies that focus on a single sector, Abu-Ghazaleh claims that 1001’s solution can be applied broadly, since operational workflows are often similar across industries.
This approach draws on the discipline of consulting and contract work. According to the CEO, the team spends several weeks working closely with clients, conducting co-development sprints to customize the system for each operation’s specific needs.
“Bilal is developing a decision engine that automates complexity, combining Scale’s proven execution with the regional momentum needed to make 1001 the foundational platform for this market,” said Neeraj Arora, managing director at General Catalyst.
The newly raised capital will help speed up initial deployments in aviation, logistics, and infrastructure, and will also support hiring in engineering, operations, and go-to-market roles as the team expands in Dubai and London.
1001 AI expects to roll out its first customer implementation by year’s end, beginning with the construction sector. Over the next five years, Abu-Ghazaleh envisions the company becoming the Gulf’s primary orchestration platform for these industries before expanding internationally.
