1001 Raises $30 Million to Accelerate AI Adoption Across Middle East Aviation, Ports, and Energy

Dubai- and London-based startup 1001 has secured $30 million in a funding round to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence across the Middle East’s aviation, ports, and energy sectors.

The investment round was led by Lux Capital, with participation from 9Yards, Hanabi, and Sanabil, the investment arm backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, highlighting growing investor confidence in practical AI applications across critical industries.

According to Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, Founder and CEO of 1001, the Iran war had no impact on fundraising discussions. Instead, regional developments have encouraged more companies to explore AI-driven solutions for building new supply chains and reducing operational costs as businesses seek alternatives to reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

The company plans to partner with Gulf airlines, port operators, and shipping companies by embedding engineers within their organizations to solve operational challenges and develop AI-powered products tailored to real-world industrial needs.

Abu-Ghazaleh also noted that governments across the region are actively encouraging businesses to adopt AI technologies, creating significant opportunities for startups focused on applied artificial intelligence.

He said:

“The Middle East is not necessarily going to compete in terms of frontier models, but in terms of applied AI, it’s a bit of a green space.”