AppliedAI, an enterprise AI startup based in Abu Dhabi, has closed an oversubscribed $55 million Series A round, marking a major milestone in the region’s growing AI landscape. Backed by top-tier investors, this funding is set to accelerate the company’s international expansion and strengthen its foothold in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government.
The round attracted participation from major players including:
- ✅ Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- ✅ AI powerhouse G42
- ✅ Silicon Valley’s Bessemer Venture Partners
- ✅ UAE’s tech conglomerate e&
Redefining Enterprise Automation with Opus
AppliedAI’s flagship platform, Opus, helps to automate complex back-office workflows in sectors where compliance and data sensitivity are critical. It’s powered by:
- A Large Work Model (LWM) – A first-of-its-kind GenAI system that adapts to different use cases and performance needs
- A proprietary Work Knowledge Graph (WKG) – To map organizational workflows and decision logic in real time
These innovations enable organizations to digitize and automate with precision, speed, and regulatory confidence.
Why This Round Matters
This funding round signals a shift in the regional AI investment climate. While MENA has quickly emerged as a hub for artificial intelligence, AI startups have historically struggled to raise growth-stage capital. Key challenges included:
- Investor difficulty in evaluating AI concepts
- Limited number of mature startups reaching Series A
- Gaps in technical due diligence capabilities among local funds
However, over the past 18 months, this landscape has evolved. AppliedAI’s oversubscribed round now reflects growing investor confidence and readiness to back deep tech ventures from the region.
A Strategic Growth Blueprint
The $55M funding will be used to:
- ✅ Scale operations across the Middle East and global markets
- ✅ Enhance platform capabilities and AI tooling
- ✅ Build deeper regional integration through strategic partnerships
AppliedAI relocated its headquarters from London to Abu Dhabi in 2022, embedding itself into the UAE’s dynamic AI ecosystem. The firm is now perfectly able to serve industries requiring secure, enterprise-grade automation solutions.
Backed by Global and Regional Heavyweights
Each investor brings a distinct advantage:
- MEVP – MENA venture capital pioneer with over $300M in AUM and a portfolio spanning 60+ startups
- G42 – Leading AI and cloud infrastructure innovator
- Bessemer Venture Partners – A Silicon Valley giant with deep enterprise tech experience
- e& – A strategic telecom and digital infrastructure enabler
What does this mean for the future of MENA?
AppliedAI’s Series A isn’t just a funding success, it’s a sign of MENA’s maturing AI market. The region is no longer just adopting technology; it’s becoming a creator of cutting-edge enterprise AI solutions.