Egyptian artificial intelligence (AI) startup Widebot has raised $3 million in pre-Series A funding to accelerate the development of its Arabic-focused large language model (LLM), AQL Mind. This investment marks a significant step forward in advancing Arabic generative AI capabilities, catering to a wide range of dialects and applications across the region.
Originally founded in Cairo, Egypt, Widebot has since relocated its headquarters to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aligning with its vision to support the Kingdom’s AI-driven digital transformation. The company’s flagship AI model, AQL Mind, is designed specifically to understand and process Arabic dialects and accents with high accuracy. By focusing on Arabic, a language that has historically been underserved in AI development, Widebot aims to enhance AI accessibility, personalization, and security for government entities and businesses in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
“AQL Mind will enable the company to deliver accurate, secure, and personalized AI experiences to Saudi government entities and businesses,” said Mohammed Nabil, CEO and co-founder of Widebot.
Strategic Investment for Regional AI Sovereignty
The funding round was led by Keheilan Asset Management II, backed by Saudi investment firm Wafra, and also saw participation from Enza Capital, DisrupTech Ventures, LoftyInc Capital, Den VC, and SparkLabs Ventures. These investors bring a mix of regional expertise and global AI investment experience, reinforcing Widebot’s mission to drive AI adoption in the Arabic-speaking world.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelhamid, CEO of Keheilan Asset Management, emphasized the broader impact of supporting deep-tech startups in the region:
“We firmly believe that the future of economic development in the region hinges on supporting deep technology companies. The synergy between technical and financial efforts will reinforce national sovereignty over our technological infrastructure.”
Bridging the Arabic AI Gap
With this fresh injection of capital, Widebot plans to expand AQL Mind’s capabilities, improve natural language processing (NLP) accuracy, and strengthen partnerships with government agencies, enterprises, and research institutions. The company is also focused on building AI-powered chatbots, customer support solutions, and enterprise AI tools, catering to industries such as finance, healthcare, and public services.
This investment underscores a growing trend of AI localization in the Middle East, where governments and businesses are increasingly looking to develop homegrown AI solutions to reduce dependence on Western AI models. Widebot’s expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes AI and digital transformation as key drivers of the country’s economic future.
Finally, as AI continues to evolve, Widebot’s Arabic-first approach positions it as a pioneering force in the region, ensuring Arabic-speaking users and businesses have access to advanced, culturally relevant AI solutions.
