Applied AI, an Abu Dhabi–based startup, has raised money in a pre-Series B funding round. The round was led by the MENA Venture Capital Fund at Mubadala Investment Company and Arbor Ventures.
The new investment will help the company expand globally and grow its AI platform called Opus, which is built for important and highly regulated industries.
This funding shows a shared belief that the next stage of AI growth will focus on real business use, trustworthy systems, and clear productivity gains, not just experiments. It also strengthens Applied AI’s position as a key AI player emerging from Abu Dhabi.
In 2025, AppliedAI launched Opus, its main AI-powered workflow platform. It helps large organisations redesign, automate, and manage complex work processes, especially in industries with strict rules and regulations.
Opus is made for sectors like healthcare, insurance, banking, energy, and government. It combines AI with human supervision, strong security, and clear tracking, so companies can boost productivity significantly while still keeping full control and compliance.
AppliedAI is based in Abu Dhabi and has over 350 employees. Its AI technology is already being used by companies in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, making it one of the UAE’s leading exporters of enterprise AI solutions. Most Opus pilot projects are now fully live, meeting strict standards for accuracy, reliability, and regulatory compliance. These systems help organisations move from manual, paperwork-heavy work to AI-powered workflows at a large scale.
As AI use grows worldwide, the main challenge is no longer how powerful AI models are, but whether organisations are ready to use them safely and effectively. Companies need AI systems that follow real-world rules, security needs, and operational limits while still delivering clear business value. AppliedAI fills this gap by building AI solutions for critical business operations, where trust, responsibility and performance all work together.
Arya Bolurfrushan, Founder and CEO, AppliedAI, said: “This partnership reflects a shared belief that the future of enterprise AI will be defined by trust, scale, and operational substance. With the support of Mubadala and Arbor Ventures, we will accelerate the global expansion of Opus while continuing to build an enduring global AI company from Abu Dhabi.”
Ali Eid AlMheiri, Executive Director, Diversified Assets, UAE Investments Platform at Mubadala, said: “At Mubadala, we are committed to empowering local champions with the ambition and capability to lead on the international stage. Through the MENA Venture Capital Fund, our investments in AppliedAI support our vision to nurture transformative technology leaders from the MENA region who can set new global benchmarks in innovation and responsible AI. AppliedAI’s Opus platform exemplifies the kind of scalable, secure, and industry-focused solutions that empower both regional and international organisations to unlock value in regulated sectors and drive digital transformation across key industries.”
Khaled Lababidi, Partner at Arbor Ventures, said, “AppliedAI represents the convergence of three powerful trends: enterprise AI adoption, regulatory complexity, and the need for operational transformation. Their proven ability to deploy at scale with Fortune 500 clients demonstrates both technical excellence and commercial maturity. We’re excited to support their expansion both in the UAE and across key international markets.”
Read More- Dhun Wellness Raises $4 Mn to Expand Across Major Indian Cities
