Egypt’s WideBot AI Secures USD 3 M Pre-Series A To Develop Arabic AI Model

Egyptian AI startup WideBot AI has raised USD 3 M in pre-Series A funding to develop AQL Mind, an Arabic large language model (LLM) hosted on Saudi-based cloud infrastructure. The funding round was led by Keheilan Asset Management II, backed by Wafra, with participation from Enza Capital, DisrupTech Ventures, LoftyInc Capital, Den VC, and SparkLabs Ventures.

Founded in 2020 by Mohamed Mostafa, Mohamed Nabil, Saif Ahmed, WideBot AI specialises in the development of AI products, solutions, and models. It is worth mentioning that WideBot AI had earlier launched what it claims to be the first and most accurate large language model (LLM) in the Arabic language, which understands its various dialects and all Arab accents, under the name “AQL LLM”.

WideBot AI’s AQL Mind aims to address a major gap in AI by catering to the Arabic-speaking market, understanding various dialects and cultural nuances often overlooked by global LLMs. By hosting the model locally, the company aligns with Saudi Arabia’s digital sovereignty goals, ensuring compliance with local AI regulations and strengthening its technological independence.

Keheilan Asset Management CEO Dr. Ahmed Abdelhamid emphasized that investments in deep tech will play a crucial role in national sovereignty over technological infrastructure, while Al Wafra Al Thania Chairman Salah Khashoggi highlighted how this funding supports Vision 2030’s push for AI and fintech innovation.

WideBot AI already serves over 350 clients across 12 countries, including the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Egyptian Tax Portal, proving market demand for Arabic-focused AI solutions. CEO Mohammed Nabil noted that AQL Mind will provide secure, localized, and high-performance AI services for Saudi government entities and businesses.

While the USD 3 M investment is small compared to global AI funding, it marks a pivotal step in developing Arabic AI capabilities. Industry analysts will be watching to see if WideBot AI’s technology can compete with global models and support Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a major AI player.