MBRIF backs UAE GovTech AI startup with AED 1.5m guarantee
01Gov to scale its agentic AI platform for government clients
#UAE #government – The UAE Ministry of Finance initiative Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) has issued an AED 1.5 million credit guarantee to Dubai-founded GovTech startup 01Gov, to accelerate development of its agentic AI government services platform. The funding will advance 01Gov’s agentic AI system, known as One, and expand platform capabilities for existing government clients. Founded in 2013, 01Gov builds cloud-based tools that help public sector professionals track global trends, benchmark performance, generate ideas, and access international best practices.
SO WHAT? – The MBRIF guarantee is a small but pointed signal that the UAE government’s agentic AI roll-out can create opportunities for startups. The UAE is currently executing a nation-wide progamme to embed AI into 50 percent of federal government services and operations. Built by former government insiders, 01Gov has pioneered a range of Arabic language products and services for government departments in the UAE and in the wider region. The new MBRIF guarantee could be a timely vote of confidence for 01Gov, as government departments across the country look for new ways to leverage agentic AI and partners to support their effort.
KEY POINTS:
Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) has issued an AED 1.5 million ($410k) credit guarantee to Dubai-founded GovTech startup 01Gov, to fund the growth of its AI-powered government development platform and agentic AI system, One.
MBRIF is a federal initiative launched by the UAE Ministry of Finance and operated by Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Development Bank. It has supported innovators since 2016 through its Guarantee Scheme, which provides government-backed funding without taking equity in member companies.
01Gov’s platform is a cloud-based solution available online and via mobile app, designed specifically for government entities. It gives public sector professionals tools to track global trends, run benchmarking studies, generate ideas, operate idea labs, and engage in continuous learning.
The agentic AI system “One” sits at the core of 01Gov’s development roadmap. The MBRIF guarantee will directly fund its advancement and deepen platform capabilities for the company’s existing government client base.
01Gov was founded in Dubai in 2013 by a leadership team with direct UAE government experience. Its AI direction is led by Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, an internationally recognised authority in artificial intelligence and future foresight.
CEO Ibrahim Ahmed El Badawi is a former public servant and past recipient of a Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government scholarship.
MBRIF’s Guarantee Scheme provides affordable debt financing to innovative companies, supporting the UAE’s broader goals of economic diversification and sustainable development. Its second programme, the MBRIF Accelerator, has been running since December 2018.
ZOOM OUT – The UAE federal government is moving fast on agentic AI. In April 2026, the UAE Cabinet approved a framework to deploy agentic AI across 50 percent of government sectors, services and operations within two years. The first cohort of live AI agents, covering procurement, tax auditing, customer happiness and technical support, was launched earlier this month. The broader federal AI strategy already includes an AI-powered regulatory intelligence system designed to accelerate law-making by up to 70 percent. Research published by global business school INSEAD concludes that the UAE has gone further than any comparable government in treating AI as public infrastructure rather than a set of isolated projects.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Sources: MBRIF, MEAIN