UAE-Based AI Startup OpenCX Raises $7M Ahead of KSA Expansion

UAE-based OpenCX, an AI-native enterprise customer communication platform, has raised $7 million to accelerate growth across global enterprise clients and expand its presence in the Gulf, including plans to open an office in Saudi Arabia in the coming months.

The funding round was led by Y Combinator, participating for the second time, and X by Unifonic, with participation from Shorooq, an Abu Dhabi-headquartered investment firm regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority as a fund manager, and Sadu Capital.

Founded in 2022 by Mohammad Gharbat and Mohammad Tabaza, OpenCX provides enterprise-scale automation across customer communication channels, including voice, chat, email, and messaging. The platform automates more than 70% of the end-to-end customer communication stack, covering support, phone calling, inbound, and outbound workflows. The technology is designed to handle complex, multi-step interactions that adapt to context rather than relying on scripted responses.

The platform originated as an open-source project used by tens of thousands of developers before evolving into a commercial product serving enterprises in regulated and mission-critical sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and large-scale consumer services. Its customer base includes MoneyGram.com, More.com, Viva.com, and Mollie.com.

OpenCX typically follows a demo-led evaluation model, offering a one-month, risk-free implementation with no operational disruption, alongside outcome-based pricing tied to successful automation.

Looking ahead, OpenCX has identified the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, as a key growth market. The company plans to hire locally and work closely with regional enterprises, citing the Kingdom’s accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence as a major driver of demand through 2026.