Abu Dhabi-based legaltech startup Oqood has secured $1 million in seed funding from a group of angel investors to scale its AI-powered legal solutions. The company plans to use the funds to enhance product capabilities, expand into new markets across the GCC, and strengthen its operational infrastructure.
AI Meets Legal Practice in the Gulf
Founded in 2024 by Khaled Al Rashed, Oqood is building AI tools designed to automate routine legal tasks such as document drafting, contract review, and legal research. Its platform aims to help law firms and in-house legal teams reduce administrative work and increase efficiency.
Unlike generic legal AI products, Oqood places strong emphasis on local legal frameworks, language support, and compliance with GCC regulations. This local-first approach has helped it gain early traction in the region.
“Our vision is to make legal services faster, more accessible, and more precise through technology,” said Al Rashed.
Turning Capital Into Expansion
With the fresh funding, Oqood plans to accelerate product development and introduce more advanced AI-driven features, including workflow automation and client-lawyer communication tools. A core part of its strategy is to scale operations beyond the UAE and deepen its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council markets.
The company also intends to strengthen partnerships with law firms and regulatory bodies to ensure its solutions meet local standards and build trust within the legal sector.
A Fast-Growing Legaltech Market
The global legaltech market is estimated to be worth over $31 billion and is expanding rapidly. In the GCC, demand for legal innovation is growing as firms look to modernise traditional practices and compete more efficiently.
Oqood enters this landscape at a time when regional governments are encouraging digital transformation across regulated industries. Legal services, once slow to adopt technology, are now becoming a focus area for AI integration.
Navigating the Challenges Ahead
While the market opportunity is clear, Oqood faces a competitive field. Startups across MENA are racing to develop similar tools, and law firms often remain cautious in adopting new technology. Data security, accuracy, and local legal nuances are likely to be critical factors in determining which players lead.
By combining local expertise with AI capabilities, Oqood aims to position itself as a trusted legaltech partner for the region’s firms and institutions. This seed round marks a key step in scaling that ambition.
