Qadi, a Dubai-based startup, has secured a pre-seed round to launch what it describes as the region’s first sovereign AI compliance platform. The company emerged from stealth in late 2025, signalling growing demand for automated regulatory tools across the Middle East.
Turning Regional Regulations Into Automated Intelligence
Qadi built its platform to translate local laws, sector rules and institutional policies into AI agents that can evaluate compliance in real time. These agents can review NDAs, MSAs and other contracts; check them against relevant regulatory frameworks; route documents for approval; and confirm when requirements are met.
The startup has also expanded into media-compliance checks, allowing organisations to screen adverts, promotional content and financial communications before publication.
A core part of Qadi’s pitch is sovereignty. Instead of sending sensitive information to an external AI system, the platform runs within an institution’s own environment, giving regulated firms tighter control over data and regulatory logic.
A Push to Strengthen Legal and Financial Workflows
The final months of 2025 saw rising pressure on companies in the Middle East to keep pace with new regulatory expectations. Financial institutions, corporate organisations and law firms must navigate varying rules across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other regional markets.
Qadi positions itself as an automation layer that reduces manual checks and speeds up compliance-heavy workflows. By embedding regulation directly into daily operations, it aims to limit bottlenecks and reduce the risk of costly errors.
Funding to Scale an Ambitious Compliance Platform
The pre-seed round, led by Incubayt, will fund team expansion across AI engineering and regulatory expertise. Qadi plans to roll out its platform to early clients, focusing first on the GCC’s legal and financial sectors.
Founded in 2025 by Mohamad El Charif, the startup is targeting organisations that struggle with fragmented regulatory landscapes and want to operationalise compliance at scale.
A Glimpse of the Compliance Landscape Ahead
Qadi’s entry reflects a broader shift in the Middle East toward AI-enabled governance. As governments introduce new data, financial and advertising rules, companies need tools that interpret and apply these regulations consistently.
