Qatar-Based Rawdat Capital Partners With China's Sinovation Ventures And 01.AI To Connect Chinese And GCC AI Ecosystems

Qatar-based venture capital (VC) firm Rawdat Capital has signed an exclusive co-investment partnership with China's technology VC firm Sinovation Ventures as well as a separate collaboration agreement with Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company 01.AI to support AI and deep technology investment between China and the MENA.

Rawdat Capital, founded in 2025 by Dalia Al-Khalaf, Oleg Chizh, Marc Norris, and Fred Susov, focuses on connecting China's innovation leaders with the GCC's digital economy opportunities through investment in AI and deep tech. Meanwhile, Sinovation Ventures, which was founded in 2009 by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee (a former President of Google China), manages approximately US$3 billion in assets across 12 funds and has invested in more than 400 technology companies. In 2023, Dr. Lee founded China-based AI company 01.AI, which develops large language models and enterprise AI solutions that support the adoption of generative AI across industries.

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Al-Khalaf, co-founder and Managing Partner of Rawdat Capital, pointed to the two partnerships as a reflection of the Qatari VC firm’s ambition to establish an AI and deep technology investment platform that connects Chinese tech companies with capital, commercial partnerships, and expansion opportunities in the MENA region, especially in the GCC.

"Over the past decade, China has built one of the world’s most dynamic AI ecosystems, producing globally competitive foundation models, enterprise AI solutions, robotics, and deep technology companies at remarkable speed,” Al-Khalaf told Inc. Arabia. “At the same time, the GCC has made AI a national priority, with significant investment, ambitious government strategies, and a clear vision to diversify beyond hydrocarbons. What has been missing is a trusted platform that connects these two ecosystems. Rawdat Capital was established to become that bridge. We believe the relationship should go far beyond capital—it should include technology transfer, talent development, commercialization, and long-term strategic partnerships."

Such an alignment is reflected in the structure of Rawdat Capital's collaborations with both Sinovation Ventures and 01.01. For instance, Rawdat Capital's agreement with 01.AI connects the firm to one of China's leading foundation model companies and its broader AI innovation ecosystem. The collaboration is intended to facilitate the introduction of 01.AI's technologies across the GCC, while creating opportunities for partnerships with enterprises, institutions, and technology partners throughout the region. 

Similarly, through its partnership with Sinovation Ventures, one of China's leading technology VC firms, Rawdat Capital will gain early visibility into high-quality AI startups and strengthen its relationships with founders, researchers, and technology leaders. The partnership also provides co-investment access to Sinovation Ventures' cross-regional AI pipeline and portfolio investments spanning China and the MENA, as well as privileged access to early- and growth-stage deep technology opportunities.

Dalia Al-Khalaf, co-founder of Rawdat Capital.

At the same time, Dr. Lee is also set to chair Rawdat Capital's Advisory Committee, providing strategic guidance on investment discipline, technology trends, AI developments, and access to innovators, investors, and potential exit partners. According to Al-Khalaf, this combination of investment access and advisory guidance reflects a broader philosophy about how AI collaboration between China and the GCC should take shape.

"China offers something particularly valuable for the GCC: commercially proven AI solutions that can be deployed rapidly, often with lower implementation costs and faster development cycles,” Al-Khalaf noted. “It also has an entrepreneurial ecosystem that has successfully built world-leading companies despite operating in an intensely competitive market. For the GCC, the objective is not to choose between the East and the West. It is to build partnerships with the best innovators globally. We believe Chinese AI capabilities can significantly accelerate the region's digital transformation, while creating new opportunities for joint innovation, investment, and regional expansion."

According to Al-Khalaf, the partnerships that Rawdat Capital has engineered reinforce its position as a conduit between AI ecosystems in the GCC and China. “For our investors, this means access to differentiated investment opportunities that are typically difficult to source outside China,” Al-Khalaf explained. “For portfolio companies, we can help accelerate market entry into the GCC through strategic introductions, partnerships, regulatory support, and access to regional customers and capital. Our ambition is to become the partner of choice for Chinese AI companies expanding into the Middle East, while also enabling GCC institutions to access world-class AI technologies and expertise."

Al-Khalaf also shared how she sees Rawdat Capital evolving as the platform grows. "Success for us is measured by impact rather than simply assets under management,” Al-Khalaf said. “We want Rawdat Capital to become the leading AI investment platform connecting China and the GCC, supporting companies, institutions, and entrepreneurs across both regions. We expect the strongest opportunities to emerge in enterprise AI, robotics, intelligent manufacturing, healthcare AI, financial technology, energy, logistics, cybersecurity, and sovereign AI infrastructure. We are particularly interested in companies building practical AI applications that solve large-scale industry challenges rather than pursuing AI for its own sake. Beyond investing, we aim to facilitate technology transfer, establish innovation programs, support founder exchanges, and help position the GCC as a global destination for AI innovation. Ultimately, our vision is to help build a sustainable AI corridor where capital, talent, technology, and ideas flow seamlessly between China and the Gulf, creating long-term value for both regions."

Al-Khalaf also noted that the convergence of China's and the GCC's strategic priorities has created a rare window of opportunity to realize such ambitions. "Today is the right time because both regions are looking East-West, rather than relying on traditional innovation corridors,” she pointed out. “China is seeking international expansion, while the GCC is building AI-native economies. Those priorities are highly complementary, creating a unique opportunity to build lasting value for both sides."

Pictured in the lead image are Rawdat Capital's Dalia Al-Khalaf and Sinovation Ventures and 01.AI's Dr. Kai-Fu Lee. All images courtesy Rawdat Capital.