Latest

Father-Son Duo at UAE’s Opteam Lands Pre-Seed Funding, Pioneers AI-Driven Construction Management

Omar Wael
Omar Wael

3 min

Opteam leverages artificial intelligence to make project management more efficient—cutting down on manual planning tasks and accelerating schedules.

Plus VC led the round, joined by Dar Ventures, SIAC Ventures, and Oraseya Capital—key players in the MENA construction and startup landscape.

By deploying data analytics and automation, Opteam intends to reduce infrastructure resource requirements by 30%.

Funds will be channeled into enhancing the platform’s AI capabilities, growing the team, and broadening operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Founded by Dr.

Tarek Hegazy (a professor with a 20-year track record in computational project management) and his son Ahmed Hegazy (a former global software sales executive), Opteam brings together academic insight and tech-savvy entrepreneurial experience.

In a region renowned for ambitious skyscrapers and sprawling infrastructure projects, Opteam—a UAE-based construction technology startup—has announced a successful pre-seed funding round. Leading the charge is Plus VC, a prominent venture capital firm that has a knack for backing cutting-edge ideas in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Also taking part are Dar Ventures (the venture capital arm of Dar), SIAC Ventures (connected with SIAC Construction), and Oraseya Capital (the venture fund of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority). This strategic investment underscores the growing interest in AI-driven solutions, especially in the ever-evolving construction industry.

Founded in 2020 by a father-son team—Dr. Tarek Hegazy and Ahmed HegazyOpteam’s mission is to banish tedious manual processes and offer a streamlined approach to construction project management. Dr. Tarek, who has spent two decades researching and teaching computational project management, spotted a serious inefficiency in the way large-scale construction endeavors are planned and executed. Meanwhile, his son Ahmed brought valuable corporate experience from his background in software sales with international tech giants. The combination of academic insight and commercial know-how has given birth to an AI-driven platform that promises to ease some of the most persistent pain points in construction.

At its core, Opteam’s software delivers real-time dashboards, mobile progress tracking, and intelligent schedule optimization—all in one cohesive ecosystem. By leveraging advanced data analytics, the startup aims to shrink the typical planning cycle from weeks down to a matter of minutes. “Opteam is a tool that will finally automate so many of the manual tasks in construction,” remarked Dr. Tarek in a recent press statement. “The Middle East suffers from some of the highest time and cost overruns globally, and our platform offers a much-needed solution.”

This new capital injection will help Opteam strengthen its AI capabilities, expand its workforce, and reinforce its footprint in the UAE and Saudi Arabia—two markets known for high-impact construction projects that often demand quick turnarounds and budget flexibility. Ahmed Hegazy, who serves as Opteam’s CEO, noted that “Partnering with Plus VC rounds off our extremely strategic group of investors, spanning key players in construction, the MENA region, and the startup ecosystem.”

Investors, for their part, appear equally enthusiastic. Hasan Haider, Managing Partner at Plus VC, praised Opteam’s knack for “breaking new ground in construction technology,” pointing to its innovative approach in tackling the industry’s most stubborn inefficiencies. Meanwhile, Faysal Shair, Co-Founder and Director of Dar Ventures, pointed out how “Opteam has developed a strong business case by disrupting project management on construction sites, delivering better outcomes and streamlining progress.”

Read next

All eyes are now on Opteam as it gears up to show how AI can reimagine construction planning and reduce resource waste, something that could redefine how we build in the Middle East and beyond. If Opteam fulfills its promise of cutting infrastructure resource needs by 30%, it could mark a game-changing moment in a sector eager for user-friendly tech solutions.

Ultimately, this funding not only reflects confidence in Opteam’s leadership and innovative platform but also signals a rising wave of digital transformation in the construction world. For now, the father-son duo remains laser-focused on refining their AI tools, bolstering their team, and continuing to simplify project management—one massive building site at a time.

Read next