Saudi Arabia taking major steps to transform the kingdom into global AI Hub
Saudi Arabia has designated 2026 as
the Year of Artificial Intelligence, a major step aimed at accelerating the
country’s transformation into a global AI hub under its Vision 2030 strategy. The
initiative follows guidance from Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince
Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who also chairs the Saudi Data and Artificial
Intelligence Authority.
The Kingdom has already shown notable progress in artificial intelligence development. In the 2025 Global AI Index, Saudi Arabia ranked 14th worldwide and holds the leading position in the Arab world for AI model development. Investment momentum is also growing, with public spending on emerging technologies rising by more than 56% in 2024, while AI companies secured around $9.1 billion in funding.
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playing a key role in transformation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Since its establishment in 2019, the Saudi Data
and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has overseen the National
Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence. This strategy is built on six
key pillars—ambition, capabilities, governance, investment, innovation, and
ecosystem development—and has shifted the country’s focus from long-term
planning toward large-scale implementation.
A major part of this implementation involves
strengthening AI infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Significant projects
include the Shaheen III supercomputer and the Hexagon data centre, described as
the world’s largest government data facility. The centre is designed with an
energy capacity of 480 megawatts and advanced systems for processing and
securing large volumes of government data.
Saudi Arabia has also expanded its national data ecosystem through a National Data Lake, which integrates information from more than 430 government systems. This platform is intended to improve data accessibility, enable advanced analytics, and support AI-driven solutions across sectors such as public services, economic planning, and national security.
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Developing skilled talent remains another core
priority. More than 11,000 specialists have been trained in data and AI-related
fields, while the SAMAI program has engaged over one million participants,
reflecting widespread public interest and helping prepare the workforce for
future technology-driven jobs.
International collaboration is also growing. Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation to join the Global Partnership on AI, and Riyadh now hosts the UNESCO-backed International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), which promotes responsible and ethical AI development worldwide.
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Together, these initiatives support Saudi Arabia’s broader goal of economic diversification and digital transformation. Through investments in strategy, infrastructure, talent development, regulation, and international cooperation, the Kingdom is positioning artificial intelligence as a key driver of national progress and global technological collaboration.
Source:
One Arabia
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