Saudi Arabia is rapidly establishing itself as a global center for data and artificial intelligence (AI), in line with its Vision 2030 agenda and under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The Kingdom’s commitment was highlighted by the Cabinet’s approval to designate 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, signaling a major push in AI adoption and innovation.
Since its launch in 2019, SDAIA has spearheaded the National Strategy for Data and AI, built around six pillars: ambition, skills development, policy, investment, innovation, and ecosystem growth. These initiatives have propelled Saudi Arabia from planning to execution, with significant advancements in AI regulation, digital infrastructure, and sector development.
Saudi Arabia’s progress is reflected in international recognition. The Kingdom ranked 14th in the 2025 Global AI Index and leads the Arab world in AI model development. Investment in the sector has surged, with government spending on emerging technologies increasing by over 56% in 2024, while AI-focused companies attracted $9.1 billion in funding.
Infrastructure milestones include the Shaheen III supercomputer and the Hexagon Data Center, the world’s largest government-operated data facility with a 480-megawatt capacity. The Kingdom has also built a National Data Lake integrating over 430 government systems, enabling large-scale data analysis and AI applications.
Human capital development is a priority, with over 11,000 AI specialists trained and more than one million participants engaged through the SAMAI program.
On the global stage, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its AI footprint by becoming the first Arab country to join the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and hosting the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, under UNESCO sponsorship. These initiatives underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to ethical and responsible AI, supporting economic diversification while advancing technology for global benefit.
