As the global race toward a digital economy accelerates and the world enters a new era driven by algorithms, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a key player in the future of advanced technologies.
The Saudi Cabinet has declared 2026 the “Year of Artificial Intelligence,” a decision that reflects a strategic direction placing AI at the center of the Kingdom’s development policies in the coming years.
“This step embodies the vision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s global standing in advanced technologies and creating broad national momentum around their role in shaping a smarter and more sustainable future,” said Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in a statement issued after the decision.
Al-Ghamdi added that the “Year of Artificial Intelligence” reflects Saudi Arabia’s scientific, cultural and humanitarian commitment to deploying these technologies in service of humanity and making them an effective tool for improving people’s lives worldwide.
He said the nationwide celebration of the year highlights the kingdom’s position as an international hub for advanced technologies and an influential actor in shaping global AI policy.
According to Al-Ghamdi, artificial intelligence has become one of the most powerful drivers of the global economy. Advanced economies increasingly rely on it to boost growth and improve quality of life by transforming vital sectors such as healthcare, education, transport, energy and security, while accelerating innovation and strengthening competitiveness.
Building a National AI Ecosystem
In recent years, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, established by royal decree in 2019 with direct support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has worked to build an integrated national ecosystem for data and artificial intelligence.
This effort has included expanding digital infrastructure, launching the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, developing regulatory and governance frameworks, and introducing national platforms and programs to encourage the adoption of AI technologies across multiple sectors.
The authority has also hosted major international events in the field, most notably the Global AI Summit, which is preparing to hold its fourth edition in September under the patronage of the Crown Prince. The summit brings together leading experts, policymakers, and major technology companies from around the world.
These initiatives have helped Saudi Arabia achieve advanced rankings in several global indices related to data and artificial intelligence. They have also expanded the use of smart technologies across government, private and nonprofit sectors, improving service efficiency, boosting innovation, and stimulating the digital economy.
As part of efforts to build national capabilities, SDAIA trained more than one million Saudi citizens in artificial intelligence technologies within a single year through the SMAI initiative, reflecting the kingdom’s strategy of preparing a generation capable of working with emerging technologies and leading the country’s digital transformation.
Saudi Arabia’s AI sector is also experiencing rapid investment growth. Government spending on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies rose 56.25 percent in 2024 compared with 2023, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Meanwhile, Saudi companies operating in the AI sector secured $9.1 billion in funding last year through 70 investment deals, while the number of companies working in the data and artificial intelligence sector has reached 664.
Expanding Technological Infrastructure
At the same time, Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its technological infrastructure.
Data center capacity increased 42.4 percent between 2023 and 2024, alongside the launch of advanced projects such as the high-performance supercomputer Shaheen 3 and the development of global-scale data centers designed to support artificial intelligence applications.
In early 2026, the Kingdom also inaugurated Hexagon, the world’s largest government data center, with a capacity of 480 megawatts. Saudi Arabia now hosts nine cloud regions, four of which are under construction by global cloud service providers.
In addition, more than 430 government systems have been integrated into the National Data Lake, strengthening the country’s data infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts extend beyond the domestic arena. The Kingdom has supported international initiatives promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the most notable initiatives is the establishment in Riyadh of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) under the auspices of UNESCO.
As part of strengthening the national AI ecosystem, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced in May 2025 the launch of Humain, a company owned by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The firm aims to develop and manage artificial intelligence solutions and invest across the sector.
The company is working on advanced AI models, including one of the most prominent large language models in Arabic. It is also developing next-generation data centers and cloud computing infrastructure, strengthening local technological capabilities and opening new opportunities for the digital economy both regionally and globally.
The Public Investment Fund and its portfolio companies are also supporting the AI ecosystem through investments and international partnerships, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic position between three continents, which facilitates connections between global data networks and enables rapid processing of vast data volumes.
The Kingdom’s rapidly growing economy and large youth population interested in emerging technologies are also contributing to capacity building, research and innovation in the field.
