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Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’ to Boost Data Economy

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Al Authority, speaks during the Global Al Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri  
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Al Authority, speaks during the Global Al Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri  
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Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’ to Boost Data Economy

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Al Authority, speaks during the Global Al Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri  
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Al Authority, speaks during the Global Al Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri  

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.

 

 

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Business

Syria-US Gas Deal Aims to Ease Financial Bottleneck

Syria’s Jihar gas field, one of the country’s major gas fields, in the desert west of Palmyra in Homs province. Syrian Energy Ministry/File Photo
Syria’s Jihar gas field, one of the country’s major gas fields, in the desert west of Palmyra in Homs province. Syrian Energy Ministry/File Photo
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Syria-US Gas Deal Aims to Ease Financial Bottleneck

Syria’s Jihar gas field, one of the country’s major gas fields, in the desert west of Palmyra in Homs province. Syrian Energy Ministry/File Photo
Syria’s Jihar gas field, one of the country’s major gas fields, in the desert west of Palmyra in Homs province. Syrian Energy Ministry/File Photo

The Syrian Petroleum Company has signed a major implementation contract with US companies ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy to develop gas fields and raise production, marking the most significant strategic breakthrough in economic and political ties between Damascus and Washington since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024.

The agreement is the first major US energy deal in Syria in years. It also offers the clearest sign yet that the country has entered a phase of “integrated implementation” after US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions in July 2025.

The contract follows earlier US moves, beginning in early 2026, through memoranda of understanding with other companies, including Chevron for offshore exploration and HKN Energy for the onshore Rmeilan fields.

But the ConocoPhillips deal stands out as the largest binding implementation contract to develop Syria’s domestic gas sector, backed by Gulf and European alliances and financing aimed at ending the country’s acute energy crisis.

Energy experts say the deal, based on understandings reached last November, will go beyond the technical oil and gas sector. They see it as an international “vote of confidence” that could help break the financial bottleneck facing Syria’s new government, whose 2026 budget deficit is estimated at about $1.8 billion.

The US return comes as major regional and international players move into Syria’s energy sector through parallel contracts and partnerships with Saudi companies, including ADES, as well as Qatari and French firms. Together, these moves place Syria’s gas sector on the edge of a promising new phase that could drive recovery and reconstruction.

The contract puts earlier understandings into effect. In November 2025, the Syrian Petroleum Company signed a memorandum of understanding with ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy. Technical, legal and commercial talks followed, culminating in the latest agreement.

Importance of the contract

Syrian academic and energy expert Ziad Arbash said the deal matters because it turns a memorandum of understanding into an implementation contract. It sends a strong signal to global markets, he said, that Syria has become an attractive destination for oil and gas investment.

He said the agreement would also raise the “level of oil activity” in Syria in tangible ways: more work teams, engineers and technicians in the fields, modern rigs and equipment built to the latest technical standards, and stronger infrastructure and logistics to support company operations.

Arbash told Asharq Al-Awsat that every additional company operating in Syria helps draw in others. That, he said, lowers operating costs through economies of scale and the exchange of expertise, while creating a competitive environment that benefits the national economy.

A vote of confidence

The contract could have a wider ripple effect. For Arbash, the presence of a company the size of ConocoPhillips in the Syrian market is “a vote of confidence for other companies.”

He said it reduces the perceived risks of investing in Syria and demonstrates the Syrian government’s commitment to creating an investment environment that can attract major international firms.

Recent indicators point in the same direction. The Syrian Petroleum Company signed a contract with Saudi Arabia’s ADES to develop gas fields in April, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US company Chevron and a Qatari company in February. Reports have also pointed to alliances between US and Saudi companies to invest in northeastern Syria.

Breaking the financial bottleneck

The new Syrian government inherited a shattered economy from the previous government and is struggling with a budget deficit of about $1.8 billion.

According to figures presented by Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh at an April news conference announcing the 2026 budget, revenues are estimated at about 959 billion Syrian pounds, or around $8.7 billion, against spending of 1,056.7 billion pounds, or about $10.5 billion.

Arbash described the contract as “a pivotal step in overcoming the financial bottleneck” in the state budget through two linked tracks.

The first is easing the import bill. Syria currently depends on imports and regional supplies to improve electricity provision. At its pre-war peak, gas output stood at about 28 million cubic meters per day. It has since fallen to roughly a third of that level.

The government aims to raise production to about 15 million cubic meters per day next year. The contract is expected to add between 4 million and 5 million cubic meters per day within one year of work beginning. According to Arbash, that would sharply reduce the cost of importing oil and petroleum products, while better securing local gas needs for electricity and other vital sectors.

The second track is “exports and revenues.” Once Syria achieves a production surplus, it could move toward exports, generating hard currency that would ease pressure on the state budget and strengthen its ability to finance reconstruction and development projects.

Current estimates suggest the first phase of the project could increase production within one year of work beginning. Arbash urged caution, however, saying: “Let us be realistic and add another year before reaching the increase of 5 million cubic meters per day.”

An important breakthrough in bilateral relations

The contract was signed as relations between Syria’s new authorities and the Trump administration continue to improve after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s rule in late 2024.

Arbash said the agreement represents an important breakthrough in relations between the two countries. It is the first implementation contract with a major US oil and gas company since Assad’s fall, reflects a shift in US policy toward Syria, and opens a channel for direct economic cooperation that could positively impact other political files.

The signing came as Damascus continues efforts to attract US investment. Syrian Energy Minister Mohamed al-Bashir discussed investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector with US officials last week.

According to Arbash, the deal could pave the way for broader normalization between the two countries, especially as other US companies enter the scene, including Baker Hughes, Hunt Energy and Argent LNG, which are preparing a comprehensive plan to develop Syria’s energy sector.

Current state of gas fields and production

Syria’s gas sector faces a long road back from the deep supply deficit left by 14 years of conflict. A United Nations report estimates direct and indirect losses to the oil and gas sector at more than $115 billion between 2011 and 2023.

Current production data published on the US Embassy in Damascus page shows a total domestic gas supply of only 7-10 million cubic meters per day. That is a steep fall from the pre-war peak of up to 30 million cubic meters per day.

Demand, meanwhile, has risen to between 23 million and 30 million cubic meters per day, driven mainly by the severe shortage in electricity generation. The gap leaves a daily shortfall of up to 15 million cubic meters, placing heavy constraints on power plants.

That is why Damascus has set its sights on a strategic goal for 2030: using the new international partnerships to double gas production before the end of the decade.

Infrastructure

The sector suffered heavy damage during the war, including to fields, facilities and transmission lines. Sanctions also obstructed maintenance for years. Still, Arbash said that developing proven gas reserves estimated at about 285 billion cubic meters could allow current production to return to its pre-war peak of 28 million cubic meters per day within four years.

Syria needs about 23 million cubic meters of water per day to ensure continuous electricity supplies.

For now, the country relies on imports and regional supplies to improve electricity provision. These include a project to supply Azerbaijani gas through Türkiye with Qatari financing, providing about 3.4 million cubic meters per day, or to supply it directly from Qatar through Jordan.

Syria is currently focused on rehabilitating infrastructure at existing fields through contracts with companies such as Saudi Arabia’s ADES. It also aims to double production through strategic partnerships with international companies, as reflected in the contract with ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy.

For Arbash, the signing marks “a qualitative shift in Syria’s energy sector” at a critical moment. Syria, he said, is trying to overcome its financial bottleneck, raise the “level of oil activity,” restore international confidence, attract additional Arab and Western investment, and “open a new page in Syrian-US relations through direct economic cooperation.”

“With expectations that the fruits of this contract will begin to appear within a year, and with parallel projects involving Saudi, Qatari and French companies, Syria’s gas sector is entering a promising phase that could become a main driver of economic recovery and a way out of the suffocating financial crisis, provided there is transparency in tendering and implementation,” Arbash said.

Where are the fields?

The agreements quickly had an impact on the ground. The Syrian Petroleum Company recently took over oil and gas fields that had been controlled by the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in the northeast, extending government control over resources concentrated in three main areas.

The eastern region, including Deir Ezzor and Hasakah, includes the Conoco field northeast of Deir Ezzor. ConocoPhillips established the field in 2001 with a capacity of 4.7 billion cubic meters a year. It produced 13 million cubic meters per day before halting operations because of attacks. The region also includes the al-Jabsa field in Hasakah. Together, the two fields accounted for 53% of Syria’s production before 2011.

The central region and the Homs desert include al-Shaer, the country’s largest field, with a production capacity of 35 million cubic meters per year in 2010. The area also includes the al-Jihar field west of Palmyra, as well as the al-Mahr and al-Jazal fields.

Arbash concluded that, based on these combined indicators, Syria’s gas sector is entering a promising phase capable of leading economic recovery and easing the suffocating financial crisis, provided the highest standards of “transparency in tendering and implementation” are upheld.

 

Business

Riyadh Air Wins Approval to Operate US Flights

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of Saudi airline Riyadh Air is pictured on the tarmac at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of Saudi airline Riyadh Air is pictured on the tarmac at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Riyadh Air Wins Approval to Operate US Flights

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of Saudi airline Riyadh Air is pictured on the tarmac at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 7, 2026. (AFP)
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of Saudi airline Riyadh Air is pictured on the tarmac at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 7, 2026. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia's new airline Riyadh Air won the right to operate flights to and from the United States, the US Transportation Department said in an order Tuesday.

The airline launched its first London flight on its new Boeing fleet last week. Launched in 2023, Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia's second national airline ‌after Saudia, ‌and is owned by the country's ‌Public ⁠Investment Fund.

USDOT ⁠said "the grant of this authority is consistent with the public interest."

Riyadh Air told USDOT when it sought approval last month that it intends to operate to more than 100 international destinations by 2030 and currently ⁠has or is planning partnerships with ‌at least 10 ‌international air carriers including Delta Air Lines.

Delta has said ‌it plans to begin nonstop service ‌to Riyadh from Atlanta in October.

Deliveries are set to bring its fleet to eight by the end of July, and it plans to fly ‌to 22 cities by March 2027, Riyadh CEO Tony Douglas said last ⁠week.

With ⁠up to 72 787s and as many as 60 A321neos and 50 A350s on order, Douglas calls it "the biggest global aviation startup in modern history".

The airline is part of the Kingdom's plan to diversify its economy into new industries such as tourism, logistics and technology.

Riyadh Air has announced routes to Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester so far, and cities in India are likely to follow, Douglas said.

Business

Exxon Mobil to Supply South Africa's First Planned LNG Terminal

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Gas prices are displayed at an Exxon Mobil gas station on June 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Gas prices are displayed at an Exxon Mobil gas station on June 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP
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Exxon Mobil to Supply South Africa's First Planned LNG Terminal

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Gas prices are displayed at an Exxon Mobil gas station on June 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Gas prices are displayed at an Exxon Mobil gas station on June 16, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP

Exxon Mobil has signed a preliminary deal to supply liquefied natural gas to Zululand Energy Terminal, which will be South Africa's first LNG import facility once built, the companies said on Wednesday.

The planned terminal is part of South Africa's pivot away from coal-fired power generation, which accounts for the bulk of its electricity supply.

Reuters reported in March that the Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) hoped to strike a deal with Exxon Mobil on LNG supply.

Exxon Mobil's ⁠participation helps reinforce ⁠the importance of Richards Bay port, where ZET is being built on South Africa's east coast, as an entry point for LNG and supports plans to unlock a "competitive and sustainable gas market", said Oliver Naidu, ZET director.

Exxon Mobil has identified South Africa ⁠as a priority market and wants to grow its LNG supply to more than 40 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) by 2030.

"This agreement reflects Exxon Mobil's global LNG experience and our commitment to support South Africa's energy security with reliable supply," said Andrew Barry, chairman of ExxonMobil LNG Market Development Inc.

Earlier this month, South African state power utility Eskom signed a long-term LNG agreement with ZET that will support a planned ⁠3,000 ⁠megawatt gas-to-power plant project.

Phase 1 of the terminal includes a floating storage unit and an onshore regasification system with capacity of around 3 mtpa, or 400 million standard cubic feet of gas a day.

Phase 2, which will bring the project's total expected cost to $1 billion, will introduce extra regasification capacity and storage onshore, boosting total volumes to 4.5 mtpa, or about 600 million standard cubic feet a day, Naidu said.