عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia Reshapes the Future of the Digital Economy Through Advanced Digital Infrastructure, Global Partnerships

File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Reshapes the Future of the Digital Economy Through Advanced Digital Infrastructure, Global Partnerships

File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT

Saudi Arabia has leveraged its advanced digital infrastructure and partnerships with leading global technology companies to establish its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence investment, underpinned by competitive advantages that include reliable energy, vast land availability, and a strategic geographic location.

The Kingdom has made rapid strides in the data center sector, with capacity increasing from 68 MW in 2021 to more than 467 MW in the first quarter of 2026, supported by investments exceeding SAR56.2 billion in data centers and digital infrastructure. The sector has grown more than sixfold since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, as part of a national data and AI strategy that contributes to economic diversification and strengthens the Kingdom’s readiness for the knowledge economy.

Saudi Arabia has further strengthened its position as a global destination for technology investment by attracting some of the world’s largest cloud service providers. The Kingdom hosts operations for Oracle, Alibaba Cloud, and Google Cloud, alongside an SAR11 billion strategic partnership between HUMAIN and Blackstone, reflecting growing global confidence in Saudi Arabia’s digital investment environment, SPA reported.

This investment appeal is underpinned by a comprehensive set of competitive advantages, including abundant energy resources, extensive land available for data center expansion, and a geographic location connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, positioning the Kingdom second globally in data center market attractiveness.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership has extended to helping shape the future of the global digital economy. As one of the leading G20 countries in the communications and technology sector, the Kingdom led G20 consensus on a roadmap for defining and measuring the digital economy and the adoption of human-centered, trustworthy AI principles. It also contributed to transforming the Digital Economy Task Force into a permanent working group, reinforcing its role as an international partner in advancing digital policies and strengthening global cooperation in technology.

As part of its efforts to bridge the global digital divide, the Kingdom has led pioneering initiatives, including a 5G trial using High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), which demonstrated the ability to cover nearly half a million square kilometers in remote areas. Saudi Arabia also conducted the first-of-its-kind trial integrating non-terrestrial networks (NTN) with terrestrial networks, offering a future solution for expanding connectivity and accelerating access for unconnected communities.

These achievements have been reflected in the Kingdom’s performance across international indicators. Saudi Arabia ranked first globally twice in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 ICT Development Index, outperforming 159 countries, reflecting the strength of its integrated digital infrastructure, widespread connectivity, and high levels of digital adoption. The Kingdom also ranked second among G20 countries in the ITU’s ICT Regulatory Tracker and second among G20 countries in digital competitiveness according to the European Center for Digital Competitiveness, while digital infrastructure coverage reached approximately 99% of the Kingdom’s population.

Saudi Arabia has continued to strengthen its standing across global AI indices, ranking first in the Arab world and 14th globally in the Global AI Index. The Kingdom also ranked first globally in AI security, privacy, and encryption; first in women’s empowerment in AI; third globally in the development of advanced AI models; and third in the share of specialized AI talent, while recording the world’s highest growth rate in specialized talent. It also ranked fourth globally in attracting international talent.

The impact of this progress has extended to empowering people and improving quality of life. Saudi Arabia launched the world’s largest virtual hospital, leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to deliver advanced healthcare services. The Kingdom has also made significant strides in empowering women in the technology sector, with their participation rising from 7% to 35%, surpassing the averages of both the G20 and the European Union. This reflects the success of investing in human capital alongside investment in digital infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia’s readiness has also received recognition from independent international institutions. JLL, as reported by Bloomberg, expects Riyadh to lead the growth of AI-related data centers in the Middle East, further underscoring the Kingdom’s growing position as one of the world’s leading destinations for investment in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

France Lowers Growth Forecast, Will Miss Deficit Target

French Minister for Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure gestures as he speaks during a press conference to update the governments growth and fiscal deficit forecasts for the 2027 budget, at the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris, France, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
French Minister for Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure gestures as he speaks during a press conference to update the governments growth and fiscal deficit forecasts for the 2027 budget, at the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris, France, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
TT
TT

France Lowers Growth Forecast, Will Miss Deficit Target

French Minister for Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure gestures as he speaks during a press conference to update the governments growth and fiscal deficit forecasts for the 2027 budget, at the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris, France, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
French Minister for Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure gestures as he speaks during a press conference to update the governments growth and fiscal deficit forecasts for the 2027 budget, at the Bercy Economy and Finance Ministry in Paris, France, September 11, 2026. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

France's economy will grow less than expected this year and the government will miss its budget deficit target, Finance Minister Roland Lescure said on Friday.

The downgraded outlook complicates the government's task of getting its 2027 budget passed in the coming months in a deeply divided parliament, where parties have hardened their positions before an April-May two-round presidential election.

Lescure told journalists he was lowering the government's 2026 economic growth forecast to 0.5% from 0.7% previously, but stuck with a ⁠projection of 1.0% ⁠for next year.

"This year has been marked by extreme crises involving four different types of shocks," Lescure told reporters, according to Reuters.

Slower growth will make it more difficult for the government to trim its fiscal budget deficit as planned to 5.0% of economic output this year.

"The ⁠reality is that the budget was built on a 5% assumption. And the reality is that, today, 5% is no longer an option," Lescure said.

The minister did not give a new deficit target.

The economic fallout from the war in the Middle East and summer heatwaves and drought that hit agriculture output have dragged down growth and put the government's fiscal targets out of reach.

"I think it is reasonable to say that economic ⁠uncertainty has ⁠never been greater than it is today," Lescure said. "We are operating under tight budgetary constraints; there is no more fat to trim."

Further complicating the picture, French borrowing rates have surged in recent weeks as investors have identified France as one of the weaker links in a global bond selloff due to its weak public finances and serial slippage on its deficit-reduction plans.

Lescure stressed that France had no difficulties in issuing debt, but acknowledged that it now cost more.

Business

ECB Policymakers Open Door to More Rate Hikes on Energy Risk

The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
TT
TT

ECB Policymakers Open Door to More Rate Hikes on Energy Risk

The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
The logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) is pictured outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

Two European Central Bank policymakers opened the door on Friday to further interest rate increases if a war-fueled rise in energy prices continues and pushes up other prices in the euro zone.

The ECB raised borrowing costs on Thursday for the second time this year and sources told Reuters policymakers expect further policy tightening in the months ahead, with a move possible as early ⁠as October.

The central ⁠bankers of Germany and Estonia acknowledged this prospect on Friday although they both stressed any move would depend on how oil and gas prices develop.

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said the ECB might need to raise rates to a level that mildly curbs the economy.

"I will not exclude that we have to ⁠go into the mild restrictive territory, but as I said, it's very much dependent on how the energy prices evolve, how the price picture is evolving over the course of maybe the next month," he told CNBC in an interview, according to Reuters.

The euro zone central bank increased its key rate from 2.25% to 2.50%, bringing it to the upper end of its estimated neutral range, which neither stimulates nor slows down the economy.

Money markets have started pricing in at least another three ECB rate hikes over the next ⁠year.

Ülo Kaasik, ⁠Estonia's central bank governor, said such expectations were "understandable" given the latest increase in fuel prices and the risk that food would also become more expensive.

"Recent developments in energy markets, for example, indicate the possibility that the price increase for gas and fuels will be much larger and last longer than expected in the forecast," he said in a blog post.

Slovenia's central bank governor Primož Dolenc also warned in a blog post about "rising energy and electricity costs in the autumn and winter months".

The ECB on Thursday slightly increased its projections for growth and inflation but these did not capture the latest energy price moves.

Business

Dollar Holds Gains, Yen Slips as Middle East Energy Shock Deepens

14 January 2020, Iraq, Baghdad: US dollar banknotes are pictured at a currency exchange service provider. (dpa)
14 January 2020, Iraq, Baghdad: US dollar banknotes are pictured at a currency exchange service provider. (dpa)
TT
TT

Dollar Holds Gains, Yen Slips as Middle East Energy Shock Deepens

14 January 2020, Iraq, Baghdad: US dollar banknotes are pictured at a currency exchange service provider. (dpa)
14 January 2020, Iraq, Baghdad: US dollar banknotes are pictured at a currency exchange service provider. (dpa)

The dollar held near its highest levels of the past week in Asian trading on Friday as renewed fears of energy supply disruptions in the Middle East pushed up bond yields and oil prices.

The US dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading flat at 99.084, after strengthening to its highest level since September 7 during the previous session. The rise followed the release of data showing US producer prices increased 0.4% in August, meeting market expectations as energy prices rebounded during the month.

"The safe-haven US dollar gained on risk-aversion flows, helped by higher energy prices that have lifted the chance of a Fed hike next week to 70%," said ‌Tony Sycamore, market ‌analyst at IG in Sydney.

Energy prices snapped a five-day gaining streak, with Brent crude ‌futures ⁠down 0.6% at $106.99 ⁠a barrel in Asian trade.

But both major benchmarks remained above the $100 mark earlier this week, with WTI futures surging across the threshold on Thursday for the first time since May 21.

Against the yen, the US dollar was down 0.2% at 154.105 yen and on track for its second consecutive week of declines, while the euro slipped 0.2% to 178.99 yen after the European Central Bank hiked interest rates on Thursday for the second time this year.

The Japanese currency regained ⁠some strength after data released on Friday showed wholesale inflation rose 7.6% in August ‌from a year earlier, bolstering the case for a rate ‌hike this month.

The Bank of Japan is set to raise interest rates next week, most likely by 25 basis points, and ‌may signal faster future tightening if price pressures heighten risks of an inflation overshoot, four sources familiar with ‌its thinking told Reuters.

The kiwi dollar was up 0.5% at $0.5827, retracing a selloff on Thursday that has put the currency on track for its third week of declines. New Zealand's 10-year government bond yields rose by 15.5 basis points to 5.06% on Friday, extending the biggest two-day jump in borrowing costs since last year's "Liberation Day" selloff.

"New Zealand seems to have been hit harder ‌than most in the latest leg of the bond market sell-off," said Thomas Mathews, head of markets for Asia Pacific at Capital Economics in Wellington.

The Australian dollar ⁠was up 0.2% at $0.7167.

Both ⁠the euro and the British pound were level against the dollar at $1.1609 and $1.3503, respectively.

PRESSURE BUILDS ON FEDERAL RESERVE

Markets are awaiting the release of US CPI later on Friday, one of the last major economic data points released before the Federal Reserve meets next week.

Fed funds futures are pricing an implied 71.1% probability of a 25-basis-point hike at the US central bank's next two-day meeting ending on September 16, compared with a 61.2% chance in the previous trading session, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

Fixed-income markets remained uneasy after the US Treasury Department tripled the size of its long-dated bond repurchase, with a gauge of bond volatility rising to its highest level in a month. The yield on US 10-year government bonds was up 1.5 basis points at 4.957%.

"10-year US Treasury yields are within striking distance of 5%, as the markets have reassessed the Fed's path higher while term premium is appropriately hovering near pre-GFC levels," Barclays analysts wrote. "We remain of the view that bonds are not cheap yet and catalysts for a rally do not appear imminent."

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was down 0.2% at $77,094.41 while ether was 0.1% lower at $2,457.96.