Intl. Companies Intend to Invest in AI, Robotics in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia to adopt AI technology and robotics by providing an attractive local investment environment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia to adopt AI technology and robotics by providing an attractive local investment environment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Intl. Companies Intend to Invest in AI, Robotics in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia to adopt AI technology and robotics by providing an attractive local investment environment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia to adopt AI technology and robotics by providing an attractive local investment environment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Major international companies intend to invest in artificial intelligence and robotics in Saudi Arabia, senior investors told Asharq Al-Awsat.

AI Investor Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Meleihi said that Saudi Arabia aims at establishing 400 startup companies in artificial intelligence.

He added that the Kingdom was seeking to provide a more attractive environment for foreign investments, pointing to a gathering of Saudi and foreign companies led by the Saudi Excellence Holding Company, which intends to introduce advanced technologies in the field of artificial intelligence and unveil new technologies.

He added that investments in AI are expected to surpass $150 million over the next two years.

For his part, Sem Koksal, CEO and partner of Legacy Technologies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the quality and nature of Saudi public and private initiatives enhanced the AI technology industry.

He also stressed that the AI sector would increase the attractiveness of foreign investments in the Kingdom.

Dr. Muhammad Al-Shuhail, Advisor to the chairman of Prince Sultan College of Business and a specialist in AI and technology, emphasized a Saudi endeavor to develop the technology sector, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

While he highlighted Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation process, Al-Shuhail pointed to the construction of smart cities, including NEOM.

The second edition of the Global AI Summit concluded on Friday in Riyadh.

Organized by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA), the summit highlighted the means to maximize the use of the sector’s technologies, along with developments, challenges and solutions in the smart city sectors, human capacity development, health care, transportation, energy, culture and heritage, environment, and economic mobility.

The summit was attended by a large number of experts, specialists and officials in government agencies and global technology companies.



GASTAT: Saudi Non-oil Exports Increased by 10.5% in Q2

Containers waiting to be shipped at a Saudi port. SPA
Containers waiting to be shipped at a Saudi port. SPA
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GASTAT: Saudi Non-oil Exports Increased by 10.5% in Q2

Containers waiting to be shipped at a Saudi port. SPA
Containers waiting to be shipped at a Saudi port. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said on Thursday that non-oil exports increased by 10.5% compared to Q2 2023.

According to the International Trade Publication for Q2 of 2024, national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, increased by 1.4%, and the value of re-exported goods increased by 39.1%.

The value of non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose by 4.3%. Merchandise exports decreased by 0.2% compared to Q2 2023, and the value of imports fell by 5.6% due to a 3.3% decrease in oil exports. The share of oil exports in total exports fell to 75.0% from 77.4% in Q2 2023.

Imports rose by 3.0%, and the surplus of the merchandise trade balance decreased by 6.0% compared to Q2 2023.

The value of merchandise exports remained stable compared to Q1 2024. The value of imports decreased by 5.6%, and the surplus of the merchandise trade balance recorded an increase of 13.2%.

GASTAT also issued the International Trade Publication for June 2024, which shows that non-oil exports, including re-exports, increased by 7.3% compared to June 2023. Merchandise exports decreased by 5.8% compared to June 2023 due to a 9.3% decrease in oil exports, and merchandise imports decreased by 5.1%.