The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Deloitte Middle East signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a new collaboration aimed at advancing the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Saudi Arabia.
A statement on Monday said the agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications, ensuring that cutting-edge research is not confined to academic circles but instead reaches industries, markets, and communities across Saudi Arabia.
Through this partnership, Deloitte and KAUST will jointly develop projects that address some of the most complex AI challenges, while also focusing on preparing the next generation of AI talent through lectures, workshops, internships, and exchange opportunities.
The two entities will collaborate on knowledge transfer through joint seminars and conferences, with the ambition of commercializing new AI models and intellectual property emerging from the projects. The partnership will also focus on policy and governance, closely examining the ethical implications of AI technologies and their social impact in the Kingdom.
Deloitte Middle East Partner Sultanbek Khunkaev said: “By partnering with KAUST, we seek to ensure that the transformative power of AI is harnessed to deliver real societal and economic outcomes.”
Professor Gianluca Setti, Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST, stated: “We aim to accelerate the development of responsible AI solutions and create new opportunities for talent and knowledge exchange that support Saudi Arabia's leadership in AI and contribute to both national and global priorities.”
The partnership will not be limited to laboratories or classrooms. Industry-specific solutions will be developed in areas where AI can make an immediate impact, whether in health, finance, energy, or logistics, and benchmarking efforts will help establish best practices for adoption. A range of initiatives will grow from the MoU, with both partners committed to developing strategies that can be scaled beyond the Kingdom.
