By Dr. Majid Rafizadeh | August 28, 2025 | Arab News
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the defining technology of the 21st century, reshaping economies, national security, and societies. For Saudi Arabia, AI is not just a technological frontier—it is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term strategy for economic diversification and global influence.
AI as a National Priority
AI is no longer an optional investment; it is the backbone of the next industrial revolution. In the Middle East, the technology carries strategic importance: powering new industries, creating jobs for one of the world’s youngest populations, and enabling economic diversification away from oil. For the Arab world, developing Arabic-language AI systems also ensures cultural identity and history are preserved in the digital future.
Saudi Arabia: Regional Leader, Global Player
Saudi Arabia has emerged as the region’s undisputed AI leader, rapidly positioning itself as a global hub. Guided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom has adopted a whole-of-government strategy spanning regulation, infrastructure, education, and partnerships.
Key initiatives include:
- Establishing the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to oversee AI governance.
- Enacting the Personal Data Protection Law to attract global investors while ensuring responsible data use.
- Investing heavily in infrastructure, including the Shaheen III supercomputer for AI research.
- Launching Humain, a state-owned AI company tasked with building data centers, Arabic-language models, and forging international partnerships.
At global conferences like LEAP in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has announced multibillion-dollar investments in AI, showcasing tangible progress and signaling its intent to shape international AI standards.
Global Partnerships and Arabic AI
Saudi Arabia has signed deals with AMD, Qualcomm, Groq, and Google Cloud, becoming an indispensable partner for global tech leaders. At the same time, the Kingdom is prioritizing Arabic-language AI models, filling a critical gap in global development and positioning itself as the technology voice of the Arabic-speaking world.
Empowering Local Talent
Beyond infrastructure, the Kingdom is investing in its people. Scholarships, specialized training programs, and incentives are building a domestic AI-ready workforce capable of sustaining long-term innovation. This approach combines financial power, regulatory clarity, and education to create one of the world’s most comprehensive AI ecosystems.
Implications for the Region and Beyond
Saudi Arabia’s rapid AI progress demonstrates that Middle Eastern nations can leapfrog traditional development stages and become leaders in future industries. By turning energy wealth into digital leadership, the Kingdom sets a model for how countries can transition into knowledge economies while influencing global technology governance.
Conclusion
Through Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has transformed AI into a national priority, securing its role as a global hub for innovation. With infrastructure, regulation, and talent development aligned, the Kingdom is on track to achieve AI supremacy—setting the standard for how nations can harness artificial intelligence to secure economic prosperity and global influence.
