RIYADH
February 13, 2026
Saudi Aramco has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to explore industrial artificial intelligence initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening digital sovereignty, and expanding technical workforce capabilities in Saudi Arabia. The agreement builds on the long-standing collaboration between the two companies and focuses on integrating AI-driven solutions into core industrial operations.
Under the agreement, Aramco will explore deploying industrial AI systems built on Microsoft Azure to improve operational performance and support the development of technology-enabled energy systems. The collaboration also includes evaluating opportunities to co-develop and commercialize industrial AI solutions for the global energy sector, potentially establishing a marketplace for Saudi-developed technologies.
A key area of focus is digital sovereignty, with both companies examining frameworks for deploying cloud solutions with enhanced sovereign controls to meet national data residency and governance requirements. The initiative reflects growing regional emphasis on secure and locally governed digital infrastructure as part of broader digital transformation strategies.
The partnership also aims to streamline Aramco’s global digital architecture and engage Saudi technology integrators to expand AI adoption across the industrial value chain. In parallel, workforce development remains a central component of the collaboration, with plans to explore training programs focused on AI engineering, cybersecurity, data governance, and product management to support long-term skills development in the Kingdom.
The agreement highlights the increasing role of industrial AI in transforming large-scale operations, with both companies emphasizing responsible AI deployment, governance, and scalability as essential elements of future industrial innovation aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
