Saudi Arabia Accelerates National AI Ecosystem Development, Aligned with Vision 2030

New Delhi, India – Saudi Arabia is steadily advancing its efforts to establish an integrated national artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, a key component of its ambitious Vision 2030. This announcement was made by Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), during a high-level ministerial session at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, India.

Dr. Alghamdi emphasized that the Kingdom is positioning AI as a trusted national capability, aiming to enhance government services, boost economic competitiveness, develop human capital, and improve the overall quality of life for its citizens. The national AI strategy, known as the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI), is built upon three core pillars designed to unlock the technology's full potential and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

Building Human Capacity and Skills

A primary focus of Saudi Arabia's AI strategy is the development of its human capital. The first pillar centers on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies. Initiatives such as the 'One Million Saudis in AI (SAMAI)' program have been instrumental in this effort, reportedly training over 1.2 million trainees within one year. The Kingdom aims to train and host more than 20,000 data and AI specialists and experts by 2030.

Developing an Integrated AI Ecosystem

The second pillar involves establishing a comprehensive national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation. This includes strengthening advanced digital infrastructure to enable various sectors to efficiently adopt AI applications. Saudi Arabia is making significant investments in specialized AI data centers through companies like Humain, equipped with advanced computing capabilities. The goal is to attract SAR 75 billion ($20 billion) in AI investments by 2030 and foster an ecosystem of over 300 active data and AI startups within the Kingdom.

Ensuring Robust Governance and Ethical AI

The third crucial pillar of the strategy is governance, which aims to ensure the responsible and measurable use of AI. This is guided by a national framework aligned with international standards, providing clarity for stakeholders and addressing ethical and regulatory considerations. SDAIA, established in 2019, plays a pivotal role as the national authority overseeing the regulation, development, and application of data and AI. In 2024 alone, SDAIA issued 14 regulations and policies related to data and AI.

Vision 2030 and Global Ambitions

The overarching goal of these initiatives is to position Saudi Arabia among the top 15 countries globally in the development and application of AI by 2030. AI is projected to contribute tens of billions of dollars to the Kingdom's GDP by the same year. The strategy also aims for Saudi Arabia to rank among the top 10 countries in the Open Data Index and the top 20 in data and AI-related publications. This comprehensive approach underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to leveraging AI as a fundamental driver for its economic diversification and digital transformation under Vision 2030.