Saudi Arabia could become an AI focal point
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 6:00 am
Saudi Arabia Aims to Become a Global AI Powerhouse
Saudi Arabia is aggressively pursuing a strategy to become a major player in the global artificial intelligence landscape, aiming to leverage its vast oil wealth and strategic advantages to compete with established leaders like the United States and China. The kingdom is actively courting American tech companies and investors, seeking to establish itself as a hub for AI development and deployment.
The nation's appeal lies in its unique combination of resources. Saudi Arabia boasts abundant, inexpensive energy, a crucial factor for powering the energy-intensive data centers that underpin modern AI. The kingdom also possesses significant financial resources, generated from its substantial oil exports, providing the capital needed for large-scale investments in AI infrastructure and development. Furthermore, the availability of open land offers opportunities for constructing expansive data centers.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is spearheading this initiative, viewing AI as a means to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil. Saudi officials are actively engaging with executives from prominent American tech firms, including OpenAI, Google, Qualcomm, Intel, and Oracle, at investment summits. These companies are exploring opportunities presented by the kingdom's ambitious plans.
A key component of Saudi Arabia's AI strategy is Humain, a state-owned AI company backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Humain aims to become the third-largest AI provider globally, behind the United States and China. The company is actively seeking investments from major financial institutions like Blackstone and BlackRock. Humain is developing a range of AI services and products, including data centers, AI infrastructure, cloud capabilities, advanced AI models, and a computer operating system that uses voice commands.
However, Saudi Arabia's AI ambitions face skepticism. Critics cite the country's human rights record and treatment of women as potential obstacles. Some experts also question the kingdom's ability to achieve its ambitious goals, particularly its stated aim to handle 6% of the global AI workload, given its relatively limited pool of AI expertise. Concerns also exist about a potential oversupply of computing capacity as governments and companies worldwide race to build data centers.
BNN's Perspective:
While Saudi Arabia's AI ambitions are certainly noteworthy, the path to becoming a global leader in this field is fraught with challenges. The kingdom's financial resources and strategic advantages are undeniable, but its success will depend on its ability to attract and retain top talent, address human rights concerns, and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. The potential for significant investment and innovation is present, but the long-term viability of this venture remains to be seen.
Keywords: Saudi Arabia, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Humain, Technology, Investment, Data Centers, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Tech Companies, Oil Wealth, Innovation, Global AI, Middle East, OpenAI, Google, Qualcomm, Intel, Oracle, Blackstone, BlackRock, Computing Capacity.