Saudi Arabia has set its sights on reinforcing its position as a leader in AI by naming 2026 the Year of AI. This move, approved by the country’s Council of Ministers under the guidance of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aligns with the broader Saudi Vision 2030 strategy. Through this initiative, Saudi Arabia aims to solidify its status as a global technology hub.
The establishment of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in 2019 marked the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing its national AI strategy. The strategy is centred on six core elements: aspiration, skills, policies, investment, innovation, and ecosystem growth. These efforts have propelled Saudi Arabia to 14th place in the Global AI Index by 2025, maintaining its lead in the Arab region for AI model development.
The Kingdom’s position as the first Arab member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and its hosting of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics, supported by UNESCO, further demonstrates its dedication to the field. Recent government data shows a remarkable 56% increase in spending on emerging technologies in 2024, reflecting swift advancements in the sector.
Significant projects underpinning this growth include the Shaheen III supercomputer and the Hexagon Data Center, believed to be the largest government data centre globally, with a 480-megawatt capacity. Additionally, the creation of a National Data Lake connecting over 430 government systems represents a significant milestone in the sector’s infrastructure development.
A focus on human capital development is evident with the training of more than 11,000 AI specialists and the SAMAI initiative engaging over one million participants. These educational efforts are crucial in meeting the Kingdom’s ambitious AI goals.
SDAIA has announced the official visual identity for the Year of AI 2026, integrating national symbols and technological elements. The chosen colours, green and blue, represent the national flag and technological innovation, while the design links Arabic culture with digital progress. The logo will serve as the emblem for various initiatives and programmes in 2026, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s cohesive national AI efforts.
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