Saudi Arabia Making Rapid Strides in Artificial Intelligence

Marking a 17-rank improvement out of 83 countries, Saudi Arabia has advanced to 14^th place globally and first in the Arab world in the 2024 Global Artificial Index (AI), which was approved by the United Nations.

This index, which was launched in 2019, is the AI scene through seven main indicators: government strategy, operating environment, infrastructure, research, development, competencies, and trade, from which 122 standards branch out, in which 83 countries participated.

Saudi Arabia has also topped the world in the government strategy standard for artificial intelligence according to the same index and achieved 7^th rank globally in the standard for trade in artificial intelligence in this index, confirming the government’s commitment to adopt and develop AI, investing in its technologies, and building national capabilities in this field.

Saudi Arabia has attracted 40 French AI start-ups through its National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), and according to global data consulting agency Artefact, the Kingdom aims to add over $135 billion to its economy by 2030 by developing AI sector, making up 12.4% of its GDP.

The Kingdom is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in AI as part of its transformative Vision 2030. At the heart of this transformation is the establishment of the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) in 2019 to drive the national agenda for data and AI.

Its mandate includes driving AI adoption across government entities, raising public awareness, and ensuring strategic use of data and AI technologies throughout the Kingdom. These efforts aim to leverage AI technologies to drive economic growth, improve public services, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens, guiding the nation toward a technically advanced and data-driven future.

Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince H R H Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said that people were living in a time of scientific innovation, unprecedented technology, and unlimited growth prospects.

“These new technologies, such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), if used optimally, can spare the world many disadvantages and can bring enormous benefits to the world,” the Crown Prince, who is also Chairman of SDAIA, said in a report entitled “State of AI in Saudi Arabia,” which was released at the GAIN Summit held in Riyadh on September 19.

Rapid Growth of AI Firms

Even the Saudi Ministry of Commerce said that existing commercial records in AI technologies grew by 49% by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

The business sector bulletin issued by the Ministry of Commerce indicated that the number of AI companies stood at 10,183 during the third quarter of 2024, compared to 6,832 in the corresponding quarter of 2023.

The bulletin stated that Riyadh topped the regions with the highest number of companies in AI technologies with 6,316, followed by Mecca with 1,988, the Eastern Province with 1,054, and Medina with 293, and finally Qassim is home to 137 companies.

Future forecasts regarding AI published on the SDAIA website included that the expected contribution of AI to the global gross domestic product by 2030 will reach about $15.66 trillion, and 97 million new jobs will emerge due to AI by 2025.