Saudi Arabia breaks into global top five for AI growth

RIYADH

Saudi Arabia ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab world in artificial intelligence sector growth, according to the Global AI Index, a milestone that underscores the kingdom’s accelerating rise as a future tech powerhouse under Vision 2030.

The ranking reflects not only Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in building its AI ecosystem but also the effectiveness of its long-term development strategy and its growing international competitiveness.

During the period measured by the index, the kingdom rolled out a broad set of national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which played a central role in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global position.

Among these projects was the Rowad Package, an initiative designed to support entrepreneurs and startups by enabling them to verify customer data through direct digital linkage with the National Information Centre’s databases.

SDAIA also launched the AI Ethics Incentive Badges initiative, aimed at raising awareness of ethical AI practices and promoting responsible use of emerging technologies. The programme provides a clear regulatory framework to help institutions and developers comply with global best standards. To date, more than 50 accreditation certificates have been awarded to national AI companies developing AI-based solutions across priority sectors.

Another key effort was the generative Gaia AI accelerator, supported by SDAIA and the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) in partnership with New Native. The accelerator has helped numerous startups enter the market faster and more efficiently, giving them a competitive edge in the generative AI space.

SDAIA’s initiatives have also extended to talent development. Through SDAIA Academy, the authority has focused on building national capabilities by offering advanced training programmes in data and AI in collaboration with global partners.

As part of this effort, the Academy trained more than one million Saudi men and women in data and AI skills under the SAMAI initiative, one of the largest population-wide digital training programmes in the world.

Taken together, these achievements highlight SDAIA’s growing influence at both the national and international levels. They reinforce its position as the kingdom’s central authority for regulating, developing and deploying AI technologies, while advancing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global leader in data-driven and AI-powered economies.