The Saudi Arabian government has officially designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, a move approved by the national cabinet to bolster the Kingdom’s digital and innovation-driven economy. This initiative aligns with Vision 2030 and is spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also chairs the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Since its inception in 2019, SDAIA has been instrumental in implementing the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, focusing on six key pillars: ambition, competencies, policies, investment, innovation, and ecosystem development. The strategy has led to significant advancements, including the regulation of AI sectors, development of advanced digital infrastructure, and substantial investments in emerging technologies. Notably, Saudi Arabia ranked 14th globally in the 2025 Global AI Index and leads the Arab region in AI model development. The Kingdom has also launched major projects like the Shaheen III supercomputer and the Hexagon Data Center, the world’s largest government data center with a capacity of 480 megawatts. Additionally, over 11,000 specialists have been trained, and the SAMAI program has reached more than one million participants, enhancing digital literacy and professional training. Internationally, Saudi Arabia has joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and hosts the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh under UNESCO’s auspices, underscoring its commitment to responsible and ethical AI development.
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