Saudi Arabia is building an integrated artificial intelligence system led by SDAIA

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of its ambitious Vision 2030, is confidently moving towards building a comprehensive and reliable national artificial intelligence system. This system aims to be a key driver of sustainable development, enhance government services, boost economic competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for citizens and residents.

This came during a speech delivered by His Excellency while heading the Kingdom’s delegation at the high-level ministerial session within the activities of the “AI Impact Summit 2026” held in the Republic of India, under the slogan “People, Planet, and Progress”, with the presence and wide participation of heads of state, decision-makers and technology experts from around the world.

Strategic background: Vision 2030 as an engine for digital transformation

These efforts are part of the comprehensive national transformation led by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and the deployment of advanced technologies at the heart of its objectives. In 2019, a royal decree established the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to serve as the national authority on all matters related to data and artificial intelligence. This was followed by the launch of the National Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NSDAI) in 2020, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global leader in this field by 2030, by attracting investments estimated at $20 billion.

Three key pillars of the Saudi artificial intelligence system

Dr. Al-Ghamdi explained that the Kingdom's strategy is based on three main and interconnected pillars to unlock the full potential of this promising technology:

• The first pillar: Human Development and Capacity Building: This pillar focuses on qualifying national talent and equipping them with the necessary skills to work with artificial intelligence technologies. His Excellency pointed to the national “Samai” initiative, which, in just one year, successfully moved society from the stage of awareness to empowerment, benefiting more than 1.2 million trainees.
• The second pillar: Building an integrated innovation ecosystem: This involves developing a robust and advanced digital infrastructure that enables various public and private sectors to efficiently adopt artificial intelligence applications. In this context, the Kingdom is intensifying its investments in specialized data centers through Humanain, a company equipped with cutting-edge computing capabilities to support the era of artificial intelligence.
• The third pillar: Responsible and ethical governance: This aims to ensure the responsible and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence through a national governance framework that aligns with international best practices. This framework fosters public trust and includes national indicators to measure data maturity and the readiness of government entities to adopt these technologies.

Importance and expected impact locally and internationally

Building a national AI ecosystem will have profound implications across various sectors. Locally, it will revolutionize public services such as healthcare, education, and transportation, while also creating new, high-quality jobs and driving economic diversification. Successful national platforms like Tawakkalna and Ihsan, overseen by the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), serve as prime examples of how data and AI can be effectively harnessed to serve society. Regionally and internationally, these initiatives solidify the Kingdom's position as a leading technology hub in the Middle East and a key global partner in shaping the future of AI to serve humanity and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Al-Ghamdi concluded his speech by emphasizing the Kingdom’s readiness to partner and cooperate with governments, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society around the world to build a responsible artificial intelligence system that contributes to achieving development and prosperity for all.