Saudi Arabia declares 2026 the ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’ as Vision 2030 drives global AI ambitions.

Saudi Arabia has officially declared 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, underscoring the Kingdom’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for data and advanced technologies under the national transformation blueprint Saudi Vision 2030.

The decision was approved by the Saudi Cabinet and reflects the growing momentum behind the country’s artificial intelligence strategy, which is being spearheaded by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The initiative is backed by Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Prime Minister and Chairman of SDAIA.

Established in 2019, SDAIA leads the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, built on six pillars: ambition, competencies, policies, investment, innovation and ecosystem development. The strategy aims to move the country beyond policy design into full-scale implementation, including the regulation of AI sectors and the expansion of digital infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia’s progress in artificial intelligence is increasingly visible in global rankings. The Kingdom placed 14th in the 2025 Global AI Index and has emerged as a regional leader in AI model development across the Arab world. Investment in the sector has also accelerated, with government spending on emerging technologies rising by more than 56 percent in 2024, while AI companies attracted approximately $9.1 billion in funding.

The Kingdom has simultaneously invested heavily in infrastructure to support its digital ambitions. Recent developments include the launch of the Shaheen III supercomputer and the Hexagon data center, described as the world’s largest government data facility with a capacity of 480 megawatts. Saudi Arabia has also created a National Data Lake, integrating more than 430 government systems to enable data-driven decision-making.

Commenting on the Cabinet’s decision, SDAIA President Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi said the designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence reflects the Crown Prince’s vision to strengthen the Kingdom’s global position in advanced technologies. He described the initiative as a step toward building national momentum around innovation and using AI to create a smarter and more sustainable future.

Human capital development has also been a key priority. More than 11,000 specialists have been trained in artificial intelligence, while the SAMAI programme has reached over one million participants, helping expand AI literacy and technical capability across the country.

On the international stage, Saudi Arabia has expanded its presence in the global AI ecosystem. The Kingdom became the first Arab nation to join the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and hosts the UNESCO-backed International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, which focuses on the ethical and responsible development of AI technologies.

Al-Ghamdi called on public institutions, private sector organisations and society at large to actively participate in the Year of Artificial Intelligence, describing it as a national milestone in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey.

The initiative, he said, will help unify national efforts while showcasing the Kingdom’s growing capabilities in data and AI, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global platform for innovation and a key voice in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.