Saudi Arabia Among World's Top 10 for AI Investment

Saudi Arabia has been ranked among the world's top 10 countries for private investment in artificial intelligence, according to a newly released World Development Report 2026 titled "The Promise of Artificial Intelligence." The ranking measures private-sector AI investment, distinct from government spending.

The report highlights the Kingdom as a major global destination for AI talent, recording high net inflows of AI workers in 2025. Saudi AI companies secured roughly USD 9.1 billion — about SAR 34 to 35 billion — across 70 investment deals during the year, making the Kingdom the largest AI investment market in the Middle East and North Africa.

On the public side, the government has committed around USD 40 billion, or about SAR 150 billion, to AI investment, supporting large-scale national initiatives. The Kingdom ranks 14th globally and first in the Arab world in the 2025 Global AI Index, first globally in public sector AI adoption with a score of 66/100, and seventh globally and first in the region in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025.

Why it matters

These rankings reflect the country's growing weight in the global technology landscape and its designation of "Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026," with SDAIA leading expanded public and private AI programs. At the LEAP 2025 technology event in الرياض, announced investments in AI and emerging technologies exceeded USD 14.9 billion, around SAR 56 billion.

For residents and businesses, the momentum signals more jobs, training opportunities, and digital services tied to the goals of رؤية السعودية 2030. The report is a macroeconomic and policy assessment rather than a consumer service, so no fees, application steps, or timelines are attached to the ranking.

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