Saudi Cabinet Approves AI Ethics Center Statute

Saudi Arabia has taken a further step in strengthening its position in the field of artificial intelligence, as the Cabinet approved in 2026 the basic statute — the founding law — of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics, headquartered in the capital, الرياض. The statute provides the legal and regulatory framework governing the center's activities as a UNESCO Category 2 center.

The center was originally established by Cabinet Decision No. 19, dated 7/1/1445 AH (25 July 2023), as a Saudi government center with independent legal personality and financial and administrative independence. It was designed to operate as an international center under the auspices of UNESCO, and the UNESCO General Conference later approved granting the Riyadh-based center Category 2 status as an international center for AI research and ethics.

What the center does

The statute organizes the center's mandate, governance structure, functions, and its relationship with both UNESCO and the Government of Saudi Arabia. It operates as an international hub for AI ethics research, policy support, and capacity building, serving the Kingdom, the region, and the wider international community.

Core activity areas include supporting research and development in artificial intelligence, promoting awareness and communication about AI ethics, providing policy and regulatory recommendations, developing skills and capabilities in AI and AI ethics, and facilitating international cooperation and the exchange of expertise with universities and research centers worldwide.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is mandated to complete the arrangements with UNESCO and prepare the documents needed for the center's operation. The founding rules also require that the center create no additional financial burden on the state general budget beyond SDAIA's approved budget ceilings. For residents and businesses in Saudi Arabia, the move reflects a growing local ecosystem for responsible AI development that increasingly shapes services and technology used across the Kingdom.

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