Saudi Arabia Aims to Become the World’s Third Power in Artificial Intelligence

Saudi Arabia sets its sights on becoming the world’s third-largest AI power, after the US and China. Backed by massive oil revenues and its Vision 2030 plan, the Kingdom’s Humain project is transforming the future of artificial intelligence.

Saudi Arabia’s Grand AI Ambition

Saudi Arabia has unveiled an audacious goal: to become the third global power in artificial intelligence (AI), behind only the United States and China. Leveraging its vast oil wealth, the Kingdom is redirecting resources to technology, data, and innovation — aiming to position itself as a leader in the digital future.

The driving force behind this ambition is Humain, a pioneering technology company backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, valued at nearly one trillion dollars. Humain’s mission is clear — to build an integrated ecosystem of data centers, cloud services, and large language models that can compete with global tech giants.

Humain’s Massive Infrastructure Plans

By 2034, Humain plans to establish data centers with a combined capacity of six gigawatts, a scale unprecedented in the Middle East. The project involves partnerships with leading technology firms such as Nvidia, AMD, Amazon Web Services, Qualcomm, and Cisco.

In a major step toward global expansion, Humain recently signed a $3 billion deal with investment firm Blackstone to construct new data centers across the United Kingdom. This move signals Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in international tech infrastructure and data connectivity.

Humain One: Redefining User Interaction

At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s AI revolution is Humain One, a cutting-edge operating system powered by artificial intelligence. Rather than relying on icons and touchscreens, Humain One allows users to interact with their devices through voice or text, creating a seamless, human-like digital experience.

Internally, Humain has already integrated AI into most of its operations — from human resources and finance to legal and IT services — showcasing how automation can transform efficiency and governance.

Vision 2030: Beyond Oil, Toward Innovation

Saudi Arabia’s investment in AI aligns closely with its Vision 2030 strategy, an ambitious national blueprint aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil dependency. With oil revenues fluctuating and megaprojects like Neom facing delays, the Kingdom sees artificial intelligence as the cornerstone of its next growth phase.

“AI is not just technology for us,” a senior Humain executive noted. “It’s a national mission — a way to empower industries, create jobs, and drive the next generation of innovation.”

Regional Rivalry: The UAE Challenge

Saudi Arabia’s quest for AI dominance comes amid growing regional competition, particularly from the United Arab Emirates. The UAE-based company G42 has already launched Stargate UAE, a $500 billion project in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, and Cisco.

However, Humain CEO Amin believes Saudi Arabia’s approach is unique: “It’s good that knowledge is not centralized. What’s happening in the Emirates is positive, but what we’re doing in Saudi Arabia is different. Humain is not a holding company — it’s an operating company that builds real products.”

The Future of AI in the Kingdom

As the race to master artificial intelligence accelerates, Saudi Arabia’s determination to join the world’s top three AI powers underscores its transformation from an oil economy to a knowledge-driven powerhouse.

If its Humain project delivers on its promise, the Kingdom could soon become a global hub for data, technology, and innovation — proving that in the age of AI, energy can come not only from oil, but from intelligence itself.