RIYADH — Minister of Communications and Data Expertise Abdullah Alswaha mentioned that the worth of the Saudi digital economic system has grown to almost $140 billion, accounting for greater than 50 p.c of digital economic system progress within the Center East and North Africa.
“Saudi Arabia’s document within the digital period displays its skill to show visions into tangible achievements,” he mentioned whereas attending a panel dialogue held as a part of the Microsoft AI Tour in Riyadh 2026 on Wednesday.
Alswaha mentioned the Kingdom, with the help and directives of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, is shifting quickly to consolidate its place as a worldwide hub within the period of synthetic intelligence by investing in computing and capital, and enabling purchasers to scale from the Kingdom to international markets.
The minister famous that information middle capability has elevated from lower than 80 megawatts to greater than 440 megawatts and that eight tech startups have reached unicorn standing up to now. He mentioned that specializing in growing nationwide capabilities marked a strategic turning level, because the variety of tech professionals elevated from 150,000 to greater than 406,000, making the Kingdom one of many area’s largest know-how expertise hubs and strengthening its readiness to guide within the clever period.
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Alswaha mentioned that main the synthetic intelligence (AI) race requires three core parts: computing, capital, and prospects, stressing that the Kingdom offers these enablers to help companions in increasing globally. “The Kingdom has labored to handle three main international gaps: the computing hole by securing dependable power sources to help information facilities; the algorithmic hole by growing superior Arabic language fashions serving greater than 400 million Arabic audio system; and the information hole by enhancing integration between coaching and deployment to make sure accuracy and reliability in very important sectors,” he mentioned.
The minister affirmed that the Kingdom, in partnership with main international know-how firms, is advancing the event of an built-in ecosystem to drive sensible economic system progress and reinforce its function as a worldwide platform for innovating and scaling AI options.
