His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is moving steadily and deliberately towards establishing its position as a global hub for data and artificial intelligence. This strategic direction stems from the objectives of Vision 2030, which places technology and innovation at the heart of the country's economic and social transformation.
Strategic context and global direction
Since its establishment by royal decree in 2019, the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has worked to unify national efforts in data management and artificial intelligence, with the aim of creating a thriving digital economy. In his address while leading the Kingdom's delegation at the high-level ministerial session of the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in India, Al-Ghamdi explained that the Kingdom views artificial intelligence not merely as a technological tool, but as a reliable national capability that contributes to developing government services, enhancing economic competitiveness, and improving the quality of life.
This participation is of particular importance given the growing strategic relations between the Kingdom and India in the fields of technology and the digital economy. The summit witnessed a wide attendance of heads of state and decision-makers, and the presence of the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to India, Haitham bin Hassan Al-Maliki, under the slogan “People, Planet, and Progress.”.
The three pillars of the Kingdom's strategy
Dr. Al-Ghamdi reviewed the national strategy, which is based on three main pillars to unlock the full potential of this technology:
1. Building and empowering the human being
The head of SDAIA pointed out that the first pillar revolves around investing in human capital. The Kingdom has launched a package of ambitious national initiatives, most notably the "Samai" initiative. This initiative was not merely a training program, but rather a qualitative leap that moved society from a stage of technological awareness to one of technological mastery. The initiative achieved remarkable success by reaching more than 1.2 million trainees in one year, reflecting the passion of Saudi youth for modern technologies and their readiness to lead the future.
2. Infrastructure and Innovation
The second pillar is building a comprehensive national artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem that will drive expansion and innovation. Al-Ghamdi explained that the Kingdom is working on developing an advanced digital infrastructure that will enable various sectors to efficiently adopt AI applications. In this context, the Kingdom is intensifying its investments in specialized data centers through the company "Humine" to provide high-performance computing capabilities that support the era of generative AI and its diverse applications.
3. Governance and International Standards
The third pillar is governance, which ensures the accountability and measurability of artificial intelligence. Al-Ghamdi emphasized that the Kingdom has developed a national framework aligned with international standards to enhance public trust in these technologies. This includes launching the National Data Index and the National Artificial Intelligence Index, which serve as precise measurement tools to monitor data maturity and the readiness of government entities for digital transformation.
Call for global partnership
Al-Ghamdi concluded his remarks by emphasizing the Kingdom's openness and readiness to partner with governments, the private sector, and academic institutions worldwide. These partnerships aim to build a responsible artificial intelligence ecosystem that serves humanity and supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, thus reinforcing the Kingdom's role as a pivotal player in shaping the future of technology globally.
