Saudi Arabia Strengthens Its Position in Global AI Investment
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has been recognized in the World Bank Group’s 2026 World Development Report as one of the top 10 countries globally for private AI investment, reflecting its growing position in the international artificial intelligence landscape.
The report, titled “The Promise of Artificial Intelligence,” is the World Bank’s first comprehensive assessment of AI’s impact on developing economies. It highlights Saudi Arabia as an attractive destination for AI talent and a model for government data integration.
Under the report’s “Concentration” dimension, which examines the concentration of advanced AI infrastructure, the document notes that Saudi Arabia combines tax incentives with special economic zones to attract data center investment. The Kingdom’s data center capacity grew from 68 MW in 2021 to 467 MW in the first quarter of 2026 — a nearly sevenfold increase. Fourth- and fifth-generation network coverage reached 99 percent by the end of 2025, while average internet speed reached 216 Mbps.
Under “Capabilities,” the report highlights Saudi Arabia’s ability to attract specialized talent. In 2025, the Kingdom recorded one of the highest net inflows of AI professionals per 10,000 LinkedIn members, alongside Luxembourg, Australia, and Switzerland. The country’s technology workforce has grown to approximately 426,000, representing cumulative growth of 186.6 percent compared with 2018. Women’s participation in communications and information technology professions has risen to 35 percent.
Under “Complements,” the report presents Saudi Arabia’s experience as a model for building public data infrastructure, highlighting a platform that enables data integration across more than 60 government entities while allowing data to remain within their respective systems.
The recognition follows the Cabinet’s approval in March 2026 to designate 2026 as the “Year of AI” in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the Kingdom’s national focus on future technologies. The digital economy’s contribution has risen to 16 percent of gross domestic product, while the communications and information technology market reached SR199 billion ($52.81 billion) in 2025. Saudi Arabia also ranked second globally in the World Bank Group’s 2025 GovTech Maturity Index.
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