Saudi Arabia’s launch of Allam, its first Arabic large language model, marks a significant move toward developing homegrown artificial intelligence tailored for the Arab world. This initiative demonstrates the Kingdom’s ambition to create technology that understands regional language and culture, rather than relying solely on imported solutions.
Experts emphasize that Allam’s debut is only the beginning. The true success of Arabic AI will depend on building robust foundations—high-quality local data, secure infrastructure, and governance systems that reflect regional values. According to David Barber, director of the UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Distinguished Scientist at UiPath, only about 15 percent of Arabic online content is suitable for training AI models, compared to over 50 percent for English. This highlights the challenge posed by Arabic’s complex grammar and diverse dialects.
Seema Alidily, regional director at Denodo, notes that without localized infrastructure, AI risks misunderstanding user intent and producing irrelevant results. She stresses the importance of data virtualization to unify access and governance, especially as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 projects require real-time data management under strict regulations.
Bader AlBahaian, country manager for Saudi Arabia at VAST Data, underscores the need for “sovereign-by-design” systems—keeping sensitive data within national borders and under local control. He warns that dependence on foreign platforms could compromise the Kingdom’s priorities and security.
Ibrahim Alseghayr, managing director of Salesforce Saudi Arabia, sees digital labor powered by AI transforming industries from healthcare to logistics. However, he cautions that strong oversight and governance are essential to maintain trust and ensure these tools serve the public good.
A common theme among these experts is the need for the Arab world to establish its own AI governance, rooted in cultural and legal realities. Allam represents a test case for Saudi Arabia’s ability to build powerful yet value-aligned AI systems.
- The complexity of Arabic for AI
- The strategic importance of Allam as the first locally developed Arabic language model
- The necessity for strict data handling in line with Vision 2030
Ultimately, the future of Arabic AI will hinge not just on technological advances, but on investments in infrastructure, sovereignty, and trustworthy governance. Saudi Arabia’s next steps will determine whether it becomes a leader in AI creation or remains reliant on foreign technology.
