His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of Humain, an ambitious artificial intelligence company under the Public Investment Fund, aimed at establishing Saudi Arabia as a global leader in AI.
According to an official press statement, Humain will focus on developing advanced AI technologies, next-generation data centers, and robust cloud infrastructure. A major goal is to create one of the world’s most powerful Arabic large language models, strengthening the kingdom’s position in the AI sector.
Humain, guided by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, plans to deliver innovative AI services across vital industries such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. By investing in cutting-edge hardware and nurturing local talent, the company seeks to accelerate AI adoption both regionally and internationally.
Industry experts highlight that Saudi Arabia’s focus on Arabic language AI and sovereign infrastructure is a significant move in a field traditionally led by Western and Chinese players. This approach emphasizes local context, data sovereignty, and regional control, setting a new standard for emerging markets.
Manish Ranjan, research director for Software & Cloud at IDC EMEA, noted that the launch builds on the Middle East’s leadership in AI, referencing the UAE’s National AI Strategy and regional models like Falcon and Jais. Saudi Arabia’s strong government AI strategy, recognized as the world’s best in the 2024 Global AI Index, further supports Humain’s objectives.
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia hosts a major investment forum with top US officials and technology leaders, where AI is a central topic. According to Bloomberg, the US government may ease AI chip export restrictions to Saudi Arabia, which could further accelerate the kingdom’s technological growth.
Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, is expanding its AI and data center infrastructure, with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority leading these efforts. The kingdom now holds nearly half of the Middle East and North Africa’s data center capacity, with over two gigawatts in development, as reported by IDC EMEA.
Research and Markets projects $12 billion in new data center investments in the region by 2027. Saudi Arabia’s strict data regulations, which require data to remain within the country, present challenges for external cloud providers, but also reinforce the need for sovereign AI solutions.
Major US technology companies are increasing their presence in Saudi Arabia, attracted by favorable conditions.
- Salesforce plans a $500 million AI investment
- Scale AI, backed by Amazon, is also entering the market
The Public Investment Fund, which manages $940 billion in assets and is expected to reach $2 trillion by 2030 according to Global SWF, is a critical partner for international AI collaborations.
With strong financial resources and national support, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to become a leader in sovereign AI innovation.
