Saudi Arabia has launched a new state-owned company, Humain, with backing from the Public Investment Fund, aiming to position the kingdom as a major global player in artificial intelligence. According to the Financial Times, Humain is preparing a $10 billion venture fund and is in talks with major U.S. technology firms, including xAI, OpenAI, and Andreessen Horowitz, to collaborate on AI infrastructure.
Tarek Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Humain, stated that the company plans to build a data center with a capacity of 1.9 gigawatts by 2030, expanding to 6.6 gigawatts by 2034. This initiative is intended to secure a 7 percent share of worldwide AI data processing for Saudi Arabia. The total project cost is estimated at $77 billion at current market rates, as reported by the Financial Times.
The first phase involves constructing a 50 megawatt data center equipped with 18,000 Nvidia chips. The Saudi government will subsidize electricity costs to enhance competitiveness. Additionally, Humain will establish an engineering center in Riyadh with 500 specialists focused on designing AI chips, though manufacturing will remain external.
- Humain has signed a $10 billion agreement with AMD to provide 500 megawatts of capacity over five years.
- The company is investing $2 billion in Qualcomm to boost data center and chip design capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
- Qualcomm will also set up a chipset design center in Riyadh, employing 500 engineers.
These efforts align with the vision of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in AI and diversify its economy beyond oil.
In related developments, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced a partnership to build a large-scale AI data center in Abu Dhabi, led by Emirati company G42 and several American firms, with a planned capacity of 5 gigawatts.
