Saudi Arabia targets global AI leadership with new firm Humain

Saudi Arabia is deploying its substantial financial resources from oil revenues to pursue an ambitious artificial intelligence strategy, with the state-backed company Humain leading the charge to position the kingdom as a dominant global force in the sector.

Ambition and Competitive Edge

Humain's Chief Executive, Tareq Amin, has publicly stated the goal is for Saudi Arabia to rank as the world's third AI powerhouse, trailing only the United States and China. He identifies the nation's abundant and inexpensive energy supply as a primary advantage, crucial for powering the intensive computational demands of AI data centers. "We have an advantage in Saudi Arabia," Amin told CNN, highlighting that the existing grid saves the company significant development time.

Strategic Partnerships and Infrastructure

The company's detailed roadmap, discussed at Riyadh's Future Investment Initiative, involves building up to six gigawatts of data center capacity across the nation by 2034. To achieve this, Humain is collaborating with industry giants like Nvidia and Amazon Web Services and has secured a major $3 billion agreement with Blackstone for data center construction, signaling serious financial commitment.

Product Launch and Regional Context

Humain also introduced "Humain One," an AI operating system that uses voice and text commands, which is already streamlining internal operations such as HR and finance. This push into artificial intelligence occurs as neighboring UAE, through its firm G42, also expands its own AI capabilities, setting the stage for the Gulf region to become a significant new hub for technological development, a field where Türkiye is also actively fostering its own national capabilities.