AI News from Saudi Arabia & the Arab World

Stories centrally about Arab AI: HUMAIN, G42, SDAIA, national strategies, sovereign models (Jais/Falcon/Allam), regional deployments

Arab AI Scene

SDAIA Anticipates Future of Quantum Computing, Enhances National Capabilities Through Theoretical Education and Practical Training

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

SDAIA Anticipates Future of Quantum Computing, Enhances National Capabilities Through Theoretical Education and Practical Training

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) recognized the importance of quantum computing early on amid accelerating global efforts to develop this technology. Through its academy, SDAIA has worked to build national capabilities in this field and enhance the readiness of Saudi professionals to keep pace with global advancements. In 2026, the SDAIA Academy implemented a range of programs and training courses, training over 70 specialists in quantum computing. Additionally, the academy launched a Quantum Computing Boot Camp in collaboration with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, aimed at enabling specialists to understand the fundamentals of quantum computing and utilize its modern tools.

Arab AI Scene

Egyptian startup releases three open-source Arabic models

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Egyptian startup releases three open-source Arabic models

Alexandria-based startup Racore XYZ has launched three open-source models for Arabic business workflows: VEJI-V2, Wasl-1, and Siyaq-1. The first model, VEJI-V2, is a decision-support model with about 3.28 million trainable parameters, achieving an accuracy of 82.95% on a 522-question test subset. The second model, Wasl-1, targets cash-on-delivery orders in Egypt, while the third model, Siyaq-1, is designed to convert event streams into structured data. Racore focuses on small footprint models suitable for companies that cannot afford powerful AI servers.

Arab AI Scene

World Bank Praises Saudi Arabia’s Experience in Data Governance and AI Development

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

World Bank Praises Saudi Arabia’s Experience in Data Governance and AI Development

The World Bank commended the Kingdom's progress in building a national data and AI ecosystem, represented by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). It regarded the Saudi experience as a benchmark for developing institutional models for data and AI governance, highlighting the role of institutional integration and national support in accelerating capacity building in this field. The World Bank dedicated a standalone case study to SDAIA's experience, examining the authority's role in governing the national data ecosystem and accelerating the adoption of AI technologies. The report noted the Kingdom's progress in adopting AI technologies, with an adoption rate among Saudi enterprises reaching approximately 28% in 2024, surpassing the average recorded by OECD countries.

Arab AI Scene

EgyptAir moves passenger experience into AI era with Sitecore

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

9 Oct 202628 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

EgyptAir moves passenger experience into AI era with Sitecore

EgyptAir, the national carrier of Egypt, has selected SitecoreAI to enhance its digital customer experiences. This investment aims to support personalized communication and increase travel to Egypt as part of Vision 2030. The platform will help deliver tailored content across digital channels, enhancing passenger experiences. EgyptAir will utilize SitecoreAI, which integrates AI tools and content management in one place to streamline marketing operations. The platform supports omnichannel personalization, allowing brands to plan, create, and deliver content effectively. This will enable EgyptAir to provide real-time information to passengers.

Arab AI Scene

OrbitronAI, Aramco Digital target multibillion-dollar industrial AI value

8 Oct 202627 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

8 Oct 202627 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

OrbitronAI, Aramco Digital target multibillion-dollar industrial AI value

OrbitronAI and Aramco Digital have announced a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize industrial-grade AI. The agreement was signed in early September 2026 at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh. The partnership aims to recover industrial value across asset-intensive industries, focusing on enhancing capital productivity and supply chain oversight. The companies will leverage OrbitronAI's technology to handle complex industrial information effectively. If successful at Aramco, these solutions could serve as a powerful reference for other heavy industries, fostering trust in AI for critical decision-making.

Arab AI Scene

Seclore targets regional growth through AI-ready data protection

8 Oct 202627 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

8 Oct 202627 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Seclore targets regional growth through AI-ready data protection

Uraz Farukh, Senior Vice President at Seclore, discussed evolving data governance requirements and AI-related security challenges at GISEC Global 2026. Seclore aims to expand its presence in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, focusing on providing data protection solutions that align with AI requirements. This approach highlights the importance of enhancing cybersecurity amid increasing reliance on AI, enabling companies to improve their data protection strategies.

Arab AI Scene

SDAIA Offers Scholarships for Data Technologies and AI Studies at World's Top 50 Universities

7 Oct 202626 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

7 Oct 202626 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

SDAIA Offers Scholarships for Data Technologies and AI Studies at World's Top 50 Universities

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has announced the opening of registration for the fourth cohort of the AI scholarship program. This initiative targets Saudi male and female students to study technology, data science, and artificial intelligence disciplines at universities ranked among the world's top 50, at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. The fields of study include AI, data science, robotics, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, big data, smart cities, generative AI, and information security in AI. The program aims to enhance Saudi Arabia's position in this field and support qualified national talent to compete globally.

Arab AI Scene

Napster, HUMAIN bring Arabic-native AI agents to Saudi Arabia

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Napster, HUMAIN bring Arabic-native AI agents to Saudi Arabia

Napster, an AI agent company, has announced a partnership with HUMAIN to deliver Arabic-speaking AI agents to public and private organizations in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This collaboration integrates HUMAIN's ALLaM large language model, speech recognition, and text-to-speech technologies with Napster's multimodal platform. The initiative aims to enhance AI adoption in the region by providing Arabic-fluent digital employees.

Arab AI Scene

New Arabic AI Atlas maps 1,000+ open models and tools

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

New Arabic AI Atlas maps 1,000+ open models and tools

The Arabic AI Atlas has been launched as an open-source resource by Riyadh-based professional Hesham Haroon, featuring over 1,000 models and tools alongside 1,000 datasets. This initiative aims to provide developers with a reliable source for Arabic-capable code and datasets, aggregating data from platforms like Hugging Face and GitHub.

Arab AI Scene

HBKU and Global Partners Advance Regional AI Landscape

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

HBKU and Global Partners Advance Regional AI Landscape

Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) collaborated with Google DeepMind to host the second MenaML Winter School in Saudi Arabia. The event gathered researchers and experts in artificial intelligence from across the region for six days of rigorous learning and technical exchange.

Arab AI Scene

Cambodia Joins Global Leaders at 4th UNESCO AI Ethics Forum in Riyadh to Promote Inclusive and Responsible AI Governance

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

6 Oct 202625 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Cambodia Joins Global Leaders at 4th UNESCO AI Ethics Forum in Riyadh to Promote Inclusive and Responsible AI Governance

Establishing global governance frameworks and ethical benchmarks for artificial intelligence has become a top international priority to ensure that technological advancements serve human-centric and equitable development. From September 14 to 17, 2026, President of the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology, Seng Sopheap, led the Cambodian delegation at the 4th UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh, which convened AI ministers and delegates from over 52 nations. During a closed-door ministerial discussion, Sopheap presented updates on Cambodia's evolving AI landscape, emphasizing national efforts to foster a comprehensive AI ecosystem. He also discussed strategies for national capacity building, focusing on digital human resource development and targeted investments in digital infrastructure.

Arab AI Scene

SDAIA Opens Registration for Personal Data Protection Track in Data Regulatory Sandbox

5 Oct 202624 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

5 Oct 202624 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

SDAIA Opens Registration for Personal Data Protection Track in Data Regulatory Sandbox

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) announced the opening of registration for the Personal Data Protection Track within the Data Regulatory Sandbox. This track aims to enable compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law and its Implementing Regulations through the National Data Governance Platform. Registration will remain open for two months. The track targets private entities with innovative products or services based on the processing of personal data, allowing them to test their products or services under regulatory supervision. Applicants must be licensed private entities operating in the Kingdom, and their products or services must involve the processing of personal data.

Arab AI Scene

MEEZA to host Qai’s GPU infrastructure in Qatar

5 Oct 202624 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

5 Oct 202624 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

MEEZA to host Qai’s GPU infrastructure in Qatar

Qatar's national AI company Qai will host its advanced GPU infrastructure inside a Tier III certified data center managed by MEEZA. This agreement ensures that Qai's compute services and customer data remain in Qatar, adhering to national data protection regulations. MEEZA will provide high-density power and managed services covering operations, monitoring, and lifecycle management.

Arab AI Scene

NVIDIA halves Saudi dialect errors with SDAIA audio dataset

3 Oct 202622 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

3 Oct 202622 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

NVIDIA halves Saudi dialect errors with SDAIA audio dataset

NVIDIA utilized the Saudi Audio Dataset for Arabic (SADA) to enhance its Nemotron 3.5 ASR speech recognition model for Saudi dialects. According to NVIDIA's developer blog, the word error rate for Saudi dialects dropped from 55% to 30%, significantly reducing transcription errors. The SADA dataset was developed in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, comprising around 667 hours of transcribed audio across more than 10 Saudi dialects. NVIDIA's results indicate that dialect accuracy roughly doubled without degrading performance in English or Modern Standard Arabic.

Arab AI Scene

Google Launches Guided Vision Feature for the Visually Impaired

2 Oct 202621 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

2 Oct 202621 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Google Launches Guided Vision Feature for the Visually Impaired

Google has announced the launch of a new feature called 'Guided Vision' within its Gemini Live service, aimed at assisting visually impaired individuals. This feature provides instant audio descriptions of what the phone's camera captures, helping users read small texts and better understand their surroundings.

Arab AI Scene

HUMAIN Partners with EY MENA to Develop Saudi Arabia’s First AI-Native Business Process Outsourcing Service

1 Oct 202620 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

1 Oct 202620 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

HUMAIN Partners with EY MENA to Develop Saudi Arabia’s First AI-Native Business Process Outsourcing Service

HUMAIN, a Public Investment Fund company, announced its collaboration with EY, a global leader in professional services, to develop a new AI-native business process outsourcing service. This initiative aims to transform how enterprises deliver, manage, and scale their operations, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence into business processes. The new service will combine intelligent agents, automation, advanced analytics, and human expertise within integrated operating models. This initiative is expected to help organizations improve efficiency, accelerate decision-making, and unlock new growth opportunities.

Arab AI Scene

Huawei strengthens partner capabilities to scale AI adoption across Middle East

30 Sept 202619 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

30 Sept 202619 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Huawei strengthens partner capabilities to scale AI adoption across Middle East

Huawei announced the launch of new AI infrastructure at Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, featuring services like the AI Cluster Service and Agentic Model as a Service. These developments are designed to enhance organizations' capabilities to implement AI at scale. This initiative comes as demand for computing capacity and secure infrastructure rises in the Middle East, with governments and enterprises shifting from AI experimentation to practical implementation. The new system has already served over 3,500 customers, showcasing its market success.

Arab AI Scene

Morocco, Mistral partnership releases open-source Darija AI

30 Sept 202619 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

30 Sept 202619 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Morocco, Mistral partnership releases open-source Darija AI

Morocco's Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform has announced the release of the first open-source AI tools in partnership with French company Mistral. The tools include a language identification classifier and a speech recognition model, facilitating the handling of Moroccan Darija. This initiative aligns with Morocco's Digital 2030 strategy and the AI Made in Morocco roadmap, led by Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni. The new tools aim to support Moroccan developers and companies in creating AI applications capable of understanding Darija.

Arab AI Scene

KAUST Develops AI Model to Enhance Mineral Exploration in Saudi Arabia

29 Sept 202618 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

29 Sept 202618 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

KAUST Develops AI Model to Enhance Mineral Exploration in Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has developed a computational prototype as part of a research project that uses artificial intelligence to reduce uncertainty in mineral exploration across Saudi Arabia. The project aims to deepen the understanding of geological formations beneath the resource-rich Arabian Shield. Led by Professors George Turkiyyah and David Keyes, in collaboration with geophysical imaging experts from the University of British Columbia in Canada, the project attracted the interest of Maaden, Saudi Arabia's national mining company. This led to a 30-month research and development contract, allowing for testing the model using actual Saudi geological data.

Arab AI Scene

Invest Qatar backs Brain Co Doha move

28 Sept 202617 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

28 Sept 202617 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Invest Qatar backs Brain Co Doha move

Invest Qatar has announced a partnership with the U.S. company Brain Co to enhance AI adoption in Qatar. This partnership will support pilot programs aligned with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy and National AI Strategy, focusing on talent development. Invest Qatar will assist Brain Co in opening a flagship office in Qatar and expanding into the region. The company has already launched an AI-powered building permit system with the Ministry of Municipality, reducing approval times from 30 days to 120 minutes.

Arab AI Scene

HUMAIN M3: Saudi Arabia’s Arabic AI Model, Examined

27 Sept 202616 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

27 Sept 202616 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

HUMAIN M3: Saudi Arabia’s Arabic AI Model, Examined

Saudi Arabia has launched a new Arabic-language AI model, HUMAIN M3, commissioned by HUMAIN and developed by the Chinese company MiniMax. The model features 428 billion parameters and employs a mixture-of-experts architecture, having been trained on over one trillion tokens of Arabic-native content. Currently available in a research and evaluation preview through the HUMAIN Node platform, the model has not yet proven its readiness for commercial deployment. This launch aims to enhance the kingdom's sovereign capabilities in AI, focusing on data, talent, and research.

Arab AI Scene

Google looks to provide online AI course scholarships

25 Sept 202614 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

25 Sept 202614 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Google looks to provide online AI course scholarships

Google has announced its collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to provide 100,000 scholarships for AI courses across more than 80 countries, revealed during the UN General Assembly on September 22. The scholarships will be distributed through local governments and the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative, addressing the need for basic digital skills training for 1.2 billion people.

Arab AI Scene

Microsoft adds $2 billion to Gulf AI spending

24 Sept 202613 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

24 Sept 202613 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Microsoft adds $2 billion to Gulf AI spending

Microsoft has announced an investment of over $10 billion in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait by 2030, adding approximately $2 billion to previous commitments. This investment includes expanding cloud and AI infrastructure, along with over $400 million in subsea and terrestrial connectivity. This announcement marks Microsoft's first major update since the US-Iran conflict began in February, focusing on enhancing digital resilience. This framing emphasizes the importance of business continuity, which is a priority for Gulf governments and enterprise customers.

Arab AI Scene

Microsoft announces technology framework with UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia at UNGA

23 Sept 202612 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

23 Sept 202612 Rabiʻ II 1448 AH

Microsoft announces technology framework with UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia at UNGA

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced a new technology framework for the Middle East, initially focusing on the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The regional investment framework commits over $10 billion through 2030. Microsoft President Brad Smith stated that this framework reflects the responsibility of countries in the region and their crucial role in translating AI ambitions into sustainable economic and societal benefits. The company will expand cloud and AI infrastructure across the region.

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