Jensen Huang, CEO of global artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse NVIDIA, and Elon Musk, CEO of xAI and Tesla, have announced in November a series of new strategic initiatives in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the kingdom’s rapid growth in AI. 

Their announcement included the development of a new generation of high-capacity data centres in the country, the nationwide deployment of Grok models, a 500-megawatt large-scale computing project, and plans to deploy AI accelerators in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NVIDIA, reinforcing the kingdom’s position as a global hub for AI computing

NVIDIA is also working with Saudi authorities to build supercomputing systems, in addition to expanding collaboration with innovative companies such as Humain to implement large-scale computing projects and advanced digital factories through the Omniverse platform. 

The announcements were part of the second edition of the US-Saudi Investment Forum, which included discussions about the future of work and productivity amid the rapid acceleration of AI and robotics.

Saudi Arabia and the US also signed a Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership to advance innovation and technological progress, pursuing a long-term, comprehensive economic security partnership to deepen shared security commitments, boost economic prosperity, and utilise advanced and future technologies. 

The partnership would cover the supply of advanced semiconductors, the development of AI applications, and the build-out of AI infrastruc ture, alongside efforts to strengthen national capabilities and increase high-value cross-border investment. The arrangement is also expected to support productivity gains, innovation, and longer-term economic returns in both countries.

The Strategic AI Partnership is intended to draw on Saudi Arabia’s advantages in land availability, energy capacity, and geographic position to develop AI and data centre clusters serving regional and global markets for AI and cloud services. 

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

On the sidelines of the event, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) signed seven agreements with US companies operating in data and artificial intelligence.

Under the arrangement with Supermicro, the two sides will cooperate on server technologies, data centre design, training programmes and other capacity-building initiatives. Dell will work with SDAIA on AI infrastructure, operational standards and knowledge transfer aimed at accelerating adoption across government and industry. 

An agreement with Accenture focused on expertise sharing to develop leadership and workforce capabilities in AI, alongside joint work on data and AI infrastructure and public awareness initiatives. Cisco’s partnership centres on AI deployment and digital transformation in the public sector, including collaboration on scalable, AI-enabled data centre environments. 

Boomi and SDAIA agreed on a framework to cooperate on innovation in the AI ecosystem, including the development of AI data centres and technical exchange. Meanwhile, SambaNova’s agreement covers knowledge-sharing, joint programmes, training and outreach activities in AI and data. GitLab will explore collaboration in skills development, innovation, and the commercialisation and international deployment of AI-enabled solutions. 

GLOBAL RANKING

These efforts have made saudi arabia a globally recognised player in artificial intelligence. The kingdom was ranked third globally in leading AI models and in the hiring rates of AI-related jobs, according to the 2025 AI Index by Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HAI). The kingdom follows the United States and China in language model leadership, and India and Brazil in AI job growth rates. 

In a separate survey by Global AI Index, the kingdom was ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab world in AI growth. During the period measured by the Global AI Index, Saudi Arabia launched a wide range of national initiatives led by SDAIA, such as the Rowad Package programme, which supports entrepreneurs and start-ups by enabling them to verify customer data through electronic linkage with the National Information Center’s databases. 

SDAIA also introduced the AI Ethics Incentive Badges initiative, aimed at encouraging responsible technology use and alignment with international standards. More than 50 accreditation certificates have been issued to domestic AI companies developing products for priority sectors.

SDAIA has also supported early-stage companies through the Gaia generative AI accelerator, operated with the National Technology Development Program and New Native, which has helped start-ups shorten their time to market.

capability-building efforts include SDAIA Academy programmes focused on training and skills development in data and AI, delivered in partnership with international organisations. Through this initiative, the academy has trained more than a million Saudi nationals, making it one of the largest data and AI training programmes aimed at the general population.