Saudi Arabia has launched the third Global AI Summit, also known as the Gain Summit, in Riyadh, drawing technology leaders from across the world to showcase the country’s rapid advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, hosted over 400 speakers from more than 100 countries, including high-profile executives like Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. This year’s summit underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in AI, attracting significant attention from tech giants in both the US and China, such as Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Huawei Technologies.
Organized by the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), established in 2019, the summit plays a key role in the country’s ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce its reliance on oil by developing a knowledge-based economy. AI is expected to contribute 12% to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, with its AI market growing at an impressive 29% annually, according to a report published by the SDAIA. Currently, 39% of Saudi government agencies have already implemented AI, and 81% of users have reported significant improvements in service delivery.
The summit’s venue is bustling with local and international sponsors, including booths from major tech companies like Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Huawei Cloud. These companies are showcasing their cloud and AI solutions to an audience eager to explore new technologies. Huawei Cloud, for instance, has seen rapid growth in the Saudi market, with its revenue expected to double in 2024 after experiencing a tenfold increase in the previous year. Alan Qi, the president of Huawei Cloud Middle East and Central Asia, shared this projection at the event, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.
Jonathan Ross, CEO of the US chip start-up Groq, also announced at the summit that his company, in partnership with Aramco Digital, would be building a new data center in Saudi Arabia. This partnership highlights the growing interest from US tech companies in expanding their presence in the Middle East, especially as the region positions itself as a hub for AI and data-driven innovation.
The summit is part of a broader strategy to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in technology and AI. Alongside the Global AI Summit, the country also hosts the annual Leap conference, which started in 2022 and has quickly gained recognition as one of the most attended tech events in the world. These events are central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the nation’s economy by fostering innovation and reducing its dependency on traditional energy sectors.
Saudi Arabia’s open stance toward global technology providers is also a key factor in attracting major players from both Western and Eastern markets. Alibaba Cloud’s architecture lead, Mohammed Anwar, highlighted the country’s non-discriminatory approach to technology partnerships, echoing remarks from Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha. This policy allows the country to remain neutral in global geopolitics while securing advanced technologies from both the US and China.
One of the summit’s major themes is cloud computing, which is in high demand as Saudi Arabia’s industries and government sectors continue their digital transformation. Google Cloud has also been expanding its operations in the country, bolstered by the recent establishment of a data center in Dammam. A Google Cloud delegate at the event reported strong business growth, reflecting the increasing demand for cloud and AI services among the 36 million people in Saudi Arabia.
The Gain Summit serves as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building a future driven by artificial intelligence and digital innovation. With its large-scale investments in AI and cloud infrastructure, the country is positioning itself as a key player in the global tech industry, while providing opportunities for international companies to tap into the burgeoning market in the Middle East. As AI continues to reshape industries worldwide, Saudi Arabia’s proactive approach signals a promising future for both the country and the global AI landscape.
