Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has secured a top global position in artificial intelligence, ranking third worldwide in advanced AI model development and in the growth rate of AI-related jobs, according to the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence’s 2025 AI Index.

The Kingdom now follows only the United States and China in language model development, and trails India and Brazil in AI employment growth — cementing its place among the world’s top 10 nations in multiple AI categories.

The findings reflect the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s innovation environment under Vision 2030, driven by national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for data and emerging technologies.

Saudi Arabia’s third-place ranking highlights the strength of its R&D ecosystem and its capacity to produce advanced AI systems, including “Alam,” one of the world’s leading Arabic-language generative models.

The report also points to expanding employment opportunities accompanying the growth of the AI sector.

The Kingdom placed seventh globally in attracting AI talent, supported by favorable policies, international partnerships and a regulatory framework designed to accelerate high-tech industries. It also ranked eighth worldwide in public awareness of AI and in the volume of specialized scientific citations.

These advancements are driven in part by wide-reaching national programs to strengthen research and digital skills, including the “Samai” initiative, which aims to train one million Saudis in artificial intelligence.

The program has increased public engagement with AI and helped build a knowledge-based society aligned with global technology trends.