Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in its digital transformation, emerging as a leader in technology and innovation. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has launched initiatives across government, private sectors, and international partnerships, focusing on AI, digital economy, and smart city projects.
Key Achievements
In 2024, Saudi Arabia integrated 27 major systems with 322 others into a centralized data lake, enhancing data quality and efficiency. The development of ALLaM, a generative AI model for Arabic, showcased the Kingdom’s commitment to cultural preservation and technological advancement.
Louise Bou Rached of Milestone Systems highlighted the Kingdom’s focus on AI, IoT, 5G, and cloud infrastructure, which is transforming urban living through projects like NEOM and The Line. These initiatives are enhancing the Kingdom’s reputation and economic diversification.
Advanced video management systems are being integrated into smart city projects to improve security and decision-making. AI solutions have also been pivotal during the Hajj season, ensuring the safety of pilgrims through real-time crowd analysis.
AI Leadership and Innovation
The Global AI Summit in Saudi Arabia emphasized the Kingdom’s role in AI discussions, while the Open Access National Gateway provided researchers access to advanced labs. The National Semiconductor Hub, in partnership with leading institutions, is fostering technological independence and innovation.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts were recognized globally, with notable rankings in the ICT Development and UN E-Government Development Indexes. The Space Tech Entrepreneurship Program supported startups, attracting significant investments in the space sector.
Investments in technology and data centers exceeded SR41 billion, supported by initiatives like the Cloud First Policy and 5G network expansion, enhancing the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead to 2025, Saudi Arabia plans to expand its National Data Bank and AI adoption across government entities. The Kingdom aims to enhance its smart city platform and launch a satellite for space weather research, contributing to the Artemis 2 mission.
With these plans, Saudi Arabia is set to continue its technological growth, improving citizens’ quality of life and advancing towards its Vision 2030 goals.