Saudi Arabia is increasing its focus on artificial intelligence (AI) to transform its manufacturing and mining sectors, aiming to establish itself as a key player in industrial innovation. The Kingdom, in a stride toward achieving this goal, has unveiled the AI Center for Manufacturing and Mining. The announcement came during the inaugural Global Smart City Forum held in Riyadh, a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
The new center is designed to harness the power of data and AI to support Saudi Arabia’s strategic goals, including becoming a global logistics hub and boosting the industry’s growth and domestic contributions.
Where we are focusing on helping our economy, be digitalized and be able to benefit from new technologies,
stated Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, during his address at the forum.
Alkhorayef emphasized the national industrial strategy’s ambitious targets: tripling the manufacturing gross domestic product, more than doubling employment in the sector, and increasing exports by threefold by 2030. He also mentioned plans to triple the number of factories as outlined in this strategy.
The minister expressed confidence in technology as the key to achieving these goals and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position in the global industrial landscape. With the creation of smart industrial cities that integrate cutting-edge technology, the Kingdom aims to elevate competitiveness, prioritize worker safety, demonstrate resilience, and commit to sustainability.
Alkhorayef noted that Saudi Arabia already has a solid foundation, with the majority of its manufacturing capabilities concentrated within 40 integrated industrial cities across the country. This clustering has yielded efficiencies in shared infrastructure, logistics, and warehousing.
Furthermore, over 20 industrial cities are now equipped with smart city infrastructure and Internet of Things platforms, allowing for real-time operational management across various sectors, including energy, water, safety, environment, and transportation.
An example of innovation highlighted by the minister is the smart ambulance traffic system in the Jubail industrial city, which has halved the average ambulance response time.
While acknowledging the progress, Alkhorayef recognized the need for technology partnerships to introduce new applications in manufacturing and mining sites. He affirmed that the journey towards realizing the full potential of smart industrial cities is guided by a clear vision and leadership.
Prepared to transform its industrial and mining landscape into smart facilities for the future, Saudi Arabia has already charted its path through national strategies focused on industry, mining, localization, and exports.
In his concluding remarks, Alkhorayef mentioned the Kingdom’s robust groundwork, including policy development, investments in infrastructure, and initiatives such as the Future Factory program, which offers financial incentives and comprehensive training to stakeholders.