Saudi Arabia is spearheading a coordinated Arab effort to strengthen the Arabic language’s presence in digital environments and artificial intelligence technologies, as experts warn that Arabic-language websites account for no more than 0.6 percent of global web pages despite the language being spoken by more than 400 million people and serving as the language of the Holy Quran for nearly two billion Muslims.
Context and Background
The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), a leading Saudi institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Arabic, is at the forefront of efforts to build the linguistic and knowledge infrastructure required for artificial intelligence applications in Arabic. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes digital transformation and knowledge-economy growth, provides the strategic framework for these efforts.
With global competition mounting to build national language models and strengthen digital sovereignty, interest is growing across the Arab world in enriching Arabic content and developing its linguistic resources as a foundation for ensuring the language keeps pace with rapid technological shifts.
Key Details
Head of the Linguistic Computing Sector at KSGAAL Dr. Abdullah Al-Faifi said protecting Arabic in the digital age is no longer confined to preservation or awareness but is tied to its ability to maintain an active presence in digital environments and AI technologies. He emphasized the need to produce reliable Arabic content, develop digital linguistic resources, qualify teachers and researchers, and build partnerships bringing together linguists, educators, and AI specialists.
Al-Faifi added that KSGAAL builds linguistic and knowledge infrastructure for AI applications, prepares digital dictionaries, establishes annotated text and voice corpora for training language models, and develops scientific standards for assessing AI application performance in Arabic.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo and Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Scientific Language Academies Dr. Abdulhamid Madkour stressed that preserving linguistic identity requires empowering Arabic across education, culture, and media while utilizing translation to engage with global sciences.
International Impact
Experts from across the Arab world, including Cairo University’s Dr. Othman Fikri and Fayoum University’s Dr. Mohammed Hamed Egila, noted that combining artificial intelligence with human review can enhance content quality, advance linguistic analysis, and protect heritage, while highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leading initiatives in supporting digital Arabic content.
Iraq’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Dr. Asaad Swari and grammar expert Dr. Fadhil al-Samarrai told SPA that leveraging AI for real-time translation and modernizing teaching methods will ensure Arabic maintains its global influence and rhetorical richness across modern fields of knowledge. Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO Dr. Mohammed Jumeh estimated Arabic online content at between 1 percent and 3 percent of global content, limiting the efficiency of AI applications in comprehending Arabic despite recent advancements.
Vice President of the Jordanian Arabic Language Academy and former Minister of Education Dr. Ibrahim Badran stressed that empowering Arabic begins in schools and universities before extending to media and digital spaces, calling for enhanced translation, stronger Arabization, and unified scientific terminology across Arabic language academies.
Vision 2030 Alignment
Saudi Arabia’s leadership in digitally empowering Arabic aligns directly with Vision 2030’s objectives of fostering innovation, advancing technology, and positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for knowledge and culture. As the digital revolution accelerates, Arabic has a historic opportunity to evolve from a passive technology recipient into an active producer, supported by a 15-century cultural heritage, a vocabulary of roughly 12 million words, and over 400 million speakers. Through initiatives like those led by KSGAAL and supported by a coordinated Arab effort, Arabic is poised to secure its place in the global digital economy while preserving its cultural identity.
20 Questions
Q1. How many people speak Arabic worldwide?
A1. More than 400 million people speak Arabic, and it holds deep significance for nearly two billion Muslims as the language of the Holy Quran.
Q2. What percentage of global web pages are in Arabic?
A2. Arabic-language websites account for no more than 0.6 percent of global web pages, limiting opportunities in AI and natural language processing.
Q3. Who is Dr. Abdullah Al-Faifi?
A3. Dr. Abdullah Al-Faifi is the Head of the Linguistic Computing Sector at the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL).
Q4. What is KSGAAL doing to support Arabic in AI?
A4. KSGAAL builds linguistic infrastructure for AI, prepares digital dictionaries, establishes annotated text and voice corpora, and develops standards for assessing AI performance in Arabic.
Q5. Why is protecting Arabic in the digital age important?
A5. Protection now depends on Arabic’s active presence in digital environments and AI technologies, not just preservation or awareness.
Q6. What did Dr. Abdulhamid Madkour emphasize?
A6. He stressed empowering Arabic across education, culture, and media, and using translation to engage with global sciences while preserving linguistic identity.
Q7. How can AI and human review work together for Arabic?
A7. Combining AI with human review can enhance content quality, advance linguistic analysis, and protect cultural heritage.
Q8. What did experts from Iraq say about AI and Arabic?
A8. Dr. Asaad Swari and Dr. Fadhil al-Samarrai said AI for real-time translation and modern teaching will help Arabic maintain global influence.
Q9. What is the estimated percentage of Arabic online content?
A9. Dr. Mohammed Jumeh estimated Arabic online content at between 1 percent and 3 percent of global content, limiting AI efficiency in Arabic.
Q10. What did Dr. Ibrahim Badran stress about empowering Arabic?
A10. He stressed empowering Arabic begins in schools and universities, calling for enhanced translation, stronger Arabization, and unified scientific terminology.
Q11. Why is building comprehensive Arabic databases important?
A11. Dr. Bassam Hammo emphasized such databases covering Classical Arabic, dialects, and scientific terminology are essential for efficient AI applications.
Q12. How are Moroccan universities contributing to Arabic AI?
A12. Several Moroccan universities now offer joint programs in linguistics and AI to prepare qualified developers for Arabic language technologies.
Q13. What warning did Dr. Yahya Al-Hashemi give about AI?
A13. He described AI as a ‘double-edged sword’ that accelerates knowledge sharing but risks impairing young people’s creative and writing skills.
Q14. What did Munir Al-Hafi emphasize about AI tools?
A14. He emphasized AI tools must support—not replace—the human mind, noting current models fail to grasp cultural nuances and require human oversight.
Q15. What did Dr. Hassan Qutub caution about automated tools?
A15. He cautioned automated tools could erode writing proficiency, advocating collaboration among linguists, engineers, and cultural institutions.
Q16. How did Dr. Raja Yassine Bahri frame Arabic and AI?
A16. She framed the intersection as a historic opportunity, urging stronger academic-technological cooperation to build models handling Arabic and its dialects.
Q17. What did Dr. Saleh Belaid say about digital sovereignty?
A17. He said digital sovereignty begins with the mother tongue, requiring a unified language policy, investment in education, media, research, and standardized terminology.
Q18. How is Saudi Arabia viewed in digitally empowering Arabic?
A18. Dr. Abdulhamid Madkour highlighted Saudi Arabia as a leading model in digitally empowering the language, calling for joint regional initiatives.
Q19. What opportunities does the digital revolution offer Arabic?
A19. The digital revolution offers Arabic a historic opportunity to evolve from a passive technology recipient into an active producer of digital knowledge.
Q20. What is the core challenge for Arabic today?
A20. The core challenge is no longer merely preserving Arabic as a language of heritage but empowering it to create digital content, shape modern technology, and secure its place in the global digital economy.
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