Saudi Arabia is ranked among the top ten countries globally for private investment in artificial intelligence, according to the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026 titled “The Promise of AI”.
SPA reported that the report highlights the Kingdom as an attractive destination for AI talent and a model for the integration of government data. The report is the first comprehensive assessment by the World Bank on the effects of AI in developing economies, focusing on opportunities for individuals, enterprises, and governments, as well as the requirements to maximize developmental impact and manage risks.
The report identifies three main pillars regarding AI’s impact on development: capabilities for expanding access to expertise and decision-making, the concentration of advanced models, chips, and data centers in a limited number of countries and companies, and complementary factors such as infrastructure, data, skills, and institutions.
Regarding investment concentration, the report notes that Saudi Arabia utilizes tax incentives and special economic zones to attract investments in data centers and build computing capabilities. This national approach links capital attraction to the development of an ecosystem that includes talent, startups, energy, and the necessary infrastructure for AI applications.
The source did not include specific investment figures or the names of the special economic zones mentioned.
How does the World Bank report characterize Saudi Arabia’s position in AI? The World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026, titled “The Promise of AI”, places Saudi Arabia among the top ten countries globally for private investment in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the report identifies the Kingdom as a model for government data integration and a destination that attracts AI talent.
What are the three main pillars of AI development mentioned in the report? The report focuses on three pillars: the capabilities AI provides to expand access to expertise and support decision-making, the concentration of data centers, chips, and advanced models within a few companies and countries, and complementary factors including institutions, skills, data, and infrastructure.
What methods is Saudi Arabia using to attract AI investments? Saudi Arabia is combining the use of special economic zones and tax incentives to attract investments specifically for building computing capabilities and data centers. This strategy aims to link the attraction of capital with the development of startups, talent, energy, and infrastructure.