Saudi Arabia has moved forward in preparations for the age of artificial intelligence through a strategy that combines digital infrastructure development with the cultivation of national talent. This approach aims to transform AI technologies into a key driver of economic growth, enhance productivity, and attract investment, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. This effort comes as the adoption of AI applications in the Kingdom continues to expand rapidly, alongside an unprecedented increase in education and training programs. These initiatives are strengthening the labor market’s readiness for a skills-based digital economy and reinforcing human capital as the cornerstone for maximizing the economic returns of emerging technologies. Local indicators confirm this transformation. According to the Saudi Internet Report 2025, the proportion of internet users utilizing AI tools rose to 45.2 percent, up from 21.5 percent a year earlier, representing growth of more than 110 percent. This reflects the increasing use of AI across education, workplaces, and everyday services. AI Courses in Education In terms of talent development, more than 6 million students are benefiting from AI curricula in general education. Meanwhile, 79 percent of Saudi universities have incorporated AI courses into their academic programs, and over 30 universities have made these courses a mandatory requirement for all students. Additionally, more than 13,000 teachers have been trained in AI applications. Dr. Majed Al-Qathami, Professor of Computer and Information Systems at Umm Al-Qura University and former adviser to the Digital Government Authority, believes this trend reflects the Kingdom’s transition “from an economy that consumes technology to one that creates it.” Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he explained that real economic value is generated when students are capable of developing solutions and technologies that address local challenges. This, he said, contributes to the establishment of national technology companies, increases the contribution of the non-oil economy, and attracts high-quality investments that depend on the availability of skilled talent. He added that investing in talent is also an investment in spending efficiency. A significant portion of digital transformation budgets previously went toward foreign expertise and consultancy services. Building local talent reduces recruitment and ongoing training costs, retains expertise within organizations, enhances implementation efficiency, and improves the sustainability of digital transformation projects. Moving from Technology Consumption to Technology Production Al-Qathami stressed that Saudi Arabia is gradually evolving from a technology-consuming economy into a technology-producing one. Echoing this view, Mohammed Al-Bogami, CEO of EjadTech, told Asharq Al-Awsat that investment in national talent represents a step toward becoming not just a user of technology but also a developer, producer, and global partner in the field. This transition strengthens the long-term value added to the national economy. Al-Bogami noted that investment in AI education should be viewed as an investment in human capital. Its benefits begin with improving educational quality and workforce skills but extend further to increasing organizational productivity, supporting startup growth, boosting applied research and patent generation, reducing dependence on imported technology solutions, and ultimately building Saudi knowledge-based industries capable of competing globally. Enhancing Productivity Al-Bogami also pointed out that the impact of this investment is visible in operational efficiency. AI tools contribute to the development of more personalized training programs and automate evaluation and follow-up processes, reducing training costs and minimizing time spent away from the workplace. National talent also helps reduce reliance on external experts for system development and operation. At the same time, AI applications automate repetitive tasks, analyze data, improve planning, and identify waste and risks, all of which support increased productivity and better decision-making. Experts do not attribute the growth in AI adoption solely to education. Rather, they see it as the result of an integrated approach that combines investment in human capabilities with advances in digital infrastructure, widespread internet access, and the growing availability of AI applications. Together, these factors have created an environment conducive to AI adoption across multiple sectors. Expanding Digital Activity Indicators from the digital economy reinforce this trend. The number of Saudi domain registrations grew by 18 percent to nearly 84,000 domains, while the private sector accounted for 96 percent of all registered domains, reflecting the expansion of digital economic activity. In addition, average monthly mobile internet data consumption reached 53 gigabytes per person, approximately three times the global average, highlighting the growing reliance on digital services. Entrepreneurship and Innovation In the area of entrepreneurship, the Human Capability Development Program reported supporting 80 digital startup ventures and 60 university-based startups, connecting them with more than 84 investment opportunities and funding entities. These developments reflect the evolving role of universities, which are increasingly contributing not only to education but also to the broader innovation ecosystem and knowledge economy. While current indicators suggest that Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in creating a supportive environment for artificial intelligence, experts believe the next phase will depend on the ability of these investments to generate sustainable economic value. This will be measured through increased sector productivity, the growth of national technology companies, higher levels of innovation, and enhanced competitiveness of the Saudi economy, ultimately translating investments in human capital into tangible economic outcomes.
