Private artificial intelligence investments bring Saudi Arabia into the top ten, according to the World Bank
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A recent report by the World Bank highlighted Saudi Arabia's entry into the list of the top ten countries globally in terms of private investments in the field of artificial intelligence, noting the transformation of the digital system in the Kingdom, which has become an attractive destination for talents and specialized competencies in this sector, in addition to providing an advanced model for integrating government data to build a comprehensive technological environment.
In this context, the report cited the Saudi experience in establishing a digital inclusion and data system, defining the central role played by the Saudi Authority for Artificial Intelligence, SDAIA, which has contributed to linking and integrating data between different government agencies, thus enhancing government work efficiency and raising the Kingdom's international standing in competitiveness and technical innovation indicators.
This leap in attracting investments and talents is based on expanding the basic infrastructure for computing and data, as the report's figures indicate that the capacity of data centers in the Kingdom has seen accelerated growth, rising from 68 megawatts in 2021 to 440 megawatts in 2025, and continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026 to reach 467 megawatts, representing a 6 percent increase since the beginning of the year and growth of nearly seven times compared to 2021 levels.
These massive expansions in data centers and networks are the actual enabler for the efficient operation of artificial intelligence applications and advanced cloud services at a high level across the national system.The coverage rate of 4G and 5G networks reached 99 percent by the end of 2025, in parallel with the average internet connection speed rising to 216 megabits per second, ensuring operational readiness for data transfer and processing without technical congestion.
At the level of human resources and specialized innovation, Saudi Arabia recorded in 2025 a net inflow of 3.08 among top authors, researchers, and innovators in the field of artificial intelligence, which translates to the local environment's ability to attract high and developmental minds and expertise, transforming the system into a regional and international center capable of producing innovative research and solutions in data technologies.
This external attraction is linked to integrated growth in the local labor market, as data shows the growth of the workforce in the Kingdom's technology sector to around 426,000 individuals, achieving a cumulative increase of 186.6 percent compared to 2018 when the total number of employees was only 150,000, demonstrating rapid expansion in the available digital skills base to meet the needs of strategic technology projects.
The growth in technical personnel was not limited to an increase in absolute numbers, but also enhanced diversity and integration within the digital labor market.The percentage of women's participation in professions related to the communications and information technology sectors rose to 35 percent, leading to an expansion of the available talent pool and diversification of capabilities and expertise that support the innovation and knowledge-based economy and modern technologies.
These documented digital indicators in the World Bank report are based on a comprehensive developmental foundation, combining government planning for graphical integration and provision of high-speed infrastructure, along with the creation of an investment labor market capable of absorbing private investments and directing them towards promising artificial intelligence projects.