The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Google Cloud have signed a strategic partnership to establish a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) hub near Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The partnership marks a significant expansion of Google Cloud’s infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, further positioning the nation as a global AI leader.
Strengthening Saudi’s AI and ICT capabilities
The AI hub is expected to transform Saudi Arabia’s AI landscape, potentially generating thousands of jobs and adding $71 billion to the nation’s GDP over the next eight years.
Central to the initiative is Google Cloud’s commitment to enhancing Arabic-language AI models and upskilling Saudi professionals, which aligns with the country’s goal to expand its information and communication technology (ICT) sector by 50%.
Millions of students and professionals will gain valuable skills through specialised AI programmes to support this digital transformation.
Under the partnership, businesses across Saudi Arabia will have access to advanced AI applications powered by Google Cloud’s infrastructure, allowing for faster, localised data services.
Enhanced with the latest tensor processing units (TPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), the infrastructure will be pivotal for sectors like healthcare, retail, and financial services, delivering improved AI applications to support rapid industry growth.
Arabic-language AI and customised solutions
A unique aspect of the partnership includes collaborative research on Arabic-language models and Saudi-specific AI applications.
The initiative leverages Google’s custom-built Vertex AI platform, enabling the development of generative AI applications tailored for local businesses.
Through these Arabic-enhanced models, Saudi researchers, developers, and businesses can build sophisticated language-based AI solutions, making Saudi Arabia a key player in regional and global AI advancements.
HE Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, emphasised, “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals.”Â
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, added, “This strategic partnership will accelerate the adoption of AI in the local language and across industries — including healthcare, retail, financial services and more — for enterprises and startups in Saudi Arabia, across the Middle East, Africa and around the world.”
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Saudi Arabia’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and access to affordable renewable energy make it an attractive destination for global tech investments. The partnership highlights the nation’s appeal for large-scale technology projects, as well as PIF’s commitment to fostering an AI-friendly environment by investing in human capital and innovative technologies.
