Saudi Arabia is channeling its vast oil wealth into a bold new frontier — artificial intelligence (AI). Under the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has launched Humain, a homegrown AI company with the goal of turning Saudi Arabia into one of the top three AI markets in the world — behind only the United States and China.
The initiative, backed by the country’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund (PIF), marks one of the most ambitious technology investments in the Middle East.
Humain: Saudi Arabia’s Gateway to AI Leadership
Launched in May ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh, Humain has become the centerpiece of the Kingdom’s high-tech ambitions.
At the Future Investment Initiative (FII) held this week, Humain CEO Tareq Amin revealed a sweeping plan to build a nationwide AI infrastructure — from large-scale data centers to language models and advanced AI applications.
“We have an advantage in Saudi Arabia,” Amin told CNN’s Becky Anderson. “Our energy grid allows us to power massive data centers without building new substations. That alone saves us nearly 18 months.”
Multi-Billion Dollar Partnerships and Global Collaborations
By 2034, Humain plans to develop up to six gigawatts of data center capacity across the Kingdom — a move designed to position Saudi Arabia as a global AI hub.
The company has already partnered with Nvidia, AMD, Amazon Web Services, Qualcomm, and Cisco, and announced a $3 billion deal with Blackstone to construct new data centers in Saudi Arabia.
Amin emphasized that these partnerships are not just symbolic but structural — aimed at ensuring that Humain has both the computational power and technological expertise to compete on a global scale.
Humain One: The Next-Gen AI Operating System
At the same event, Humain introduced Humain One, an AI-driven operating system that allows users to speak or type commands instead of relying on traditional icons or menus.
The platform has already been integrated internally across Humain’s HR, finance, legal, and IT divisions, with AI agents now handling most administrative work.
According to Amin, the company currently employs just one human worker in its payroll department, thanks to automation through Humain One.
AI Push Amid Economic Diversification
Saudi Arabia’s AI expansion comes as part of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil dependency. With declining oil prices and delays in mega-projects like Neom, the government sees AI as a vital new pillar for sustainable growth.
However, the Kingdom faces competition from neighboring United Arab Emirates, whose AI venture G42 recently announced a $500 billion project called Stargate UAE, in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, and Cisco.
‘There’s Room for All in AI’: Tareq Amin
Responding to questions about regional competition, Amin expressed optimism and openness.
“It’s good for humanity that AI knowledge isn’t centralized in one place,” he said. “The UAE’s progress is good — and so is Saudi Arabia’s. But what makes Humain different is that it’s not just a holding company; we are an operating company.”
The Road Ahead
Saudi Arabia’s massive AI bet reflects its determination to transform from an oil-dependent nation into a technology-driven powerhouse.
With strong global partnerships, deep financial backing, and a clear national strategy, the Kingdom’s Humain project could redefine the Middle East’s role in the global artificial intelligence race.
