Latest news with #Al-Swaha
Leaders
4 days ago
- Science
- Leaders
Saudi Minister Calls for Global Action to Bridge AI Divide
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and IT, Abdullah Al-Swaha, has urged decisive international collaboration to tackle the AI divide. Speaking at the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, he highlighted the concentration of computing power in few regions and the limited AI infrastructure in many countries. Al-Swaha pointed out the lessons from past technological eras, since the analog era took over a century to connect 800 million people, while the digital era linked 5.5 billion individuals in just 50 years, leaving 2.6 billion unconnected. In the AI era, gaps in computing infrastructure, data availability, and algorithms could hinder progress. Saudi Arabia's Commitment Saudi Arabia is committed to leading international efforts to close these technological divides as the minister highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts, including the digital empowerment of women, who now have a participation rate of about 35%, with the Kingdom ranks top globally in digital competitiveness for two consecutive years. Moreover, Al-Swaha praised researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), who rank among the top one percent globally in scientific citations in an achievement that signals a promising future for AI development in the Kingdom. He also highlighted advancements in data protection regulations and the creation of language models that ensure inclusive access to technology. He cited the HUMAIN project, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to provide a full spectrum of AI capabilities, positioning the Kingdom as a global AI pioneer. Al-Swaha stressed the importance of the next decade and called for multination partnerships under the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem. Al-Swaha emphasized that bridging the AI divide is critical and requires urgent global cooperation, calling for partnerships under the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem that supports sustainable development and enhances human well-being. Short link : Post Views: 10
CairoScene
20-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Saudi Tops MENA Digital Economy Ranking With SAR 495 Billion Valuation
The announcement at Riyadh's Digital Saudi Exhibition spotlighted local talent and tech leadership. Saudi Arabia has emerged as the largest digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa, with a total valuation exceeding SAR 495 billion (approximately USD 132 billion), according to Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha. The figure reflects cumulative contributions from digital infrastructure, e-commerce, cloud services, and emerging tech applications. Globally, the Kingdom now ranks fourth in digital systems preparedness, a reflection of sustained investments in infrastructure and a broader push under Vision 2030 to diversify the economy beyond oil and foster a culture of innovation. The announcement was made during the opening of the Digital Saudi Exhibition in Riyadh, where Al-Swaha highlighted the role of homegrown talent and local innovation in driving national progress. While the exhibition showcased Saudi Arabia's technological advancements, no new sector-specific investment details or future funding commitments were disclosed.
Arab News
10-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia is already making strides in AI technology, says Abdullah Al-Swaha
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is making strides in AI technology, said Abdullah Al-Swaha, the minister of communications and information technology, during the ministry's flagship conference LEAP. Responding to a question from Arab News, Al-Swaha told the press about his vision for the future of artificial intelligence in the Kingdom in the next five years, highlighting some of the country's most notable achievements so far. He spoke about the decision-making AI platform provider Intelmatix which he called 'the No. 1 startup in the region, (with) $20 million of funding.' Al-Swaha also highlighted the Saudi startup NanoPalm, which aims to tackle sickle cell disease by using nanoparticles, and a platform that enables organizations to accelerate decision-making. 'When it comes to autonomous AI, we have Dr. Khaliel doing the first fully robotic heart transplant,' he said, referring to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center's Dr. Feras Khaliel who, in 2024, used robotic technology to replace the heart of a 16-year-old. 'So, we are making strides and rest assured we are committed, with royal guidance and support and in partnership with all of the global innovators, and the Kingdom will continue to be the hub for generative AI, GenTech, and autonomous AI, powered by talent and technology.' He also noted his admiration for the leadership skills of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, adding: 'I have the humble pleasure of learning from him; have the ability to anticipate market transitions; and be able to decisively allocate resources and have a wonderful opportunity to zoom in and zoom out. These are the three traits that I am learning from our royal highness. 'When we first pitched to him all of our ambitions in artificial intelligence, he said it's not only about hardware, but it's about applications and services. 'It's not about models, as some of them might be commoditized; it is about the diffusion of these technologies across industries.' He added: 'Fast forward to today, and the DeepSeek moment, the ChatGPT moment, have shown us that it is hardware and software, applications and adoption, and the Kingdom is already making strides in generative AI, GenTech AI, and autonomous AI.' Boasting the theme 'Into New Worlds,' LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector. The event, which runs until Feb. 12 in Riyadh, plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a global technology hub, aligning with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. As part of this initiative, the Kingdom has pledged $100 billion toward advancing its technology sector. LEAP 2025 is co-organized by Tahaluf and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in partnership with Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and the Events Investment Fund. This year's LEAP is expected to host more than 680 tech startups, 1,100 speakers, 1,800 technology brands, and over 170,000 visitors.
Zawya
10-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia attracts $14.9bln investments in AI as LEAP25 kicks off in Riyadh
RIYADH — Investments and projects worth over $14.9 billion were announced in the artificial intelligence sector, solidifying Saudi Arabia's role as a key global player in shaping the digital future. The announcements were made on the first day of the LEAP 2025 Tech Conference at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center on Sunday. Inaugurating the conference, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha announced the huge investments. The conference, which runs until Wednesday, is being held under the theme "Into New Worlds." The fourth edition of the conference brought together global technology and innovation leaders to reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a primary hub for digital transformation and an attractive destination for tech investments. LEAP 2025 underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to leading the global AI sector, attracting top-tier technology investments, and cementing its position as a hub for digital transformation and technological innovation. In his keynote speech, Alswaha emphasized that these significant investments and initiatives were made possible through the support and empowerment of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. These initiatives aimed to enable the technology sector and accelerate Saudi Arabia's transition toward an innovative and sustainable AI-driven economy, in line with Vision 2030 objectives. Al-Swaha said that the region is witnessing rapid transformations in the digital economy sector, as it has grown by 73 percent to reach $260 billion, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 50 percent of this growth, making it one of the leading countries in this field. The number of technical specialists has increased from 150,000 to 381,000, reflecting Saudi Arabia's rapid growth in the fields of technology and innovation. Al-Swaha highlighted the importance of bridging the digital gap between nations during what has become known as the 'smart era,' and explained the role the Kingdom plays in empowering women in the field of technology. 'In the smart era, the gap between the Global North and South will grow and worsen, as only one to two billion people are expected to join this exclusive club, while 6.5 billion people will be left behind by 2030.' At the conference, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi launched a range of digital products and services to accelerate digital transformation within the ministry and improve service quality for beneficiaries. The minister stressed that these products and services align with the ministry's digital transformation strategy, which seeks to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing digital services, ensuring secure and innovative access for beneficiaries, and fostering technology and innovation in the Kingdom. The newly introduced digital products include the "Virtual Branch," the "Digital Platform for Childcare," and the "Social Development Platform," all designed to promote sustainable development. These initiatives aim to eliminate the need for in-person branch visits, encourage community participation, and expand the range of services available to individuals and government entities in the sector. Among the $14.9 billion investments announced in the AI sector at the conference, are qualitative investments of more than $10.9 billion allocated to infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and initiatives supporting emerging companies. These investments are designed to empower digital skills development, foster the growth of tech startups, and enhance innovation in Saudi Arabia. They further establish the Kingdom as a hub for technology and innovation, positioning it as an attractive environment for leading global technology companies and reinforcing its status as the largest digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. LEAP 2025 is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), and Tahaluf Company, supported by the Events Investment Fund. The first day of the event witnessed the announcement of several major investments and projects in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation, including; Groq & Aramco Digital announced a $1.5 billion investment to expand AI-powered cloud computing, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Alat & Lenovo confirmed a $2 billion investment to establish an advanced AI and robotics-based manufacturing and technology center in Saudi Arabia and to open Lenovo's regional headquarters in Riyadh. Google unveiled plans for an AI infrastructure investment, launching a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia to meet regional and international demand. Qualcomm introduced the ALLaM language model on the Qualcomm AI Cloud, alongside the launch of the ALLaM AI PC, enabling cloud-based AI solutions for developers and accelerating technological innovation. Alibaba Cloud launched an AI empowerment program in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Tuwaiq Academy and STC, to train local talent in advanced technologies and contribute to building a sustainable digital future. Databricks committed $300 million in Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions, supporting app developers and fostering data engineering and AI expertise to boost Saudi Arabia's digital economy. SambaNova pledged $140 million to develop advanced AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the Kingdom's role as a regional innovation hub. KKR & Gulf Data Hub announced a major investment in Saudi Arabia's data center development, with a total capacity of up to 300 megawatts, enhancing cloud computing and AI capabilities. Salesforce committed $500 million to expand its Hyperforce platform, serving its regional customers from Saudi Arabia. Tencent Cloud pledged a $150 million investment to establish its first cloud region in the Middle East, launching from Saudi Arabia with integrated AI capabilities. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
09-02-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia attracts $14.9 billion investments in AI as LEAP25 kicks off in Riyadh
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Investments and projects worth over $14.9 billion were announced in the artificial intelligence sector, solidifying Saudi Arabia's role as a key global player in shaping the digital future. The announcements were made on the first day of the LEAP 2025 Tech Conference at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center on Sunday. Inaugurating the conference, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha announced the huge investments. The conference, which runs until Wednesday, is being held under the theme "Into New Worlds." The fourth edition of the conference brought together global technology and innovation leaders to reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a primary hub for digital transformation and an attractive destination for tech investments. LEAP 2025 underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to leading the global AI sector, attracting top-tier technology investments, and cementing its position as a hub for digital transformation and technological innovation. In his keynote speech, Alswaha emphasized that these significant investments and initiatives were made possible through the support and empowerment of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. These initiatives aimed to enable the technology sector and accelerate Saudi Arabia's transition toward an innovative and sustainable AI-driven economy, in line with Vision 2030 objectives. Al-Swaha said that the region is witnessing rapid transformations in the digital economy sector, as it has grown by 73 percent to reach $260 billion, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 50 percent of this growth, making it one of the leading countries in this field. The number of technical specialists has increased from 150,000 to 381,000, reflecting Saudi Arabia's rapid growth in the fields of technology and innovation. Al-Swaha highlighted the importance of bridging the digital gap between nations during what has become known as the 'smart era,' and explained the role the Kingdom plays in empowering women in the field of technology. 'In the smart era, the gap between the Global North and South will grow and worsen, as only one to two billion people are expected to join this exclusive club, while 6.5 billion people will be left behind by 2030.' At the conference, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi launched a range of digital products and services to accelerate digital transformation within the ministry and improve service quality for beneficiaries. The minister stressed that these products and services align with the ministry's digital transformation strategy, which seeks to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing digital services, ensuring secure and innovative access for beneficiaries, and fostering technology and innovation in the Kingdom. The newly introduced digital products include the "Virtual Branch," the "Digital Platform for Childcare," and the "Social Development Platform," all designed to promote sustainable development. These initiatives aim to eliminate the need for in-person branch visits, encourage community participation, and expand the range of services available to individuals and government entities in the sector. Among the $14.9 billion investments announced in the AI sector at the conference, are qualitative investments of more than $10.9 billion allocated to infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and initiatives supporting emerging companies. These investments are designed to empower digital skills development, foster the growth of tech startups, and enhance innovation in Saudi Arabia. They further establish the Kingdom as a hub for technology and innovation, positioning it as an attractive environment for leading global technology companies and reinforcing its status as the largest digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. LEAP 2025 is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), and Tahaluf Company, supported by the Events Investment Fund. The first day of the event witnessed the announcement of several major investments and projects in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation, including; Groq & Aramco Digital announced a $1.5 billion investment to expand AI-powered cloud computing, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Alat & Lenovo confirmed a $2 billion investment to establish an advanced AI and robotics-based manufacturing and technology center in Saudi Arabia and to open Lenovo's regional headquarters in Riyadh. Google unveiled plans for an AI infrastructure investment, launching a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia to meet regional and international demand. Qualcomm introduced the ALLaM language model on the Qualcomm AI Cloud, alongside the launch of the ALLaM AI PC, enabling cloud-based AI solutions for developers and accelerating technological innovation. Alibaba Cloud launched an AI empowerment program in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Tuwaiq Academy and STC, to train local talent in advanced technologies and contribute to building a sustainable digital future. Databricks committed $300 million in Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions, supporting app developers and fostering data engineering and AI expertise to boost Saudi Arabia's digital economy. SambaNova pledged $140 million to develop advanced AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the Kingdom's role as a regional innovation hub.
