Saudi Arabia used the opening of the LEAP technology summit to unveil a slate of AI-related investments totalling $15 billion. The deals, announced on Monday, aim to accelerate the kingdom's digital economy and challenge rival Gulf states for regional leadership in artificial intelligence.
Massive AI investments announced
The programme includes a partnership between San Francisco-based AI cloud platform Together AI and the Saudi-backed venture HUMAIN to build a 250-megawatt AI data centre. The project is projected to generate more than $5 billion in gross annual revenue in its first year.
In parallel, Amazon Web Services expanded its collaboration with HUMAIN, targeting up to 50 megawatts of capacity in the kingdom's first AI Zone by 2028.
American entrepreneur Elon Musk also announced that his company xAI will construct its inaugural data centre outside the United States, starting with 50 megawatts and eventually scaling to 500 megawatts.
Key partners and projects
More than 1,800 global technology brands attended LEAP, including NVIDIA, Google, Meta, Lenovo and Nokia. Their presence underscores the event's role as a showcase for AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart-city solutions and other emerging technologies.
Since its launch in 2022, the Saudi digital economy has expanded by 69%, rising from $118 billion to $199 billion, according to the kingdom's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Implications for the Gulf AI race
The scale of the announced commitments signals Riyadh's intent to compete directly with the United Arab Emirates, which has long positioned itself as a regional tech hub. By securing high-profile partners and committing substantial capacity, Saudi Arabia hopes to attract multinational AI firms and foster a domestic ecosystem of talent and innovation.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, the AI Zone is slated for completion by 2028, with further investments expected as global firms seek to diversify data-centre locations amid geopolitical uncertainty. The success of these projects will depend on the kingdom's ability to deliver the promised infrastructure and to maintain a stable regulatory environment that encourages foreign participation.
Analysts will watch the rollout of the data centres and the uptake of AI services as indicators of whether Saudi Arabia can truly become the Gulf's AI capital.