Saudi Arabia announces 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence to enhance its technical leadership
The Saudi Council of Ministers has officially announced the selection of 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence" in the Kingdom. This strategic step comes as part of the state's ongoing efforts to support digital innovation and develop modern technologies, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
This initiative follows the Kingdom's achievement of a prominent international milestone, as it ranked fourteenth globally in the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index. This ranking reflects the significant progress Saudi Arabia has made in building a robust technical infrastructure and developing national competencies in the fields of programming and data.
Through the announcement of this year, the Kingdom aims to accelerate the pace of digital transformation across various economic and government sectors. The initiative also seeks to attract global investments in the technology sector and enhance cooperation with leading international companies to exchange expertise and develop smart solutions that serve society.
This decision is an important step toward consolidating the Kingdom's position as a regional and global hub for technology and innovation. It is expected that 2026 will witness the launch of numerous projects and initiatives that will contribute to strengthening the digital economy and providing new job opportunities for Saudi youth in the fields of the future.