At the LEAP East 2026 conference in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha, articulated the Kingdom's vision to establish itself as a preeminent global player in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. Under the guidance of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in creating an AI-ready digital landscape that not only serves its domestic needs but also connects the vast economies of the East and West. Alswaha emphasized the East's significant economic footprint, representing a $34 trillion economy and a $10 trillion digital market, alongside its dominance in AI patent generation and semiconductor production.
The Kingdom's digital economy has seen remarkable growth, expanding by 75% over the past eight years to reach $139 billion, with the non-oil digital sector now contributing 16% to GDP. Operational data center capacity has also surged, reaching 467 MW, which accounts for nearly half of the total capacity in the MENA region. Alswaha noted that the empowerment of women in the ICT workforce has been a key focus, with female participation rising from 7% to 35%, positioning Saudi women as leaders in AI engagement.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia plans to develop an impressive 6.9 GW of data center capacity by 2034, with 3 GW targeted for completion by 2030. This ambitious infrastructure development, supported by an existing power capacity of 12.8 GW, positions the Kingdom among the fastest globally in supporting AI and computing projects. Alswaha concluded by stating that Saudi Arabia possesses the critical elements for success in the AI era: compute power, a growing customer base, and access to capital, attracting investments from leading technology firms in the East.
The Kingdom's digital economy has seen remarkable growth, expanding by 75% over the past eight years to reach $139 billion, with the non-oil digital sector now contributing 16% to GDP. Operational data center capacity has also surged, reaching 467 MW, which accounts for nearly half of the total capacity in the MENA region. Alswaha noted that the empowerment of women in the ICT workforce has been a key focus, with female participation rising from 7% to 35%, positioning Saudi women as leaders in AI engagement.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia plans to develop an impressive 6.9 GW of data center capacity by 2034, with 3 GW targeted for completion by 2030. This ambitious infrastructure development, supported by an existing power capacity of 12.8 GW, positions the Kingdom among the fastest globally in supporting AI and computing projects. Alswaha concluded by stating that Saudi Arabia possesses the critical elements for success in the AI era: compute power, a growing customer base, and access to capital, attracting investments from leading technology firms in the East.
Source: Saudi Gazette
