Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia was recognized among the top emerging global economies in AI readiness, with 72% of its companies adopting a strategy to deploy emerging AI technologies, backed by cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure.

According to ‘The GCC AI Pulse: Mapping the Region’s Readiness for an AI-Driven Future’ report, released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Kingdom was designated as an “AI Contender”, a status shared with 31 other economies worldwide.

The study assesses the development of AI across the six GCC nations using BCG’s flagship ASPIRE framework, measuring AI ambition, skills, policy, investment, research, and ecosystem across over 30 indicators. The maturity matrix identifies four country archetypes based on their AI readiness: AI Emergents, Practitioners, Contenders, and Pioneers.

The report further noted that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have had considerable and promising success in attracting and retaining AI specialists, with almost 5,000 and 7,000 specialists, respectively.

"Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments and ambitious vision in artificial intelligence exemplify how nations can leverage emerging technologies to rapidly transform their economies and enhance their global stature. By aiming to attract $20 billion in investments and developing sophisticated regulatory frameworks, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation,” said Akram Awad, Managing Director and partner at BCG.

Moreover, the report highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to drive innovation in AI since establishing the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and launching its national AI strategy in 2020, which aims to position the Kingdom among the top 15 AI nations by 2030.