Saudi Arabia among top 10 AI investors: World Bank

Saudi Arabia ranks among the world's top 10 countries for private investment in artificial intelligence (AI), the World Bank said in its World Development Report 2026: Promise of AI Intelligence.

The report also identified Saudi Arabia as one of the leading destinations for AI talent in 2025, alongside Luxembourg, the UAE, and Switzerland, based on the highest net inflows of AI workers per 10,000 LinkedIn members.

The World Bank said countries stand to benefit from AI not only by developing advanced models but also by building integrated ecosystems spanning digital connectivity, computing infrastructure, data, skills, and institutions.

It said locally developed AI solutions can expand access to expertise, raise productivity, improve public services, and support economic growth.

Saudi Arabia's data center capacity increased from 68 megawatts (MW) in 2021 to 440 MW in 2025, before rising to 467 MW in the first quarter of 2026, a year-to-date increase of more than 6%.