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Saudi Arabia And UAE Are At The Forefront Of An AI Revolution

The AI market in the MENA region is expected to grow at a rate of 47.8% per year.

Published

2 years ago

April 4, 2023

saudi arabia and uae are at the forefront of an ai revolution

According to the latest reports from Research and Markets, the MENA region is making significant gains in artificial intelligence, with the AI market set to grow from $500 million in 2020 to $8.4 billion by 2026.

The UAE, in particular, shows great promise as a leader in the field of AI, with a projected growth figure of 36.2% bolstered by the government’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which focuses on attracting talent, funding research & innovation hubs, and developing infrastructure and data ecosystems.

Also Read: ChatGPT Is Accelerating The AI Revolution In The Middle East

With its considerable Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia has also announced a $500 billion funding package for AI and other technologies over the next decade, launching initiatives including the Saudi Arabian Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the National Data Management Office.

A recent study by global consultancy firm Proviti Middle East showed that over 80% of CEOs in the region believe that AI will be critical to future business success, with over 70% of companies already investing in the technology.

Related Topics:Artificial Intelligence Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates

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Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.