Saudi Arabia has launched a $100 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure fund as part of an expansive strategy to establish the Kingdom as a leading global force in advanced technology, directly competing with the United States and China in the rapidly accelerating AI race.

The initiative, backed by the Public Investment Fund, forms a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation programme.

It is designed to diversify national income sources beyond hydrocarbons while building sovereign technological capabilities in data infrastructure, cloud computing, semiconductor partnerships and advanced AI research.

Officials outlined plans to deploy capital into hyperscale data centres, high-performance computing facilities and next-generation AI model development.

The programme will also fund domestic startups and attract international technology firms to establish regional headquarters and research hubs within the Kingdom.

Strategic partnerships with major global technology companies are expected to accelerate the rollout of AI infrastructure and foster knowledge transfer.

Saudi authorities have emphasised the importance of developing Arabic-language AI models and region-specific applications, positioning the Kingdom as a leader in AI solutions tailored to emerging markets.

The scale of the investment underscores Riyadh’s ambition to shape the future architecture of global artificial intelligence governance and innovation.

Analysts view the move as part of a broader geopolitical competition in advanced technologies, where control over computing power, data ecosystems and AI talent increasingly defines economic and strategic influence.

By combining sovereign capital, regulatory reform and long-term industrial planning, Saudi Arabia aims to create a self-sustaining AI ecosystem capable of generating high-skilled employment, fostering innovation and reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a pivotal economic power in the twenty-first century.