Jakarta:The World Bank has praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its significant advancements in data governance and artificial intelligence (AI) development, as highlighted in its regional economic report for the Middle East and North Africa.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the World Bank's report, titled "From Gap to Opportunity AI, Jobs, and Growth," emphasizes Saudi Arabia's achievements in building a robust national data and AI infrastructure through the efforts of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). It underscores the Kingdom's progress in developing AI models, computing capabilities, and technology investments. The Saudi experience is described as a benchmark for developing institutional models for data and AI governance, facilitated by strong institutional integration and national support.
The report includes a dedicated case study on SDAIA's initiatives, examining its role in governing the national data ecosystem and promoting AI technology adoption through the National Data Management Office, the National Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the National Information Center. It highlights the Kingdom's AI adoption rate, which reached approximately 28% among Saudi enterprises in 2024, surpassing the OECD countries' 20% average in 2025. The highest adoption rates were noted in sectors like telecommunications, information technology, finance, and insurance.
Further findings from an International Finance Corporation study, presented in the report, reveal a 100% AI adoption rate among companies headquartered in Saudi Arabia. The report also acknowledges the Kingdom's progress in the Stanford University AI Index, recognizing it as a global leader in developing advanced AI models.
The World Bank commended SDAIA's efforts in developing national data infrastructure through the Data Bank and facilitating data integration and exchange among entities to support reliable AI applications. It also noted the Kingdom's progress in establishing regulatory frameworks for data governance and protection, including the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Law and the development of national standards.
Additionally, the report highlighted the success of SDAIA's "SAMA" initiative, which trained over 1.2 million people in AI skills, surpassing its targets. This initiative reflects the Kingdom's commitment to expanding AI knowledge and accessibility.
Overall, the World Bank report underscores Saudi Arabia's establishment of robust national foundations for data governance and AI, citing the Saudi model as a valuable reference for other nations aiming to develop their own national ecosystems in this field.