Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence

The Saudi Arabian government has officially designated 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence." The decision was approved by the country's Council of Ministers, highlighting AI as a central pillar for future economic and technological strategy.

Authorities state that this move is driven by artificial intelligence's emergence as a key driver of the global economy and technological progress. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), explained that declaring a thematic year aims to bolster national efforts in technology adoption, innovation development, and improving quality of life.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized that the initiative reflects the Kingdom's ambition to strengthen its position in global technological competition and establish AI as a foundational element of its future economy. Saudi Arabia is already a significant investor in the sector, ranking 14th globally in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index and leading among Arab nations.

The country is implementing a national strategy for data and AI development, expanding data centers and supercomputing capabilities. The government states the goal is to accelerate digital transformation and solidify Saudi Arabia's role as a global technology hub.

This announcement follows a similar decree by Kazakhstan. Earlier this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared 2026 the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence" in Kazakhstan. He has consistently framed AI development as a critical factor determining which nations will succeed in the future, calling it a "watershed" moment that separates countries progressing forward from those left behind.

President Tokayev noted that adopting advanced technologies would enhance national potential across all sectors. He positioned the themed year as an opportunity to accelerate state modernization and adapt to the new technological era.