RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Google Cloud have signed a landmark strategic partnership to establish a global artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Dammam, located in the Eastern Province. Announced during the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII8), this collaboration aims to position Saudi Arabia as a premier destination for AI innovation, serving both local and international enterprises and startups.
The new AI hub will drive forward the kingdom’s ambitions in the field, focusing on elevating the capabilities of the Saudi workforce by providing AI training programs for millions of students and professionals. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s national goal to expand its information and communication technology (ICT) sector by 50%, boosting the country’s position as a regional leader in tech development.
This partnership will empower businesses to leverage Google Cloud’s advanced technology to propel growth across various sectors, enhancing the quality and accessibility of AI applications and data services for end users. Pending regulatory approval, the collaboration will also prioritize joint research initiatives in Arabic language models and AI solutions specifically designed for the Saudi market. A key component of this research will involve Google Cloud’s state-of-the-art computing technology, such as custom silicon with Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), as well as the Vertex AI platform, tailored for generative AI application development.
Governor of PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, emphasized the importance of this strategic move, stating, “This partnership underscores PIF’s commitment to creating an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology. Saudi Arabia is an ideal location for global tech partners, as PIF combines sector expertise with a long-term investment approach.”
Adding to this, Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, commented, “This strategic collaboration will accelerate AI adoption in the local language across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services. We aim to create highly-skilled jobs for Saudis and opportunities for global businesses through cloud adoption.”
With a specific focus on Arabic-language capabilities, Google’s generative AI model family, Gemini, will be enhanced by integrating additional Arabic datasets, creating a more inclusive AI model for Arabic-speaking users. According to research by Access Partnership, the AI hub could contribute up to $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP over the next eight years, supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs as the kingdom advances its AI-driven economy.
This initiative builds on Google Cloud’s existing infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the Dammam cloud region launched last year, and marks a significant expansion in Google Cloud’s global network of 40 regions. Through this collaboration, PIF and Google Cloud are driving forward a transformative AI ecosystem that promises to reshape Saudi Arabia’s technological landscape.
