Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, met with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the United States (U.S.). The move represents a notable step towards boosting its digital and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives.
This high-profile meeting signals the Kingdom’s intent to strengthen its technological presence and explore potential collaborations in the tech sector.
Accelerating development in AI, LLMs and metaverse
Moreover, the meeting reflects the Kingdom’s strategic intent to forge robust partnerships with global tech giants like Meta, focusing on AI, the metaverse, large language models (LLMs), and innovative digital solutions, with the aim of elevating Saudi Arabia’s status as a regional and global hub for future technologies, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its tech landscape through Vision 2030, aiming to diversify its economy from oil and establish itself as a leader in digital innovation and AI. The country has already established its Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), which is at the forefront of shaping AI policy, developing the national data infrastructure, and fostering AI startups and innovations across sectors such as healthcare, finance, and public services.
In late 2024, Saudi Arabia launched the ambitious “Project Transcendence,” a $100 billion AI initiative designed to establish the Kingdom as a global leader in AI development and deployment. This initiative focuses heavily on building world-class data centers, supporting numerous startups, recruiting top talent, and forming formidable alliances with international technology giants. The leadership aims for Saudi Arabia to be a major AI solutions exporter by 2030, targeting the creation of hundreds of AI startups and attracting billions in investments.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia announced major deals with tech giants like Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, and Oracle, involving multimillion-dollar investments to build local cloud infrastructure and AI data centers. Google Cloud and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) are investing $10 billion in a cloud and AI hub, while Oracle plans to invest $14 billion over the next decade to enhance infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s vision for a global AI hub
The recent engagement between Minister Alswaha and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlights the strategic importance of Meta’s technological advancements and its vision of AI-driven human interaction. Meta has been at the forefront of AI innovation, unveiling several groundbreaking products and initiatives, including AI-powered virtual reality headsets, chatbots, and the metaverse.
Both Saudi Arabia and Meta are heavily investing in the future of digital technologies, recognizing the transformative potential of AI and the metaverse. Meta’s recent efforts include an array of AI products designed to enhance social media engagement, advertising efficiency, and business outcomes.
For Saudi Arabia, these discussions are particularly strategic, as they align with the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a global AI hub. The government’s focus on AI and digital infrastructure has led to significant foreign direct investments, joint ventures, and national programs dedicated to advancing AI capabilities. Moreover, the Kingdom aims to localize AI development, especially in Arabic language models, to cater to regional needs and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
The Kingdom’s dedication to AI and future technologies is evident from its unprecedented investments and agreements. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has further attracted billions of dollars in investments from tech giants and financial institutions eager to tap into the rapidly growing AI ecosystem. Additionally, the country’s strategy includes fostering innovation through accelerators, incubators, regulatory frameworks, and talent acquisition, creating a fertile environment for AI entrepreneurship.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts also extend to developing an ethical framework for AI use, ensuring responsible deployment aligned with societal values. The SDAIA has published AI adoption and ethical guidelines, supporting responsible innovation and addressing challenges related to data privacy and security.
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