meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Riyadh AI goals require colossal mindset and capital shift

13 September 2024

The ongoing Global AI (Gain) summit in Riyadh is not short on showmanship. Event-branded cars and coaches ferry delegates between their hotels and the car park of the Diplomatic Quarter, where golf carts driven by enthusiastic, cheerful young Saudis await to take them to the chandelier-laden King Abdulaziz International Convention Centre.

The chassis of a luxury electric vehicle from Lucid, which is majority owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and a bright yellow canine-like mobile thermal camera from Boston Dynamics are some of the top crowd drawers at the show, which thousands are attending.

The opening performance of a young Saudi named Omar of the late John Lennon's provocative song Imagine enthralled the audience, composed mainly and albeit ironically of established technology suppliers, startups and venture capitalists looking to create a business or bring home deals out of Saudi Arabia's outsized AI fervour, driven mainly by the need to drive efficiency and foster new industries post-oil.

Abdullah Al-Sharif Alghamdi, president of event proponent Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) – pronounced Sadaya locally – underscored the kingdom's desire to influence the development of global AI standards, ethics and regulations.

Saudi Arabia ascended the 39-member UN Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence last year. SDAIA has also established the International Centre for AI Research & Ethics (ICAIRE), which is being classified as a Category 2 institution under the UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

During the event, SDAIA and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) announced the establishment of a Middle East hub of OECD's AI Policy Observatory, which tracks over 1,000 AI-related policies globally.

Several memorandums of understanding have been signed over the past two days, including making the homegrown seven billion-parameter Allam large-language model available on Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform.

Graphics processing unit (GPU) leader Nvidia also pledged to work with SDAIA to build a 5,000-GPU supercomputing platform in the kingdom, which will likely require close to $200m in investments based on the average unit price of each Blackwell chip. 

PIF, which plans to create a $40bn AI fund, has not so far made any new announcements at the show, where foreign venture capitalists openly declared that they are looking at world-class AI products to invest in.

Crucially, the presence of female Saudis staffing companies that are exhibiting at the show or visiting it is palpable, and somewhat unprecedented for a technology event being held in one of the world's most conservative societies.

It confirms National Center for AI assistant CEO Steve Plimsoll's statement that there are more female Saudis taking engineering and IT courses today than there are males.

This trend, he says, persists in most Saudi startups, providing the best hope yet of overcoming the kingdom's greatest perceived weakness in implementing its AI strategy – the lack of foundational skillsets, which have been the hallmark of technology epicentres such as the US Silicon Valley.

Plimsoll also told MEED that Allam 7B has outperformed the latest, 13 billlion-parameter version of Google's LLM, Llama, in, a recent benchmark, which indicates that the Saudis are indeed making some headways in realising their AI aspirations.

The executive, who previously served as global chief analytics officer at UK-headquartered HSBC, said over 150 developers worked on Allam, which is envisaged, first and foremost, as an enabler of Saudi government services.  

As the excitement and hype dissipate, the real job of making AI deliver on its promise to foster a prosperous, just society will have to begin for the rest of the kingdom's 36.4 million population.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12508429/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • AD Ports to potentially operate Kuwait’s Shuaiba port

    16 December 2025

    Abu Dhabi Ports Group (AD Ports) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) to explore developing and operating the container terminal at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port under a concession agreement.

    Established in the 1960s, Shuaiba is Kuwait’s oldest port. It covers 2.2 million square metres (sq m) and has 20 berths. According to KPA’s website, the container terminal has a storage area of 318,000 sq m.

    Located about 60km south of Kuwait City, the port handles commercial cargo, heavy equipment, raw materials and chemicals used across multiple industries.

    KPA said the MoU is a preliminary first step towards a concession contract, subject to completion of the required studies.

    Under the agreement, AD Ports will prepare the technical, environmental and financial studies needed for the project, including infrastructure requirements.

    For its part, KPA will designate the project site at Shuaiba port and collaborate with AD Ports to complete the required studies. It will also facilitate obtaining all necessary licences and approvals from the relevant Kuwaiti authorities.

    The proposed partnership is strategically significant for Abu Dhabi Ports Group, as it would extend its footprint in a major Gulf market and strengthen its regional network of ports and logistics assets.

    AD Ports’ presence at Shuaiba would position the group along key Gulf trade lanes and support its broader strategy of building end-to-end maritime and logistics corridors by linking port operations with shipping, industrial zones and supply chain services.

    READ THE DECEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Prospects widen as Middle East rail projects are delivered; India’s L&T storms up MEED’s EPC contractor ranking; Manama balances growth with fiscal challenges

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the December 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > BAHRAIN MARKET FOCUS: Manama pursues reform amid strain
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15254300/main4910.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • DP World launches new UAE-Iraq sea route

    16 December 2025

    UAE-based port operator DP World has launched a new 36-hour maritime service linking Dubai’s Mina Rashid with Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port.

    The new service, called DP World Express, offers a faster option than overland trucking, with a capacity to carry up to 145 accompanied trailers per sailing.

    The service was inaugurated at Mina Rashid, and a dedicated RoRo vessel was assigned to the route.

    The vessel was recently upgraded at Drydocks World and is scheduled to begin operations in December 2025.

    DP World Express will transport non-containerised, full-trailer units with drivers on board, delivering a direct, secure, door-to-door solution between the UAE and Iraq. The service will also support onward movement to neighbouring countries, improving reliability while reducing cross-border delays and administrative complexity.

    The new route responds to demand for quicker, more controlled trailer movements by lowering handling needs and simplifying planning across key trading sectors.

    This corridor strengthens access to Iraq’s main commercial centres and enhances connectivity to Jordan and Syria via established inland routes, supporting regional trade growth. On the return leg, the vessel will carry Iraqi export cargo to the UAE, helping expand two-way trade and improving efficiency across regional supply chains.

    The service further develops DP World’s integrated logistics offering by expanding direct maritime connectivity for non-containerised cargo. It is also expected to support sustainability goals by reducing CO2 emissions compared with alternative transport and logistics options.

    The launch event was attended by senior officials from the UAE and Iraq, including Muzaffar Mustafa Al-Jubouri, Iraqi ambassador to the UAE, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, among others.

    DP World is a global provider of end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, specialising in port operations, economic zones, maritime services and digital trade platforms. The company operates more than 60 marine and inland terminals in over 30 countries, handling around 88 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containerised cargo annually.

    READ THE DECEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Prospects widen as Middle East rail projects are delivered; India’s L&T storms up MEED’s EPC contractor ranking; Manama balances growth with fiscal challenges

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the December 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > BAHRAIN MARKET FOCUS: Manama pursues reform amid strain
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15251327/main.JPG
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Local firm wins key road intersection deal in Dubai

    16 December 2025

     

    Dubai-based firm DBB Contracting has won a contract from Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) for the development of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al-Nahyan Street intersection with Al-Awir Road and Al-Manama Street.

    The scope includes the construction of 2.3 kilometres (km) of bridges, lane expansion, and the provision of entrances and exits serving the surrounding areas.

    The project will increase the street’s capacity from 5,200 vehicles to 14,400 vehicles per hour in each direction.

    It will reduce travel time from 20 minutes to five minutes.

    The project will serve areas with a combined population of over 600,000 residents and visitors.

    The mobilisation works are ongoing. The project is slated for completion by 2028.

    Planning for growth

    In March 2021, the government launched the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Its launch referenced studies indicating that the emirate’s population will reach 5.8 million by 2040, up from 3.3 million in 2020. The daytime population is set to increase from 4.5 million in 2020 to 7.8 million in 2040.

    In December 2022, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the 20-Minute City Policy as part of the second phase of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. 

    In addition to the road projects, the RTA’s Dubai Metro Blue Line extension forms part of Dubai’s plans to improve residents’ quality of life by cutting journey times, as outlined in the policy.

    The policy aims to ensure that residents can meet 80% of their daily needs within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. This goal will be achieved by developing integrated service centres with all necessary facilities and by increasing population density around mass transit stations.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15251261/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Spetco completes clarification process for Kuwait oil contract

    16 December 2025

     

    Local contractor Spetco International has completed the clarification process with state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for a contract to develop the planned Mutriba remote boosting facility in Kuwait.

    In October, Ahmadi-based Spetco submitted the lowest bid for the contract, valued at KD88.2m ($288.7m).

    KOC tendered the project earlier this year and set a bid submission deadline of 29 June. The deadline was extended several times before three Kuwait-based companies submitted bids.

    The full list of the bids submitted was:

    • Spetco International – KD88,209,236 ($288.7m)
    • Combined Group Contracting – KD123,000,000 ($402.5m)
    • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting – KD129,450,000 ($423.7m)

    One source said: “The large price gap between the lowest bid and the other bids that were submitted meant that KOC sought to revalidate the quote form Spetco and ensure that the company was conforming to the tender requirements and specifications.”

    The project uses the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract model.

    The project’s scope includes:

    • Development of the Mutriba oil field
    • Installation of the degassing station
    • Installation of manifolds
    • Installation of condensate facilities
    • Installation of wellhead separation units
    • Installation of the pumping system
    • Installation of wellhead facilities
    • Installation of oil and gas treatment plants
    • Installation of a natural gas liquids plant
    • Installation of a water and gas injection plant
    • Construction of associated utilities and facilities

    The onshore Mutriba oil field is located in northwest Kuwait and is being developed as part of Kuwait’s broader strategy to expand its upstream capacity.

    Commercial output from Mutriba officially began on 15 June this year, after several wells were connected to KOC’s production facilities.

    The field, in a previously undeveloped part of Kuwait, covers more than 230 square kilometres and lies outside the area of fields already operated by KOC.

    In September, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tareq Al‑Roumi said that the country’s oil production capacity had reached 3.2 million barrels a day (b/d), its highest level in more than 10 years.

    Despite the higher capacity, Kuwait says it will continue to abide by Opec+ agreements and will produce 2.559 million b/d.

    READ THE DECEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Prospects widen as Middle East rail projects are delivered; India’s L&T storms up MEED’s EPC contractor ranking; Manama balances growth with fiscal challenges

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the December 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > BAHRAIN MARKET FOCUS: Manama pursues reform amid strain
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15249101/main0844.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Kuwait awards oil pipeline contract

    16 December 2025

    State-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has awarded a contract to East Ahmadi-based Mechanical Engineering & Contracting Company (MECC) to build an oil pipeline network.

    The project scope includes installing group manifolds and trunk lines in North Kuwait, according to a statement from Kuwait’s Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT).

    The contract was awarded on 8 December and has a value of KD34.7m ($113.1m).

    MECC outbid three other companies, who were:

    • Combined Group Contracting Company – KD35.4m
    • Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons Company – KD39.8m
    • Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (Heisco) – KD40.1m

    The project will install infrastructure to transport liquids from oil wells to gathering centers 29, 30m and 31.

    Kuwait is set to record its highest total annual value for oil, gas and chemicals contract awards since 2017, according to data from regional project tracker MEED Projects.

    Earlier in December, MEED reported that 19 contracts totalling $1.9bn had been awarded so far in 2025.

    This is more than four times the value of contract awards in the same sectors last year, when they totalled just $436m.

    It is also above the $1.7bn peak recorded in 2021, but it remains far lower than the values of contract awards seen in 2014-17, when several large-scale, multibillion-dollar projects were awarded in the country.

    The surge in the value of contract awards has come after Kuwait’s emir indefinitely dissolved parliament and suspended some of the country’s constitutional articles in May 2024.

    Prior to the suspension of parliament, Kuwait experienced very low levels of project awards for several years amid political gridlock and infighting between the cabinet and parliament.

    This meant that important project decisions could not be made, which was seen as a major obstacle to the progress of strategic oil projects.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15249103/main.png
    Wil Crisp