Saudi Arabia launched HUMAIN, a state-backed AI firm under PIF, to strengthen its leadership in global artificial intelligence development. HUMAIN plans to build sovereign AI capabilities and create infrastructure tailored to the region’s technological and digital transformation goals.
The company will develop advanced Arabic-language AI tools and drive Saudi Arabia’s broader technological and economic transformation agenda forward. With strong national support and financial backing, HUMAIN marks a strategic move to establish Saudi Arabia as a global AI leader.
Building the Pillars of AI Sovereignty
According to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia has taken an unprecedented step to solidify its global AI leadership by launching HUMAIN. The initiative, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a state-backed program under the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
It reflects the Kingdom’s strategic push to diversify its economy and build a robust digital future. HUMAIN is a core component of Vision 2030, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to technological advancement and global competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
HUMAIN operates across the full AI value chain, from building core infrastructure to deploying advanced, large-scale real-world applications. The company will develop advanced AI models, build large data centres, and enhance cloud infrastructure for Arabic-speaking users in key sectors. It will focus on creating high-performing Arabic-language large language models tailored to the region’s linguistic, cultural, and societal needs.
HUMAIN will play a central role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national strategy aimed at economic diversification and technological independence. Its main responsibilities include developing advanced AI models, constructing high-performance data centres, and delivering vital cloud infrastructure to drive the country’s digital transformation.
One major priority is creating a powerful Arabic-language large language model (LLM) tailored to the linguistic and cultural needs of Arabic-speaking communities. This model will support applications in education, healthcare, and commerce, ensuring that AI solutions align with local values and societal requirements.
Backed by Vision, Powered by Talent
Tareq Amin, a former Aramco Digital CEO and Rakuten executive, has been appointed CEO of HUMAIN as reported by Forbes. His leadership intends to integrate the Kingdom’s energy and technology goals while establishing the groundwork for a national AI initiative.
HUMAIN will create AI solutions for domestic and international industries, focusing on energy, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. It will also manage the modernisation of Saudi Arabia’s data centre and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Although HUMAIN’s exact investment is undisclosed, reports indicate multibillion-dollar backing from PIF, showing strong government support for AI. HUMAIN aims to advance Saudi Arabia’s innovation agenda and position the country as a regional and global AI collaboration hub.
Launch Timed for Global Influence
Saudi Arabia launched its flagship AI initiative, HUMAIN, on May 13, before U.S. President Donald Trump’s first state visit. The visit, which included the UAE and Qatar, focused on securing major tech investment deals with American firms and regional partners. Trump stated earlier that his visit depended on Saudi Arabia’s clear commitment to making substantial investments in the United States.
The Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, held in Riyadh alongside the launch, featured top executives from companies like Nvidia, Amazon, and Palantir. Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg were also invited, signaling the event’s global tech significance.
Humain intends to boost Saudi Arabia’s AI capabilities by expediting the development of AI hardware and data infrastructure. The Public Investment Fund-backed startup will promote AI use in important industries, including energy, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
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