Saudi Arabia Launches HUMAIN AI Company Ahead of Trump Visit, Signaling Major Push Toward Digital Leadership

Saudi Arabia has unveiled a new artificial intelligence company, HUMAIN, just days before an expected visit from former U.S. President Donald Trump. The timing suggests that AI will be a central theme in upcoming discussions between Saudi and U.S. leaders, marking a significant moment in the kingdom’s aggressive drive to become a global tech powerhouse.

HUMAIN: A National AI Champion

Backed entirely by the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—Saudi Arabia’s $925 billion sovereign wealth fund—HUMAIN is set to operate across the entire AI value chain, from infrastructure to applications. The company’s mission includes delivering advanced AI capabilities, cloud computing, and data center infrastructure, laying the groundwork for Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.

One of the company’s most prominent goals is the development of Arabic-language large language models (LLMs), underscoring a regional-first approach to artificial intelligence. HUMAIN will also act as a key AI provider to critical sectors such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, according to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency.

Though specific investment figures have not yet been disclosed, the appointment of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as chairman signals the high strategic importance of the new company.

Aligning with Vision 2030

HUMAIN is a major piece in the puzzle of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 strategy—a sweeping plan to diversify the economy beyond oil by investing in innovation, tourism, and digital technology. The country previously launched a $100 billion AI initiative, and HUMAIN represents a next step in that vision, focused on building AI capacity from the ground up.

Alongside HUMAIN’s debut, the kingdom is rapidly expanding its cloud and data infrastructure, including the construction of more than two gigawatts of computing power—a bold figure that reflects its ambitions to become the region’s digital leader.

Trump’s Visit: A Strategic Opportunity

The launch of HUMAIN comes at a politically charged moment. Former President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia is expected to bring fresh momentum to U.S.-Saudi relations—especially in the field of technology. Sources suggest that Trump’s administration is preparing to ease restrictions introduced during President Biden’s tenure, which limited Saudi access to advanced AI chips.

If these restrictions are lifted, the kingdom could gain significant ground in deploying state-of-the-art AI systems, further accelerating its digital transformation.

Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum to Spotlight AI

AI is also expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, scheduled for Tuesday. The event will bring together influential voices from the tech industry, including:

• Ruth Porat (President & CFO, Alphabet)

• Arvind Krishna (Chairman & CEO, IBM)

• Cristiano Amon (President & CEO, Qualcomm)

The presence of such top-tier executives reflects growing international interest in the Gulf region’s digital infrastructure boom.

Middle East Emerges as a Cloud Frontier

According to a March report by Research and Markets, the Middle East and North Africa region is projected to receive $12 billion in data center investments by 2027, with Saudi Arabia already accounting for nearly 50% of this capacity.

U.S.-based hyperscale cloud providers are increasingly eyeing Saudi Arabia due to its low-cost energy, abundant land, and government incentives. These factors position the kingdom as a natural hub for data and AI services.

Conclusion: A Digital Pivot with Global Implications

With the launch of HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia is making its intentions clear: it wants to be a global force in artificial intelligence. As political dynamics shift and technology becomes central to diplomacy, the combination of strategic investment, regulatory support, and international partnerships could propel the kingdom to the forefront of the digital age.

Trump’s upcoming visit and the high-profile investment forum will likely serve as catalysts—both symbolically and practically—in realizing this high-tech vision.