Saudi Arabia has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025, a prestigious global benchmark published by Oxford Insights. The ranking underscores the Kingdom’s significant progress in integrating artificial intelligence into its public services and policy-making frameworks, positioning it as a regional leader in the advanced technology sector.
The comprehensive index, which evaluates the capacity of 195 governments worldwide, highlights the growing maturity of Saudi Arabia’s national AI ecosystem. This advancement is a direct result of strategic initiatives driven by entities like the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and aligns with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.
A Testament to Vision 2030
The top regional ranking reflects the Kingdom’s sustained efforts to adopt and develop AI applications in a structured and sustainable manner. By leveraging AI, the government aims to enhance efficiency, improve service delivery, and foster an innovation-led economy. This achievement is a clear indicator of the nation’s commitment to becoming a global hub for data and artificial intelligence.
Global Recognition in Governance and Adoption
Beyond its regional leadership, Saudi Arabia also achieved impressive global standings. The Kingdom placed seventh worldwide in the governance pillar, demonstrating its progress in creating robust regulatory and ethical frameworks for AI. Furthermore, it ranked ninth globally for public-sector AI adoption, pointing to the practical and widespread implementation of AI technologies across various government functions.
The Driving Force Behind AI Advancement
The report acknowledges the pivotal role of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), which operates with continued support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Chairman of SDAIA’s Board of Directors. This high-level backing has enabled SDAIA to significantly strengthen the nation’s data and AI capabilities and drive innovation across all government sectors.
Core Pillars of Success
According to the Oxford Insights index, Saudi Arabia demonstrated strong performance across several key pillars. The nation’s advanced AI infrastructure, supported by national platforms like HUMAIN, has been instrumental in enhancing computing capacity and fostering the development of sophisticated AI models. The report also cites the Kingdom’s flexible and forward-thinking approach to deploying smart technologies, developing national policies, and accelerating the integration of AI systems into the public sector.
About The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA)
Established in 2019, the Saudi Data and AI Authority is the competent government entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responsible for overseeing the national data and AI strategy. SDAIA’s mandate is to unlock the value of data as a national asset to realize Vision 2030’s aspirations by setting the national data and AI strategy and overseeing its execution through harmonized data policies, data analytics and insight capabilities, and continuous data and AI innovation.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
