The push for AI dominance in the Middle East has hit a new gear, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia unveiling major initiatives that embed artificial intelligence into the core of their national strategies. The UAE government announced its first operational AI agents for public services, while Saudi Arabia’s giga-project, Qiddiya Investment Company, is set to deploy Google Cloud’s AI platform across its massive entertainment city development. These moves signal a strategic shift from isolated pilot projects to widespread, infrastructure-level AI integration across the region’s leading economies.
Quick Facts
- UAE rolls out first AI agents for government services.
- Qiddiya City will use Google Cloud for city-wide operations.
- G42 and India finalize plans for an 8-exaflop AI supercomputer.
- Aramco and Pasqal launch region’s first quantum computing cloud.
The UAE Implements Agentic AI in Public Services
The UAE government has taken a significant step in its Government 4.0 strategy, launching four operational AI agents to handle procurement, tax auditing, customer happiness, and technical support. The announcement was made at a government Agentic AI Retreat attended by 400 ministers and officials, underscoring the high-level commitment to this technological shift.
Following the announcement, the UAE Cabinet approved the first AI-powered government service bundles. The framework aims to integrate AI across half of all federal services within two years and includes a plan to train 80,000 government employees. This top-down approach is already taking effect, with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) becoming the first UAE government entity to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot, embedding agentic AI directly into employee workflows to streamline operations.
Saudi Giga-Projects and Enterprises Embrace AI
In Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s ambitious giga-projects are becoming showcases for large-scale AI implementation. Qiddiya City, a 360-square-kilometre entertainment hub near Riyadh, will deploy Google Cloud’s Gemini-powered AI systems to manage everything from construction and visitor operations to city-wide analytics for an anticipated 40 million annual visitors.
The nation’s industrial giants are also advancing into next-generation computing. Aramco, in partnership with French company Pasqal, has launched the Middle East’s first commercial Quantum Computing as a Service platform in Dhahran. The platform provides remote access to a 200-qubit quantum computer, targeting complex challenges in logistics, energy, and carbon storage. On the public-facing front, Saudi authorities have deployed a multilingual AI-powered robot at Mecca’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina to assist pilgrims with religious guidance and translation services.
Building the Region’s AI Infrastructure
Underpinning these ambitious rollouts is a focus on building powerful, sovereign AI infrastructure. Abu Dhabi’s G42 and the Government of India have finalized the commercial framework for Condor Galaxy India, an 8-exaflop AI supercomputer. Powered by 64 Cerebras CS-3 systems, the supercomputer will support a wide range of AI workloads under Indian data jurisdiction.
The UAE is also emerging as an exporter of advanced AI technology. In a key deal, San Francisco-based OPAQUE acquired confidential AI and post-quantum security technologies developed by Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII), signaling the global commercial potential of UAE-developed AI infrastructure.
MENA’s AI Startup Scene Gains Momentum
The region’s startup ecosystem is responding with a new wave of AI-native companies. Abu Dhabi-based digital bank Mal has secured in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE. The AI-native Islamic banking platform, which raised a record $230 million seed round, is preparing to launch Shariah-compliant mobile financial services.
In Saudi Arabia, healthtech startup Aumet secured $12 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-enabled healthcare procurement platform, which already supports over 12,000 pharmacies. Meanwhile, NYU Abu Dhabi spin-out ChatSign has launched a platform that translates spoken Arabic and English into American and Emirati Sign Language in real time. Fueling this growth, Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Science and Technology Park has launched a $30 million venture fund to back startups in AI, robotics, and other deep tech fields.
About Qiddiya
Qiddiya is a giga-project launched as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework. Located southwest of Riyadh, it is being developed into a global capital of entertainment, sports, and culture. The project aims to create a vibrant, prosperous, and ambitious city built around the core philosophy of play, offering a wide range of attractions and experiences for residents and visitors.
Source: Middle East AI News
