Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of HUMAIN, a new artificial intelligence company backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This initiative exhibits Saudi Arabia’s ambition to establish itself as a global leader in AI technology.
The PIF, which manages assets estimated at around $940 billion, is spearheading efforts to develop advanced AI infrastructure, including cutting-edge data centres and specialised AI models designed specifically for the Arabic language.
The establishment of HUMAIN is a core component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a plan that aims to diversify the country’s economy beyond its traditional reliance on oil. HUMAIN’s mission is to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem, encompassing everything from infrastructure and cloud computing to data management and AI application development. Among its key projects is the creation of one of the world’s most powerful multimodal Arabic large language models, which is expected to position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of Arabic-language AI innovation.
The company is led by Tareq Amin, former CEO of Aramco Digital, who brings extensive experience in digital transformation and AI strategy. HUMAIN’s executive team includes specialists in AI infrastructure, cloud services, data science, and AI applications, which reflects a holistic approach to nurturing the kingdom’s AI capabilities.
The announcement coincides with a major U.S.-Saudi investment forum in Riyadh, which has attracted prominent figures from the global technology sector, such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg. The forum is anticipated to focus heavily on artificial intelligence and related investment opportunities. Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia as part of a regional tour, with AI and technology partnerships expected to feature prominently in discussions.
Saudi Arabia has been making substantial investments in AI and data infrastructure over recent years, securing multi-billion-dollar agreements with semiconductor manufacturers, cloud service providers, and data centre operators. Collaborations with international technology giants like Google Cloud and Salesforce further underline the kingdom’s commitment to integrating advanced AI solutions into its economy.
HUMAIN is tasked with accelerating the deployment of AI technologies across key sectors such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. The company aims to foster innovation, develop intellectual property, and attract global AI talent by leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic location and young, digitally savvy population.
Furthermore, HUMAIN is designed not only as a technology developer but also as a centralised operator to coordinate AI investments and projects, showing a more unified and ambitious approach to AI development within Saudi Arabia.