Saudi Arabia Ranks 14th Globally in AI Development

Saudi Arabia has climbed to 14th place globally in the 2024 Tortoise Intelligence AI Index, the highest ranking among Arab nations. Globally, the Kingdom leads in government AI strategy and ranks 7th in AI trade, reflecting its increasing investment and development in artificial intelligence.

The AI Index, launched in 2019, evaluates nations based on seven key indicators, including government strategy, operational environment, infrastructure, research, development, competencies, and trade. The United States, China and Singapore continue to lead the rankings, with Saudi Arabia showing the most notable improvement in the region. The UAE follows at 19th globally, securing second place in the Arab world, while Egypt and Qatar round out the top regional performers while placing 52nd and 54th globally, respectively.

Saudi Arabia’s 2024 ranking marks a significant leap from 31st place last year. The Kingdom has prioritised AI-driven initiatives as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy, emphasising research, education, and industry partnerships to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence.