AI Talent in Saudi Arabia and UAE: Gulf States Join the Global Top 20

The global race for artificial intelligence leadership is accelerating beyond Silicon Valley and Beijing. A new benchmark, the Global AI Competitiveness Index, now ranks Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among the world's top 20 nations. According to the report, the global AI talent pool is estimated at nearly 3 million professionals, based on data from multiple reference sources. This historic placement underscores the rapid rise of AI talent in Saudi Arabia and UAE, signaling the Gulf's decisive transformation into a global high-tech powerhouse.

Global AI Talent in Saudi Arabia and UAE

According to the report, the UAE ranks 16th globally, accounting for 0.7% of global AI talent, while Saudi Arabia holds 19th place with 0.4%. The index estimates the total global AI talent pool at around 3 million professionals, meaning both countries now represent a significant portion of the world’s most in-demand tech workforce.

This milestone underscores a decade of focused national strategies, massive investment, and policy reform designed to foster AI-driven economic diversification. Both countries are moving rapidly to position themselves as global centers for AI innovation, research, and deployment.

Vision-Driven AI Growth

Saudi Arabia’s progress is strongly tied to its Vision 2030 plan, a national blueprint aiming to create 200,000 high-tech jobs and attract $20 billion in AI investment. The Kingdom’s flagship research institution, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), recently entered the top 150 universities globally for AI talent production.

To attract global experts, Saudi Arabia is offering median annual salaries of up to $420,000 tax-free for senior AI scientists. This is among the most competitive compensation packages worldwide. In parallel, national initiatives like SAMAI, a public AI training program, have already trained over 420,000 Saudi citizens in AI and digital skills.

The UAE, meanwhile, continues to push boundaries with its Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level AI university. Addinitonally, the nation also offers a series of national AI programs designed to integrate machine learning and data science across government, education, and industry.

From Ambition to Execution of AI Talent in Saudi Arabia and UAE

The Gulf’s rise in AI rankings isn’t just about spending power, but the execution. Both nations have implemented comprehensive AI strategies covering every layer of society: from academic curriculum reform and startup funding to public-sector training and international talent recruitment.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally for Government AI Strategy in Tortoise Media’s Global AI Index and climbed from 31st to 14th overall. Meanwhile, the UAE rose eight positions to 20th place, with standout improvements in AI research and development capacity.

A New AI Power Corridor

Once dominated by the US, China, and Europe, the world’s AI talent map is now expanding toward the Middle East. With world-class universities, generous funding, and clear national vision, the AI talent in Saudi Arabia and UAE is competing with the rest of the globe. Will this really put the Gulf as a global creator and exporter of AI excellence?