Country tracker · Middle East & Africa · 40 countries, one method
AI in Saudi Arabia
How far Saudi Arabia has come on AI, and how complete its AI rulebook is: two scores, six lenses, every law linked to its official text.
31.4% of people aged 15–64 used a generative AI product in Q2 2026, up from 23.7% in H1 2025; #25 of the 147 economies Microsoft tracks. Its strongest lens is Adoption (#6 of 40) and its weakest Infrastructure (#24). On AI law, a national strategy and voluntary guidance, with no AI law or bill.
#19 of 40 on Progress16/100 Rulebook5 verified laws and rulesChecked 21 Oct 2026
In the Record’s memory3 dated events since January 2023, by month and kind. Darker means busier; choose a square to see those events.
See all 3 in the ledger →Saudi Arabia through six lenses
How the scores work →The same six lenses, in the same order, on every country page. Each shows its lead number, the rank among the countries the source covers, and every indicator behind the lens score. 8 of 17 indicators measure Saudi Arabia.
01Adoption#6 of 40
How widely are people and firms using AI?
31.4%
share of people aged 15–64 who used generative AI, Q2 2026
H1 2025Q2 2026Lens score56
- AI user shareQ2 2026 · Microsoft AI Diffusion31.4%#25 of 147
- Use AI at work2025 · University of Melbourne and KPMG International82%#6 of 47
- AI job postings2025 · Lightcast—not measured
- AI literacy index2025 · LinkedIn16#34 of 46
02Talent#22 of 39
Does it have, and keep, the people?
3,426
top AI authors and inventors, 2025
Lens score23
- AI talent share2025 · LinkedIn—below the top 15
- AI skill penetration2015–2025 · LinkedIn—below the top 15
- Top AI authors2025 · Zeki Data3,426#20 of 21
- AI authors per 100k2025 · Zeki Data—not measured
- AI talent net flow2025 · LinkedIn+2.02#6 of 50
03Research#16 of 40
Does it build AI and its science?
4
notable AI models, 2003–2025
Lens score25
- Notable models2003–2025 · Epoch AI4#16 of 33
- AI patents per 100k2024 · AI Index—not measured
04Investment#18 of 40
Is private money flowing in?
$2.0B
private AI investment, 2025
Lens score13
- Private AI investment2025 · Quid$2.0B#10 of 15
- Investment since 20132013–2025 · Quid—below the top 15
- New AI companies2025 · Quid—below the top 15
05Infrastructure#24 of 40
Does it have the machines?
8,391
H100-equivalents of known AI supercomputer capacity in operation, Oct 2026
Lens score24
- AI computeOct 2026 · Epoch AI GPU Clusters8,391#9 of 33
- Data centres2025 · Cloudscene—source does not cover it
- Robots installed2024 · International Federation of Robotics (IFR)—below the top 10
06Laws#37 of 40 verified
How complete and binding is its AI rulebook?
16/100
Rulebook score · Strategy and guidance
Rulebook16
- Binding laws and rules in forceverified1
- Items in the law registerverified5
- Governance initiatives endorsed2019–2025 · AI Index3of 8
AI law in Saudi Arabia
How to check a law →No AI statute; SDAIA issues non-binding ethics and generative-AI guidance, the PDPL binds AI data use, and the draft Global AI Hub Law is still unenacted.
Strategy and guidanceA national strategy and voluntary guidance, with no AI law or bill.
- VoluntaryGuidance · not bindingAdopted Jan 2024
SDAIA Generative AI Guidelines (for government and for the public)
Two non-binding guidelines, for government staff and for the public: risks such as deepfakes, misinformation and data leakage, with mitigations; government bodies should not use generative AI in critical decisions affecting individuals or vital national interests, and outputs need human review. SDAIA now hosts 2025 editions.
- In forceLaw · bindingAdopted 16 Sep 2021 · In force from 14 Sep 2023
Personal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19 of 1443H, amended by M/148 of 1444H)
Consent, purpose limitation, transfer limits and data-subject rights for AI training and deployment; enforcement began 14 September 2024 after a one-year grace period.
Penalty up to SAR 5m (doubled for repeat); up to 2 years and SAR 3m for unlawful disclosure of sensitive data - VoluntaryGuidance · not bindingAdopted Sep 2023
SDAIA AI Ethics Principles (Principles and Controls of AI Ethics)
Seven principles (fairness; privacy and security; humanity; social and environmental benefits; reliability and safety; transparency and explainability; accountability and responsibility) applying to all AI tools; non-binding.
- In forceStrategy · not bindingAdopted 17 Jul 2020
National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI)
Five objectives (skills, policy and regulation, investment, research and innovation, ecosystem) with 2030 targets: top 15 in AI, top 10 in open data, about SAR 75bn investment, 20,000+ specialists and 300+ startups; a planned refresh is under way (November 2025 edition).
- DraftBill · not binding
Draft Global AI Hub Law
Published by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (14 April 2025) for 'data embassy' style Private, Extended and Virtual hubs run under foreign-state jurisdiction; does not regulate AI systems.
The Rulebook score, line by line
What each line means →16 of 100. Each line names the law or body that earns its points.
- Binding AI rulesNo AI-specific law, bill or official draft0/35
- A national AI strategy, adopted or updated since 2022National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI)5/8
- A body named to oversee or enforce AI rulesSee Institutions6/6
- An AI safety or evaluation instituteNone found0/6
- A right to challenge automated decisions, in forceNone found0/12
- Rules on AI-generated content: labels or deepfake offences, in forceNone found0/13
- International AI governance initiatives endorsed (of 8)3 of 8. Source: AI governance initiatives by country4.5/12
- Council of Europe AI Convention: signed 5, ratified 8Not signed0/8
The record
What gets an entry →Every dated step: laws adopted and coming into force, and each reading of AI use. Newest first; future dates are marked.
- 30 Jun 2026AdoptionAI user share reached 31.4%, from 29.4% in Q1 2026Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, Q2 2026.
- 31 Mar 2026AdoptionAI user share reached 29.4%, from 26.2% in H2 2025Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, Q1 2026.
- 31 Dec 2025AdoptionAI user share reached 26.2%, from 23.7% in H1 2025Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, H2 2025.
- Jan 2024LawsSDAIA Generative AI Guidelines (for government and for the public) adoptedTwo non-binding guidelines, for government staff and for the public: risks such as deepfakes, misinformation and data leakage, with mitigations; government bodies should not use generative AI in critical decisions affect…
- 14 Sep 2023LawsPersonal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19 of 1443H, amended by M/148… came into force
- Sep 2023LawsSDAIA AI Ethics Principles (Principles and Controls of AI Ethics) adoptedSeven principles (fairness; privacy and security; humanity; social and environmental benefits; reliability and safety; transparency and explainability; accountability and responsibility) applying to all AI tools; non-bin…
- 16 Sep 2021LawsPersonal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19 of 1443H, amended by M/148… adoptedConsent, purpose limitation, transfer limits and data-subject rights for AI training and deployment; enforcement began 14 September 2024 after a one-year grace period.
- 17 Jul 2020LawsNational Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI) adoptedFive objectives (skills, policy and regulation, investment, research and innovation, ecosystem) with 2030 targets: top 15 in AI, top 10 in open data, about SAR 75bn investment, 20,000+ specialists and 300+ startups; a pl…
How people in Saudi Arabia see AI
Public opinion on AI →Survey results, not scored. They show the mood that new AI rules land in.
Saudi Arabia beside its peers
All 40 countries →The two Progress leaders and the countries nearest to Saudi Arabia in its region. A dash means no source measures that lens for the country.
Progressfive lenses, 0–10028#1977#174#234#1416#2842#10
Adoptionlens score565656784641
Talentlens score2352—412252
Researchlens score25898322040
Investmentlens score131007414058
Infrastructurelens score248883161417
Rulebook0–100167484403924
AI user shareQ2 2026 · Microsoft31.4%33.0%17.5%73.3%18.9%38.7%
Approach to AI lawStrategy and guidanceState laws, no federal AI statuteBinding rules by use caseExisting regulators, no AI statuteAI bill in progressExisting regulators, no AI statute
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Check AI-law news yourself
All our data sources →Every law on these pages links to its official text and to an independent check. These are the registers and trackers we use, with what each is good for. A headline about a new AI law is real when the official register shows it.
Official registers8
- EUR-LexOfficial EU law: the AI Act and its amendments
- Council of Europe Treaty OfficeSignatures and ratifications of the AI Convention (CETS 225)
- Federal RegisterUS executive orders and agency rules
- Congress.govUS federal bills and their status
- legislation.gov.ukUK Acts and statutory instruments
- Cyberspace Administration of ChinaChina's AI rules and the generative AI filing register
- e-Gov JapanJapanese statutes, including the AI Promotion Act
- Korea Law Information CenterKorean statutes, including the AI Basic Act
Law and policy trackers4
- OECD.AI Policy Navigator (formerly National AI Policies & Strategies database; GAIIN)OECDNational AI policy initiatives (strategies, governance bodies, funding, regulation) by jurisdictionUse it for Use as primary verification source for 'national AI strategy exists / date' and governance bodies; link each country page to its OECD.AI country profile
- IAPP Global AI Law and Policy TrackerIAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals)AI laws, policies, national strategies and responsible authorities per jurisdictionUse it for Cite as a secondary legal cross-check; link out; do not reproduce
- Council of Europe Framework Convention (CETS 225) treaty chartCouncil of Europe Treaty Office · Live chart (see coe_convention block)Signature and ratification status of the first binding international AI treatyUse it for Primary source for a 'CoE AI Convention: signed / ratified' field per country
- Digital Policy AlertDigital Policy Alert (St.Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade) · ContinuousEvent-level tracker of digital policy changes incl. AI rules, by jurisdictionUse it for Use as verification source for law-stage changes; model aiadoption.org's country timeline on its event structure
Country indices11
- Stanford HAI AI Index Report + Global AI Vibrancy ToolStanford Institute for Human-Centered AIAnnual state-of-AI report; Vibrancy Tool ranks national AI ecosystems (R&D, economy, policy, talent, infrastructure, public opinion, etc.)Use it for Reuse individual underlying indicators (with attribution) rather than the composite; link to Vibrancy Tool for each covered country
- Tortoise Global AI IndexTortoise MediaNational AI capacity: investment, innovation, implementationUse it for Link out and quote rank with attribution only; do not reuse scores
- Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025Oxford InsightsWhether governments can harness AI for the public goodUse it for Cite as a verification source for governance/policy-capacity; reuse rank with attribution for countries lacking other data
- Microsoft Global AI Diffusion Report (AI user share)Microsoft (AI Economy Institute / On the Issues)AI user share: % of working-age population (15-64) using generative AI products in the periodUse it for Reuse the per-country AI user share as the core 'adoption' metric with attribution and vintage label; flag method breaks
- IMF AI Preparedness Index (AIPI)International Monetary Fund · June 2024 (released 25 June 2024); no later update foundMacro-structural readiness to adopt AIUse it for Use as background 'structural readiness' component only; label vintage 2024
- Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI)Global Center on AI GovernanceGovernment commitments and implementation evidence for responsible AIUse it for Cite as verification source for responsible-AI governance; adopt its framework-vs-implementation distinction in aiadoption.org's law status pills
- AI Safety / Security Institutes network (NAAIMES)Member governments; UK AI Security Institute as coordinatorMembership of the international network of AI safety/evaluation institutesUse it for Field 'has national AI evaluation institute (year)' per country; see safety_institutes block
- Carnegie Endowment (AI governance research, e.g. China AI safety institute work)Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · Ongoing researchQualitative country analysis of AI governanceUse it for Cite for country narrative paragraphs
- Brookings: How are countries evaluating AI models?Brookings Institution · Article (date not confirmed)Comparative analysis of national AI evaluation institutesUse it for Cite in safety-institute methodology notes
- Anthropic Economic Index - geographic report (Anthropic AI Usage Index)AnthropicClaude usage per capita relative to working-age population by country (AUI), plus task mixUse it for Use as secondary adoption metric beside Microsoft; triangulate, never sole sourceLink not yet opened by us
- Epoch AI dataEpoch AI · ContinuousNotable models, training compute, GPU clusters/data centres by countryUse it for Reuse 'notable models by country' and 'AI supercomputers by country' with attributionLink not yet opened by us
Research and safety4
- CSET (Center for Security and Emerging Technology)Georgetown University · OngoingData-driven research on AI talent, investment, compute, policy (incl. ETO tools such as AGORA AI governance document set)Use it for Cite AGORA for law-text links; reuse open datasets with attributionLink not yet opened by us
- International AI Safety ReportExpert panel chaired by Yoshua Bengio, UK-backed secretariat · 2026 edition expected/early 2026 (not verified)Scientific synthesis of general-purpose AI capabilities and risksUse it for Cite in methodology for why safety institutes/evaluation capacity are scored; list which countries sit on the panelLink not yet opened by us
- Our World in Data - Artificial IntelligenceOur World in Data (Global Change Data Lab) · ContinuousCharts republishing AI data (investment, models, patents, public opinion) by countryUse it for Model chart UX on OWID; reuse CC BY datasets with attributionLink not yet opened by us
- Artificial AnalysisArtificial Analysis · ContinuousModel benchmarks, price and speed; includes model origin by countryUse it for Use for 'frontier models produced by country' cross-check; citeLink not yet opened by us
How the scores work
Two scores, never added together. Download every score and indicator (CSV).
Progress, 0–100
- Five lenses, same for everyone. Adoption, Talent, Research, Investment and Infrastructure. Each lens is the average of its indicators; Progress is the average of the lenses.
- Only published numbers. Each indicator is a chart on AI Adoption with its source and CSV, or a public dataset linked on the page (Microsoft AI Diffusion, Epoch AI GPU Clusters).
- Scaled so outliers do not swamp the rest. Money, models and compute use a log scale on which the leader scores 100; shares and rates use the range of countries the source covers.
- Gaps stay gaps. A source that does not cover a country leaves a dash, never a guess. A country below a source's top-15 list scores 0 on that indicator, and the page says so. The coverage flag shows how many of the 17 indicators measure the country.
Rulebook, 0–100
How complete and binding a country's AI rules are. It does not grade whether the rules are good, strict or lenient. Points come only from laws we have verified against an official source.
Binding AI rulesup to 35
- An AI law with enforceable duties on companies applies now35
- Enforceable rules on AI systems apply, but only in part of the country26
- An AI law with enforceable duties is enacted; its duties start later26
- A national AI law is in force, but it sets no penalties for companies20
- An AI bill or official draft is before the legislature or out for consultation10
- No AI-specific law, bill or official draft0
Institutions, safeguards, international65
- A national AI strategy, adopted or updated since 20228
- A body named to oversee or enforce AI rules6
- An AI safety or evaluation institute6
- A right to challenge automated decisions, in force12
- Rules on AI-generated content: labels or deepfake offences, in force13
- International AI governance initiatives endorsed (of 8)12
- Council of Europe AI Convention: signed 5, ratified 88
Disclosure: AI Adoption uses AI tools in its research and editorial work. No government, company or lobby group has any say in a country's scores or its law register, and the same rules apply to every country. Editorial standards · Data sources · Corrections