An outstanding Saudi accomplishment in the broad and constantly changing field of artificial intelligence is SDAIA. It is responsible for developing Saudi data professionals and developing the country’s data and AI strategy, and is a major contributor to the growth of diverse economic sectors.
In terms of employment, research, and innovation in the data and AI industry, it is recognised as the original authority. It serves as the national reference for all issues related to these fields. SDAIA has flourished, from regional successes to global collaboration. Let’s learn more about it and its most notable initiatives.
SDAIA: The First Saudi Authority on AI & Data
Established by royal decree on 29/12/1440 (August 30, 2019), the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is a government organisation in Saudi Arabia. It has a direct connection to the prime minister, who also chairs its board of directors. In addition to the National Information Centre, it shares organisational ties with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the National Data Management Office, both of which emerged concurrently.
The Saudi Media Forum Award (Innovation Track in Corporate Communications) and the King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language Award (Arabic Language Computing/Institutions) are http://convocation.riphahfsd.edu.pk/ just two of the many honours it has received. Additionally, it holds international certifications for excellence in technical infrastructure architecture across the globe, including four from the top international organisation, ICMG, in the following areas:
“Institutional Structure Governance” for its efforts to improve business value by following role, responsibility, and procedure definitions and guarantee that technical components are constructed with high efficiency and under specifications;
“Digital Transformation” for its work on digital structural elements, a construction methodology, and the application of the newest technologies;
“Digital Structure Governance” for its research on institutional leaders’ organisational structures, technical trends, and protocols about digital infrastructure; and
“Institutional Excellence and Customer Centricity” for its efforts to comprehend the needs, wants, and expectations of customers to orient product and service design choices around the customer experience.
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The Authority’s Local Achievements
Despite its brief existence, its accomplishments and innovations have outpaced its time. The Authority hosted the first virtual G20 summit on March 26, 2020, making history. Moreover, the Authority constructed a secure video conferencing system so that multiple government agencies could hold their meetings remotely, and preparations were finished in less than a week. Plus, it combined and unified over 80 government datasets.
The Authority received the Best Community Project of 2022 award for the SDAIA T5 camps and the Best Technology Project of 2022 award for the National Data Bank in November 2022. The UPTIME Institute awarded the Authority’s Tier III International Readiness and Accreditation Certificate in March 2023, through the National Information Centre’s Data Centre.
On top of that, the Authority’s dedication to putting information security and data protection standards into practice within the Saudi Private Network for Government Integration (SPINE) earned it the ISO 27001:2022 certification in July 2024. In a short period, the Authority has achieved a lot and set records for the quantity of digital projects it provides to citizens and government agencies.
Among these are the hosting of 220 government data centres on the government cloud “Deem,” which offered opportunities for savings and revenue of 5 billion riyals, and the execution of 279 million procedural transactions using the “Shomoos” platform for customer transaction data recording.
Besides, 279 million procedural transactions were completed using the same platform to capture customer transaction data about private sector businesses, giving government sector beneficiaries access to a single database. The “SADA” data set, the “Sawtak” project, and the project to enhance the quality of old photos and videos are just a few of the notable and innovative digital initiatives and projects that “SDAIA” has undertaken to further the Kingdom.
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Streamlining Operations with AI
The monitoring project for petroleum products and the artificial intelligence platform—one of the most significant platforms—established and made https://www.plancartemorelia.edu.mx/portal/wordpress/ many tasks easier. Furthermore, the Ehsan platform showcases its efforts annually during the Hajj season, which has benefited over 4.4 million people with total donations exceeding 4.4 billion riyals.
To assist the Guests of God and make their affairs easier, it collaborates with the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Public Security Directorate, to create a sophisticated, integrated technical system every season. This system is constructed using national algorithms and artificial intelligence.
In addition to controlling movement within each site’s capacity and organising crowds at the Grand Mosque, it created the “Baseer” and “Sawaher” platforms. Another was the development of integrated technical services to support the Makkah Road Initiative and Hajj reception halls in 15 air, sea, and land ports across the country, including Makkah, the roads leading there, and the holy sites.
The creation of the “Smart Cities Excellence Centre,” which consists of several platforms, such as the Sawaher Platform and the National Smart Cities Platform. Each platform has real-time operational indicators to track security and key areas in Riyadh, which is its most noteworthy local accomplishment. Furthermore, it created the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare industry and, in collaboration with King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, launched a diabetic retinopathy screening initiative.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Environment, Water, and Agriculture is the first specialised centre in the Kingdom and the Middle East for sustainability solutions, collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. It also launched the “Smart Planet” initiative to support resource utilisation and sustainability through AI technologies.
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International Collaboration between SDAIA & Kuwait
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which oversees the Saudi association, held a memorandum of understanding signing between the Artificial Intelligence Governance Association in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Artificial Intelligence of Things Association in the State of Kuwait in the capital, Riyadh.
Likewise, this signing reflects the two parties’ efforts to enhance regional cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, specifically concerning the sustainable and moral use of advanced technologies for the benefit of local communities. The Saudi Society has signed its first international cooperation agreement since its inception with this memorandum, which ushers in a new era of regional openness and cross-border collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence.
Given the increasing difficulties posed by the advancement of AI technologies and their quick adoption in various industries, this collaboration is a calculated move to broaden the sphere of influence and expertise in digital governance. Notably, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah stressed in his remarks that this agreement creates new opportunities and goals for the two friendly nations to collaborate in science and technology. He pointed out that artificial intelligence has evolved from a technical tool to a strategic development necessity.
In a statement, Dr. Dhabia Al-Buainain said, “We take pride in this regional collaboration, which reflects the Kingdom’s endeavours to lead the way in artificial intelligence and encourage responsible governance of new technologies, guaranteeing their moral application and fostering innovation ecosystems.”
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A Blueprint for Technological Progress
Through the establishment of an interconnected regional system that facilitates the transition to an advanced knowledge economy, this agreement served as the foundation for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the areas of training, awareness, and innovation. Also, it provided support for the development of national capacities in both the Kingdom and Kuwait.
In turn, the project supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which emphasises the creation of advanced technologies. Further, it highlights the Gulf states’ emphasis on collaboration in digital and technological domains, enhancing the region’s standing as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation.
Lastly, without its successful local accomplishments, SDAIA would not have been able to accomplish this esteemed international cooperation. The Kingdom’s current position in data and artificial intelligence is a result of its constant efforts. Its founders, employees, and the Kingdom’s acceptance of its knowledge have all contributed to its success despite its brief existence. To develop the future, SDAIA is a part of Vision 2030.
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