Saudi Arabia has claimed the top position in the Middle East and North Africa region for the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s technological transformation under Vision 2030.
The achievement reflects years of strategic investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and policy frameworks designed to integrate AI throughout government operations. The index evaluates 195 governments globally based on factors including governance, infrastructure, and organizational readiness, making this ranking a comprehensive assessment of how prepared nations are to deploy AI in public services.
Strong Global Performance
Beyond regional dominance, Saudi Arabia secured seventh place globally in the governance pillar and ninth worldwide for public-sector AI adoption. These rankings demonstrate that the Kingdom isn’t just leading its region but competing effectively on the world stage in both regulatory frameworks and practical implementation.
The governance ranking is particularly noteworthy. It suggests that Saudi Arabia has developed sophisticated regulatory structures around AI deployment, addressing critical questions about ethics, accountability, and responsible use of the technology in government contexts. Meanwhile, the public-sector adoption ranking shows these aren’t just policies on paper but actively deployed systems serving citizens.
Infrastructure Driving Progress
The report highlights Saudi Arabia’s AI infrastructure, including national platforms such as HUMAIN, which enhance computing capabilities and support the development of AI models. This infrastructure layer is essential because advanced AI applications require substantial computational resources and specialized technical frameworks that many governments struggle to provide.
The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) has been central to coordinating these efforts. With backing from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, SDAIA advances data and AI initiatives, providing data-related capabilities and positioning the Kingdom as a leader among data-driven economies. This centralized approach allows for coordinated strategy across different government agencies rather than fragmented, duplicative efforts.
Economic Implications
The focus on government AI readiness isn’t purely about public service efficiency. AI is projected to contribute $235.2 billion, or 12.4 per cent, to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2030, according to PwC estimates. Government adoption serves as both a direct economic driver and a signal to private sector actors that the regulatory and infrastructure environment can support AI innovation.
This economic potential explains why the Kingdom has set ambitious targets beyond its current ranking. Saudi Arabia aims to rank among the top 15 countries globally in AI, top 10 in the Open Data Index, and top 20 in data and AI-related publications under its National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence.
Shifting the Regional AI Landscape
Saudi Arabia’s lead in the MENA region could accelerate AI adoption across neighbouring countries. When one nation demonstrates effective AI governance and implementation, it creates both competitive pressure and practical templates that others can adapt.
The success also challenges assumptions about where AI leadership will emerge. While much attention focuses on Western tech hubs and East Asian manufacturing powers, Saudi Arabia’s approach shows that nations with clear strategic vision, capital to invest in infrastructure, and political will to reform regulations can advance rapidly in AI readiness.
The Gap Between Readiness and Execution
Topping a readiness index is one achievement. Sustaining leadership as AI technology evolves presents another challenge entirely. The field moves quickly, and today’s infrastructure may need replacement or significant upgrades within years. Governance frameworks must adapt as AI capabilities expand and new use cases emerge.
The Kingdom will also need to develop local AI talent at scale. Infrastructure and policy create enabling conditions, but actual AI deployment requires engineers, data scientists, and domain experts who understand both the technology and the specific contexts where it’s applied. This human capital development will determine whether current momentum translates into long-term leadership.
Still, this ranking confirms that Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy is producing measurable results. The combination of infrastructure investment, regulatory development, and government adoption has positioned the Kingdom as the region’s AI leader and established it as a serious player in global AI governance discussions.
