Saudi Arabia is making a significant move to position itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence. HUMAIN, the Kingdom’s AI startup supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced plans to roll out a $10 billion venture capital fund this summer. The fund, named HUMAIN Ventures, will be aimed at emerging AI companies across the United States, Europe, and selected Asian regions, according to CEO Tareq Amin.
The strategy forms a core element of the Kingdom’s AI ambitions and aligns with predictions from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority. These estimates suggest AI will contribute $15.6 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with 98 million new jobs expected by 2025. Saudi Arabia is keen to secure a sizeable share of this growth. As part of its infrastructure vision, HUMAIN plans to develop 1.9 gigawatts of data centre capacity by the end of the decade, with a target of 6.6GW by 2034.
The company said it plans to build a vertically integrated presence in the AI space, with a strong focus on investment, infrastructure, and chip design. Unlike most companies outside of the dominant US and Chinese tech giants, HUMAIN is taking a broad, aggressive approach. Saudi Arabia is using its financial muscle to rapidly close the technological gap.
Global Partnerships Powering Forward Momentum
To push these plans forward, HUMAIN has opened discussions with prominent US firms, including OpenAI, xAI, and Andreessen Horowitz. Since its launch in May, the company has already secured $23 billion in deals with major tech players such as Nvidia, AMD, Amazon Web Services, and Qualcomm. The full scope of the HUMAIN project is projected to cost $77 billion.
Among the projects underway is a joint venture with AMD to create 500MW of data centre capacity over five years. In addition, a $2 billion investment with Qualcomm will establish a chipset design centre in Riyadh, which will employ 500 engineers. Although manufacturing is not planned at this stage, procurement of chips from US-based suppliers is expected to begin within 30 days. Amin noted this was part of a deliberate strategy to partner with trusted US firms while avoiding strategic missteps.
Saudi Arabia’s closer alignment with the US on AI also comes amid Washington’s concerns over technology transfers to China. While China remains the Kingdom’s largest trading partner, its AI plans are shifting closer to American partnerships. This coincides with expected changes to Biden-era AI chip export rules to Saudi Arabia, which are likely to be altered under the Trump administration.
Driving Vision 2030 Through AI Expansion
HUMAIN’s rapid scale-up reflects Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, aiming to advance innovation, attract top talent, and develop intellectual property. The initial stage of its data centre park will include a 50-megawatt site using 18,000 Nvidia chips, going live in 2026. Eventually, total capacity is expected to hit 500MW, requiring 180,000 chips.
The company also expects to be responsible for training 7 percent of global AI models by 2030. “You take it slow, or you go fast we’re definitely going fast,” said Amin.
To address data privacy issues, HUMAIN will implement real-time inventory tracking, giving clients instant auditing access. New laws in Riyadh will also require data centres to comply with each client’s home country legal standards.
HUMAIN is positioning itself as more than just a tech startup, it’s emerging as a key part of Saudi Arabia’s push to become a global force in AI.
