Saudi Arabia is expanding its digital infrastructure to support artificial intelligence technologies and connect global markets.
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha, stated this during the opening of LEAP East 2026 in Hong Kong. Specifically, the event marks the expansion of the Saudi-born technology platform into Asian markets.
The East represents a 34 trillion dollar economy, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of global gross domestic product. Moreover, this region holds a 10 trillion dollar digital economy and a population of 3.7 billion people. Consequently, the expansion reflects the growing importance of Asian markets in shaping future technology.
Expanding the Digital Infrastructure
The Kingdom is building 6.9 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2034 to support computing demands.
This plan includes delivering 3 gigawatts of capacity by 2030, backed by 12.8 gigawatts of available power today. As a result, Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the fastest nations to provide power for artificial intelligence projects.
Growth of the Saudi Digital Economy
Over the past eight years, the Saudi digital economy grew by 75 percent to reach 139 billion dollars.
Meanwhile, the contribution of the non-oil digital sector to the national gross domestic product increased to 16 percent. Notably, the operational capacity of local data centers has reached 467 megawatts. This capacity represents 47 percent of the total data center market in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Saudi Arabia brings together the three essential pillars for success in the AI era, which are compute, customers, and capital.”
Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology
Regional Power and Semiconductor Dominance
The Eastern market currently generates 82 percent of all global patents related to artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, the region accounts for 60 percent of the global semiconductor market. It also controls 90 percent of advanced chip manufacturing. Therefore, these technical capabilities make the region a global powerhouse for computing.
Future Outlook for Data Centers
Global technology companies have already started expanding their operations within the Kingdom.
Specifically, firms like ByteDance, Lenovo, and Tencent are investing in the local market. In addition, the country is focusing on increasing female participation in the technology workforce. This participation rose from 7 percent to 35 percent, surpassing averages in the European Union and Silicon Valley. Ultimately, these investments will continue to strengthen the national digital infrastructure over the next decade.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
