Saudi Arabia Joins Global Partnership on AI as First Arab Member State

Saudi Arabia has officially joined the Global Partnership on AI, becoming the first Arab nation to gain membership in the international initiative.

The accession was announced on February 21, 2026, by Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). He announced the decision during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

Notably, this milestone highlights the country’s growing role in international technology policy and governance.

The Role of the Global Partnership on AI

The Global Partnership on AI is an international initiative hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

It currently comprises 46 member countries and the European Union to promote the responsible development of artificial intelligence.

Originally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative during the 2018 G7 Summit.

Consequently, the group supports research and applied activities to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Strategic Objectives for Saudi Arabia

By joining the group, Saudi Arabia aims to actively shape international standards for technology.

Furthermore, the country plans to promote ethical use and attract global investments into its regulatory environment.

This membership aligns with Vision 2030 goals to boost the contribution of the digital economy to national GDP.

The Kingdom already ranks third globally in contributions to the OECD AI Policy Observatory. Specifically, Saudi Arabia has submitted more than 60 policies to support international governance.

First Participation in Paris

Saudi Arabia participated for the first time as a member during the fifth plenary meeting in Paris.

Specifically, Rehab Alarfaj, General Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Indices at SDAIA, represented the Kingdom at the OECD headquarters.

The sessions, held from June 9 to 11, 2026, focused on the implementation of OECD principles.

During the meeting, delegates discussed the future direction of international policies. Meanwhile, the Kingdom continues to expand its domestic capabilities through national initiatives.

National AI Initiatives and Growth

The country’s domestic efforts include the ‘One Million Saudi in AI’ initiative launched in September 2024.

This program aims to train one million citizens to work with advanced technologies. Additionally, the Public Investment Fund launched a dedicated investment vehicle named Humain in May 2025.

To support these initiatives, the $2.7 billion Hexagon Data Center project broke ground in January 2026. This facility represents the largest government data center by megawatt capacity globally. Ultimately, the new Global Partnership on AI membership will complement these domestic infrastructure developments.

Source: X (@sdaia_sa) — researched