Oracle has highlighted sovereign artificial intelligence as a key factor in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build an AI driven economy and support long term economic growth. As the Kingdom continues investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure, cloud computing capabilities, and data sovereignty, technology companies are expanding their presence to support the country’s digital transformation goals. At LEAP 2026, Oracle showcased its operations in Saudi Arabia, where it has established cloud regions in Jeddah and Riyadh to provide local computing capacity for organizations.
In an interview with Arab News, Reham Almusa, General Manager of Oracle Saudi Arabia and Vice President of Applications, said sovereign AI will play an important role in enabling Saudi Arabia to develop its AI ecosystem while maintaining control over sensitive data and strategic infrastructure. She explained that sovereign AI refers to a government or organization’s ability to control AI technologies and related data, including how AI systems are deployed, managed, and governed. The approach also includes control over the hardware, software, policies, and skilled personnel involved in developing and operating AI solutions. According to Almusa, sovereign AI capabilities can help Saudi Arabia manage critical data, strengthen privacy protections, support regulatory requirements, and maintain strategic decision making capabilities.
Oracle believes AI adoption will impact multiple industries beyond the technology sector by improving productivity and creating new economic opportunities. Almusa said AI is becoming a major productivity and growth driver for Saudi Arabia, with sectors including public services, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and retail expected to benefit from wider AI implementation. She added that infrastructure investments alone will not be enough to establish a sustainable AI economy, as developing skilled professionals will also be essential. To support this requirement, Oracle launched its Mostaqbali initiative in Saudi Arabia, which aims to train 50,000 Saudi nationals in AI and advanced technology skills. The program includes 23 training tracks with 300 training hours covering areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, database management, Oracle applications, and other digital skills. Participants meeting program requirements can receive professional certificates designed to support technology focused career opportunities.
Almusa identified three major areas that will determine Saudi Arabia’s ability to move from being an AI consumer to becoming an AI producer. The first is talent development, ensuring the country has professionals capable of building, managing, and applying advanced technologies. The second is infrastructure, with data and computing capacity serving as important foundations for AI growth. Oracle’s cloud regions in Jeddah and Riyadh are part of this expanding infrastructure ecosystem, providing organizations with access to cloud services within the Kingdom. The third area is strengthening the startup ecosystem by encouraging government entities and local companies to support emerging AI businesses through early adoption, outcome based challenges, and opportunities for growth. Oracle said LEAP 2026 provides a platform to demonstrate its role in Saudi Arabia’s technology transformation, while the Kingdom continues working toward building local AI capabilities, creating skilled jobs, supporting innovation, and generating economic value from its AI investments.
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