Saudi Arabia ranks 15th globally in AI research output
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has ranked 15th globally in artificial intelligence research output for 2025, driven by the volume of academic publications, according to a new report.
The Kingdom produced 29,639 AI-related publications, placing it among the top contributors to global AI research and highlighting its emerging role as a regional technology leader.
This performance places Saudi Arabia ahead of several long-established research hubs, including the Netherlands, Singapore, and Russia, as well as Switzerland and Sweden, according to the newly released Global AI Competitiveness Index.
Dmitry Kaminskiy, general partner at Deep Knowledge Group, said: 'Saudi Arabia's ranking aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives, reinforcing the country's commitment to developing a sustainable, diversified knowledge-based economy.'
He added: 'With AI being a central pillar in the nation's development plans, the findings of our report pave the way for continued excellence and leadership in the field.'
The Global AI Competitiveness Index, jointly developed by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group, evaluated more than 2 million AI-related scientific papers and invention patents worldwide.
The report measures countries based on both the quantity and impact of their AI research contributions.
The Kingdom's output translates to over 823 AI publications per million people, which reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen its scientific and technological landscape.
'Saudi Arabia's AI research output is a testament to the country's commitment to becoming a leader in technology and innovation. The Kingdom's strategic investments in AI infrastructure and talent development are already yielding impressive results, setting the stage for further advancements,' Kaminskiy added.
The research milestone comes amid broader gains in global AI competitiveness. In the 2024 Global AI Index by Tortoise Media released in September, Saudi Arabia climbed 17 positions to rank 14th overall, overtaking the UAE as the leading Arab nation in AI.
The index, which evaluates countries on factors such as research, talent, infrastructure, and government policy, also reaffirmed the Kingdom's top global ranking in the government strategy category.
Global trends
The Global AI Competitiveness Index report also underscores broader international trends, with Mainland China leading in total volume of AI papers — reporting a 696 percent increase over the past decade to reach 769,000 publications.
Japan and South Korea's entry into the global top 10 further reflects the growing dominance of East Asia in the international AI research landscape, the report noted.
Saudi Arabia has also been ranked 24th globally in AI patent output. With a total of 1,189 AI-related patents filed, the Kingdom is continuing to build its innovation capacity in parallel with its growing research footprint.
While its absolute patent count remains modest compared to leading nations, the ranking reflects the country's early but expanding efforts in technological commercialization and intellectual property development within AI.
In terms of AI patents per million people, Saudi Arabia reported a rate of 35, placing it ahead of larger economies such as Russia with 6.4, and India with 3.1, but still trailing far behind global leaders like South Korea, 2,317.9, Japan, 1,751.2, and the US, 1,365.2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
8 hours ago
- Leaders
NEOM's Green Hydrogen Plant Nears Completion
NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) has reached a significant milestone in its green hydrogen project at Oxagon, Saudi Arabia. This joint venture includes Saudi utility giant ACWA Power, U.S.-based Air Products, and NEOM, the developer of Saudi Arabia's ambitious smart city project. The construction has now completed 80% across all key project areas, including the hydrogen production plant, wind garden, solar farm, and transmission infrastructure. Once fully operational by the end of 2026, NGHC plans to operate the world's largest green hydrogen plant. This facility will produce up to 600 tonnes of carbon-free hydrogen daily, significantly contributing to reducing global carbon emissions. Additionally, this project supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions, driving economic diversification and establishing global leadership in clean energy. Installation of Vital Equipment Underway The NGHC stated that installation of vital equipment is currently underway. This includes wind turbines, hydrogen storage vessels, electrolysers, cold boxes, and pipe racks—critical components needed to bring the plant into operation. The project is powered by a combination of solar and wind energy, with 4 GW of clean energy capacity targeted for completion by mid-2026. The first shipments of green ammonia—a transportable derivative of hydrogen—are projected to begin in 2027. Supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 This pioneering project directly supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions to drive economic diversification and global leadership in clean energy. By producing up to 600 tonnes of carbon-free hydrogen daily, the facility will significantly contribute to reducing global carbon emissions. The NEOM Green Hydrogen Plant stands as a testament to Saudi Arabia's commitment to sustainable development and its role in the global transition to clean energy. Short link : Post Views: 12
Saudi Gazette
16 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
droppRWA and RAFAL Real Estate set to launch Saudi Arabia's first Tokenized Real Estate Transaction
droppRWA, a subsidiary of droppGroup, the world's leading provider of sovereign-grade Web3 AI and blockchain infrastructure, today announced a landmark partnership with RAFAL Real Estate Co., one of Saudi Arabia's leading developers, to execute the Kingdom's first-ever Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization transaction. This transaction is not just a technological milestone; it is a strategic inflection point. The RAFAL pilot will serve as a national feasibility benchmark for the future of tokenized property markets in Saudi Arabia. Redefining real estate ownership, the collaboration aims to introduce fractional ownership of high-value real estate assets, enabling Saudi citizens to invest everyday with amounts starting as low as single-digit riyals. This democratized access model aligns directly with Vision 2030's goals of financial inclusion, digital transformation and citizen empowerment. The initiative is also designed to attract institutional-grade foreign capital through compliant digital rails, unlocking trillions in both local and foreign direct investment (FDI) capital through a fully regulated, blockchain-based investment channel. From feasibility to future state under the terms of the agreement: droppRWA, in collaboration with leading consultancies, will conduct a full feasibility study for property tokenization across RAFAL's portfolio. A fully regulated proof-of-concept will be developed and executed, with RAFAL supplying live real estate assets for controlled transaction testing. Faisal Al Monai, droppRWA Co-Founder, said: "This transaction marks a paradigm shift. Around the world, we are witnessing the greatest digital transformation of the 21st century - the transformation of capital itself. The mission of this partnership positions Saudi Arabia at the forefront of programmable economies, with real-world impact for every citizen - starting at just 1 riyal. Elias Abousamra – CEO, RAFAL Real Estate: "At RAFAL, we have always believed that real estate should be both aspirational and accessible. This partnership with droppRWA is not just about technology - it's about democratizing real estate investment and creating a global platform for foreign direct investment into the promising Saudi market. For the first time, a young Saudi can own a piece of a premium development with just a few riyals. That's a powerful idea. Together with our partners, we are proud to pioneer a new model of ownership that speaks to the inclusive and innovative spirit of Vision 2030. Built for Vision 2030, this initiative directly supports multiple pillars from the Vision 2030 initiative: Digital Infrastructure: Bringing a sovereign-grade blockchain system powered by advanced AI to real estate markets Capital Market Sophistication: Introducing compliant, blockchain-based investment instruments Citizen Empowerment: Enabling Saudis to co-own real estate with accessible digital investment rails Foreign Investment Attraction: Establishing trusted infrastructure for institutional-grade RWA flows This transaction is more than a milestone - it's a signal. A new era of programmable economies is unfolding, where access to wealth is no longer gated by privilege but powered by code. With this step, Saudi Arabia positions itself not just as a participant in the future of finance, but as one of its leading architects. RAFAL is one of Saudi Arabia's leading real estate developers, known for shaping vibrant, high-quality lifestyle communities. Since its establishment in 2007, RAFAL has earned a strong reputation for excellence, with the backing of respected partners including Lafana, A.K. Al Muhaidib & Sons Group, and Arabian Tawazon. Guided by a commitment to luxury, reliability, and forward-thinking design, RAFAL continues to set new standards in the Kingdom's real estate landscape. droppRWA is a strategic subsidiary of droppGroup, designed as the institutional on-and-off ramp for foreign direct investment into sovereign economies. This sovereign-grade tokenization ecosystem enables regulatory-grade trust and real-time settlement across real-world assets, from commodities and real estate to sovereign debt, unlocking compliant, cross-border capital flows for governments and enterprises.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Saudi banks' new-home lending jumps 24% to $9bn despite higher rates
RIYADH: Saudi banks extended SR34.1 billion ($9.1 billion) worth of fresh residential mortgages to individuals in the first four months of 2025, up 24.14 percent from the same period last year. Latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, shows that January led the surge with SR10.5 billion in new loans, followed by February at SR8.9 billion, March at SR8.4 billion and April at SR6.3 billion. The brisk start to the year pushed total outstanding retail real-estate lending to a record SR698.8 billion at the end of the first quarter, surpassing the SR223.4 billion on corporate property books and underscoring the dominance of households in the market. The momentum is tied to a range of Vision 2030 housing initiatives aimed at lifting Saudi home ownership to 70 percent by the end of the decade. Flagship programs such as Sakani, low-cost mortgage guarantees and the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co.'s liquidity windows continue to funnel buyers into the market. Digital procurement partnerships are also speeding up delivery times. In February, Riyadh-based Penny Software teamed up with the National Housing Co. to automate sourcing for thousands of new units, a move expected to shave costs across the supply chain. The platform will function as a centralized procurement hub, directly connecting NHC contractors with vetted suppliers to streamline purchasing and enhance supply-chain oversight, tackling the bottlenecks that traditional procurement creates in housing projects. The acceleration has come in the face of the highest interest rate environment in nearly two decades. Knight Frank's February household survey showed demand is cooling. Only 29 percent of Saudi tenants now plan to buy a home in 2025, down from 40 percent a year earlier, with 'house prices being too high' ranking among the top three deterrents after already owning a property and having no reason to move. The consultancy pins the softer appetite on 'a high-interest-rate environment and rampant price growth, particularly in Riyadh,' which is nudging younger Saudis toward renting instead of owning. Official figures confirm that tight supply is still feeding through to valuations. The General Authority for Statistics said Saudi real estate prices rose 4.3 percent year on year in the first quarter, with residential values up 5.1 percent. Villa prices jumped 10.3 percent nationwide, while residential land — which carries the heaviest weight in the index — gained 5.3 percent. Knight Frank's survey also showed private buyers still eyeing flagship giga-projects such as NEOM and the Red Sea, although interest in the former has moderated as alternative master-planned communities come on stream. With oil receipts fueling fiscal space, policymakers are expected to keep subsidising mortgages and unlocking land banks, even as central-bank rates remain high through mid-2025.
