AI is projected to contribute over $135bln to the Saudi GDP by 2030: Dr. Khulood Almani is the Founder & CEO of HKB Tech
Dr. Khulood Almani, the Founder & CEO of HKB Tech, is a distinguished AI thought leader and former university professor at King Saud University. As the UN Ambassador for Women Empowerment, Peace, and Humanity, she advocates for economic inclusivity. Beyond her role at HKB Tech—a technology arm of the esteemed Bin Dayel Group—Dr. Almani has a robust leadership presence, serving as the Senator of the G20–World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) for Saudi Arabia and as the Country Chair of the G100–Women Economic Forum. She co-founded Forward Angel Investment to support digital entrepreneurs globally.
With a strong commitment to fostering innovation, Dr. Almani established HKB Tech to drive advancements in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Her vision extends to nurturing the next generation of digital leaders, ensuring that Saudi Arabia remains at the forefront of technological collaboration and sustainability.
The Role of Startups and SMEs in AI Innovation
AI stands as a central pillar of Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leading hub for technology and innovation. The government has pledged $100 billion to develop a robust AI ecosystem that comprises investments in AI startups, data centers, and strategic partnerships. Projections indicate that AI could contribute over $135 billion to the Saudi GDP by 2030, emphasizing the significance of AI startups and SMEs in this transformation.
At HKB Tech, the establishment of the Saudi AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) exemplifies the commitment to driving innovation within this ecosystem. The CoE serves as a research and development hub for patented AI technologies, with aspirations to contribute meaningfully to the global AI landscape. Strategic partnerships with industry leaders, such as Google, AWS, and NVIDIA, enhance access to cutting-edge technologies and expertise critical for high-impact AI projects.
Participation in NVIDIA's AI Inception Program is a testament to HKB Tech's role in shaping the future of AI. As part of this program, the company is well-positioned to leverage NVIDIA's computational capabilities, paralleling the trajectory of successful entities like OpenAI.
Dr. Almani emphasizes the importance of localizing technology and talent to foster sustainable entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer. HKB Tech is actively contributing to this goal by developing sustainable, in-house patented products in AI, IoT, BioTech, and ClimateTech, aimed at addressing pressing market needs while adhering to sustainability principles.
Challenges and Strategic Steps for Sustainable AI Development
The path to AI leadership is not devoid of challenges. Dr. Almani outlines essential frameworks to promote AI-driven sustainable entrepreneurship: an AI sustainability framework, an AI regulatory framework, and an ethical AI framework inspired by cultural values. As sustainability becomes increasingly pivotal to governmental strategies aligned with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, leveraging technology responsibly is critical.
The ultimate aspiration is to fulfill the national economy's resource needs without jeopardizing future generations. To navigate this intersection of deep tech, sustainability, and diplomacy, it is crucial to adopt eco-friendly practices and develop solutions that address environmental challenges efficiently.
Nevertheless, advancements in AI introduce questions of ethics, data privacy, and security. The necessity for robust regulatory enforcement emerges to ensure responsible AI practices. Enhanced transparency and explainability will foster trust, especially in sensitive fields like healthcare and finance. Current fragmented AI regulations must evolve towards a cohesive, centralized framework that can adapt to rapid technological advancements. Blended governance models that integrate best practices can offer region-specific approaches while preserving ethical integrity through explainable AI (XAI).
Technological and Cultural Readiness
Investments in scalable AI infrastructure, characterized by energy-efficient data centers and hybrid quantum-classical computing models, are imperative for technological readiness. Initiatives involving prominent companies like Google, IBM, and local partnerships like Aramco–Pasqal represent significant strides in this direction.
Overcoming resistance to AI adoption is crucial, particularly given concerns regarding job displacement. The World Economic Forum anticipates substantial net job creation from AI advancements, highlighting the need for effective upskilling programs and global collaboration in AI education.
Cultural readiness is equally important; transparent communication and inclusive educational initiatives can ease public apprehension and promote widespread acceptance of AI technologies.
To position the Middle East as a global AI leader,developing regional AI regulatory framework that embody ethical,cultural,and societal values is essential. These framework should support AI education, and collaborative efforts that bridge the talent gap. Implementing regulatory sandboxes will allow safe experimentation, fostering innovation while ensuring responsible AI development. By addressing these elements, Saudi Arabia can lead the charge in sustainable AI transformation, ultimately contributing to a resilient and prosperous future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
From petrostate to deal state: Gulf IPO markets mature
Maein Khalid Since the pandemic, IPO activity across GCC capital markets has surged – offering a sharp contrast to the stop-start pace on New York's Nasdaq and the near standstill on London's LSE. Nearly 300 IPOs have raised around $50 billion across the Gulf since 2021. ADVERTISEMENT Below I outline six key macro themes shaping this post-Covid IPO boom in the GCC. First, contrary to expectations, the number, size and aftermarket performance of IPOs in the GCC have shown little correlation with oil prices. Since 2021 Brent crude has swung wildly, yet IPO momentum has remained resilient, even in hydrocarbons-heavy markets like Saudi Arabia. Second, the sheer variety of sectors that contributed to regional IPO deals demonstrates that non-oil growth, industry deregulation, private sector entrepreneurship and e-commerce are powerful macro themes in the Gulf. The two largest IPOs in the GCC last year were the $2 billion food delivery app Talabat's IPO, listed in Dubai's DFM, and the $1.8 billion Lulu hypermarket, a 50-year-old family-owned grocery chain listed on Abu Dhabi's ADX. ADVERTISEMENT Last year saw 48 IPOs from sectors as varied as grocery chains, software and IT services, e-commerce, education, healthcare, financial services, remittance solutions, leisure, transportation and real estate. Third, Saudi Arabian deal flow both dominated the IPO pipeline and dramatically outperformed its GCC peers in aftermarket trading. For instance, 38 out of the 48 deals in the GCC that raised $12.06 billion in 2024 originated from the kingdom, and the average aftermarket performance in the week following the IPO was a spectacular 45 percent. The kingdom's first three IPOs on the main market this year all went 'limit up', surging on their first day of trading by the maximum 30 percent allowed. It is no mistake that the first aviation IPO in the region in almost two decades – Flynas is seeking to raise $1.1 billion – is taking place in the kingdom. This is a testament to both the vast liquidity available in the Saudi new issue market and the magnetic power of the kingdom's junior exchange, Nomu, which saw 27 companies listed in 2024 alone. New listings on Nomu are typically domestic Saudi firms operating in high-growth sectors tied to the kingdom's digital transformation – highlighting a clear link between rising tech literacy among its youthful population and a growing appetite for high-risk, high-reward IPOs. Fourth, the GCC IPO constellation is dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Oman a distant third. Saudi Arabia's 38 IPOs in 2024 dwarfed seven from the UAE, two from Oman and a solitary flotation in Kuwait. This spectacular asymmetry in the national origin of IPOs reflects the vast differences in the capital markets milieu, investor ecosystems and liquidity preferences among the six GCC states. Fifth, the recent IPO boom has attracted global investor interest in the Gulf's emerging capital markets, as sovereign wealth funds from the region have become a significant force in Wall Street and Silicon Valley deal-making. This trend will both broaden and deepen the GCC capital markets, evidencing that they are no longer an illiquid sideshow in the emerging markets universe. Historically the GCC IPO landscape was dominated by state-led privatisations and secondary offerings, with governments selling minority stakes in national champions. The most iconic example remains the 2019 Saudi Aramco listing – still the largest IPO in history – which raised $25.6 billion by selling just 1.5 percent of the company on Riyadh's Tadawul exchange. But the market has since evolved, moving beyond oil giants and into broader, more diversified territory. Saudi Aramco subsequently raised $12 billion in a secondary offering last year. These mega deals played a crucial role in the development of the kingdom's capital markets infrastructure and set the stage for the current bullish IPO environment. The UAE's role as the most diversified, cosmopolitan and networked economy in the Arab world can be gauged by the fact that it contributed to the two largest IPOs of 2024 – both private sector businesses with no connection to oil and gas or the government. The 2025 IPO of Bahrain-based Investcorp Capital marked a milestone for the region – positioning Abu Dhabi where it listed not just as an oil-rich emirate, but as a rising power in global finance. By listing a world-class alternative investment manager on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the UAE has shown it is no longer just deploying capital abroad – it's building the infrastructure to manage it at home. As a growing nexus for hedge funds and private capital, Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a noodle point in the global alternatives ecosystem. Mixed IPO outlook I predict the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF will midwife the next generation of privatisation IPOs in the kingdom, as it did with Saudi Aramco in 2019. But while the IPO market outperformance and the sheer scale of domestic liquidity flows make mega privatisation listings viable, the same cannot be said for smaller GCC states like Oman and Bahrain. Facing tighter fiscal constraints, their private investor base tends to favour quasi-debt, high-yield instruments issued by state-owned blue-chips over equity exposure. The sale of a 25 percent stake in OQ Gas Networks by Oman's state energy company suggests that it is problematic to engineer an IPO or even a state-owned energy colossus when oil prices are mired in a bearish downtrend. While the IPO marked a milestone for the Muscat bourse, it also revealed the limitations of investor appetite when crude prices are under pressure. Unlike Saudi Arabia's liquidity-fuelled listings, Oman's experience shows that timing – and broader market sentiment – can still make or break even the most strategic flotations. Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
Tahawul Tech
2 days ago
- Tahawul Tech
Nintendo Switch 2 Archives
"We're entering this transition from a position of strength and bringing real-world experience to meet the demands of the AI factory". Learn more about @Vertiv's alignment with @nvidia below. #Vertiv #NVIDIA #tahawultech
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Arabian Post
Inventec, Nvidia, and Solomon Unveil AI-Enhanced Server Production System
Inventec has partnered with Nvidia and Solomon to introduce a collaborative robotic system aimed at revolutionising server manufacturing. This initiative integrates Nvidia's Isaac cuMotion acceleration libraries, Solomon's AI-driven optical inspection software, and Inventec's proprietary Manufacturing Execution System , resulting in a streamlined, intelligent production line. The collaborative robotic arm system, commonly referred to as a cobot, is designed to enhance automation in server assembly. By embedding Nvidia's Isaac cuMotion, the system achieves up to eightfold improvements in complex motion planning speeds and reduces robotic singularity-related interference errors by 50%. This advancement not only accelerates production but also enhances the precision of automated inspections. Solomon's contribution lies in its AI-powered optical inspection software, which employs few-shot learning techniques. This approach significantly reduces training time by at least 50% compared to traditional machine vision development processes. The software's rapid learning capabilities enable the system to adapt swiftly to new inspection tasks, maintaining agility in dynamic manufacturing environments. ADVERTISEMENT The integration with Inventec's MES facilitates real-time data uploading, centralised management, and monitoring of the production process. This seamless connectivity ensures that quality control measures are consistently applied, and manufacturing costs are effectively managed. Since implementing this system, Inventec has reported improvements in product quality and a reduction in production expenses. The collaborative effort between Inventec, Nvidia, and Solomon represents a significant step towards the adoption of AI-driven smart manufacturing. By combining advanced robotics, machine learning, and integrated systems management, the partnership aims to set new standards in server production efficiency and quality assurance.
