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Saudi Gazette
14-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Qiwa CTO highlights Saudi Arabia's Digital Labor Market Transformation at London's International Finance Forum[AA1]
Haytham AlQadheeb, Chief Technology Officer of Qiwa at Takamol Holding, commanded attention at London's 4th International Finance Forum (IFF25), [AA2] where he outlined Saudi Arabia's digital transformation to global finance and technology leaders. His presentation detailed the Kingdom's strategic advances in labor market digitization and emphasized how digital infrastructure drives economic growth and capital efficiency across Africa and the MENA region. Participating in a high-level panel discussion titled "Digital Oases: Financing the Next Generation of Africa and MENA's Internet Infrastructure," AlQadheeb underscored how digital transformation is not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental strategic enabler for national development. He emphasized that Qiwa, Saudi Arabia's national platform for labor-related services, is at the forefront of this transformation, unlocking significant capital through its comprehensive suite of subscription-based services that span various sectors. This, in turn, allows for strategic capital reallocation towards critical cloud infrastructure and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms. The International Finance Forum, a flagship event by The Tech Capital, convened over 400 leaders from data centers, fiber, edge computing, AI, finance, and investment from more than 35 nations. AlQadheeb's participation highlighted Saudi Arabia's commitment to leveraging digital innovation to build a resilient and future-proof economy, positioning the Kingdom as a leading digital hub in the region and beyond. "The digitization of our labor market through platforms like Qiwa is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030," AlQadheeb stated. "We are creating a dynamic digital ecosystem that not only accelerates business formation and readiness by simplifying company setup, licensing, and workforce onboarding but also significantly reduces time-to-market for new ventures, thereby boosting investor confidence." He elaborated on Qiwa's foundational role in the national digital transformation agenda, acting as the backbone for labor-related digital services and enabling seamless integration with other national platforms. This integrated approach ensures a cohesive and efficient digital experience for businesses and individuals alike. A key theme of AlQadheeb's address was the critical importance of skills development in the digital era. "Skills are the currency of future innovation," he asserted. "As we accelerate the adoption of cloud and AI technologies, a digitally fluent and agile workforce is not just an advantage but a prerequisite. Qiwa is strategically positioned to map and close skill gaps on a national scale." To this end, Qiwa is actively working on introducing structured incentives and policy requirements for companies to invest in employee development, intrinsically linking compliance with future-readiness. Furthermore, AlQadheeb announced the forthcoming launch of a national Technology Excellence Program. This ambitious initiative, driven by real-time labor market insights, will focus on cultivating expertise in emerging technology fields such as cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity, ensuring the Saudi workforce is prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Highlighting the platform's analytical capabilities, AlQadheeb explained how Qiwa is revolutionizing labor analytics. "We are turning vast amounts of workforce data into actionable strategic insights," he noted. "This empowers policymakers and businesses to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding labor trends, skills demand, and sectoral shifts. By aligning these analytics with educational and training institutions, we can synchronize talent supply with evolving industry needs, ensuring that our significant investments in technology and infrastructure are robustly supported by a prepared and capable workforce." Concluding his remarks, the Qiwa CTO addressed Saudi Arabia's ambitious cloud enablement strategy. He stressed the necessity of creating an attractive environment for global hyperscalers and fostering local cloud champions. "Cloud readiness begins with the right incentives," AlQadheeb argued. "This includes establishing Special Economic Zones tailored to cloud providers, offering distinct advantages in taxation, regulation, and connectivity." He also emphasized the paramount importance of securing national sovereignty within the cloud strategy, ensuring data localization, robust cybersecurity, and the scalability of cloud infrastructure to support the digital backbone of the Kingdom's labor market. [AA1]أفضل نكتبه زي ما هو: 4th International Finance Forum (IFF25) at London [AA2]أفضل نكتبه زي ما هو: 4th International Finance Forum (IFF25) at London
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
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.
Channel Post MEA
17-02-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Global AI Competitiveness Index Features UAE Among The Top 10 Countries in the World
The Global AI Competitiveness Index revealed that the UAE has achieved a remarkable position among the top 10 countries with the most AI companies per million population . The report, a collaborative effort between the International Finance Forum (IFF) and Deep Knowledge Group, analyzed over 55,000 AI companies worldwide to evaluate the density, financing, and development of AI enterprises globally. Highlighting its growing prominence in AI enterprise density, the UAE stands alongside innovation hubs such as Singapore and Hong Kong. This milestone reflects the UAE's strategic vision to become a global leader in AI, driven by progressive policies, robust infrastructure, and targeted investments. Dmitry Kaminskiy , General Partner of Deep Knowledge Group, stated: 'The UAE's ranking among the top 10 countries for AI companies per capita demonstrates how targeted investments are creating an ecosystem where AI innovation thrives. This is a blueprint for how nations can transform strategic vision into measurable impact.' Government strategic support and investment The UAE has consistently demonstrated its commitment to AI at the highest levels. In 2017, the UAE became the first nation to appoint an AI Minister, a groundbreaking move to embed AI at the core of its national strategy. The government's AI Strategy 2031 aims to contribute AED 335 billion (USD 91 billion) to GDP by 2031 and reduce operational costs by 50% through AI innovation. The UAE has also established the AED 10 billion (USD 2.7 billion) Dubai Future Accelerator Fund to support AI innovation projects. Complementing this is the nation's business-friendly environment and zero personal income tax. Talent attraction and development To support its AI ambitions, the UAE is rapidly building a talent pipeline. Key initiatives include the Golden Visa program, offering 10-year residency to AI professionals, and the establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world's first dedicated AI research university. Partnerships with top global universities have further enhanced the UAE's AI research capabilities, supported by high-value scholarships and advanced research funding. As a result, the UAE boasts an annual AI talent growth rate of 30%. Infrastructure excellence The UAE's world-class digital infrastructure underpins its leadership in AI innovation. With over 90% 5G network coverage, 97.1% internet penetration, and the largest data center cluster in the Middle East, the nation provides an unparalleled environment for AI companies to thrive. Its well-developed smart city infrastructure offers the perfect testing ground for cutting-edge AI applications. UAE's AI success story: G42 Abu Dhabi-based G42 is a shining example of the UAE's AI prowess. Specializing in healthcare, finance, and smart city solutions, G42 has become a global leader in AI innovation. In 2024, Microsoft invested USD 1.5 billion into the company, forming a partnership to establish AI research institutes in Abu Dhabi to develop 'responsible' AI. G42 also introduced Jais, an open-source Arabic AI language model with 30 billion parameters. Trained on extensive Arabic data and English computer code, Jais highlights G42's contributions to advancing AI in the region. Currently valued at over USD 10 billion, G42 embodies the UAE's vision of becoming a global AI hub. With its strategic initiatives, investments, and infrastructure, the UAE is well-positioned to lead the global AI revolution. The Global AI Competitiveness Index highlights the country's impressive progress and underscores its dedication to shaping a future where AI is a driving force for innovation and economic growth. 0 0
CairoScene
13-02-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
UAE Ranks Among Top 10 Nations for AI Firms Per Capita
The ranking was based on a comprehensive analysis of over 55,000 AI companies worldwide. Feb 13, 2025 Following a comprehensive analysis of over 55,000 AI companies worldwide, the UAE has secured a spot among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of artificial intelligence (AI) firms per million people. According to the Global AI Competitiveness Index, a report jointly developed by the International Finance Forum (IFF) and Deep Knowledge Group, this achievement is the result of the country's targeted investments in AI research, talent development, and regulatory frameworks designed to attract top-tier AI enterprises. The UAE has introduced several initiatives, including the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to integrate AI into key sectors such as healthcare, finance, and education. Additionally, the country's business-friendly policies and AI-focused investments have fueled the rapid growth of AI startups and enterprises. As government entities and private businesses continue adopting AI solutions, industry experts predict an even faster acceleration in AI adoption, further strengthening the nation's role in the global AI landscape.
Gulf Insider
13-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
UAE Ranks in Top 10 in AI Firms Ranking
The UAE has achieved a remarkable position among the top 10 countries with the most AI companies per million population, UAE ranks among the top 10 nations globally for AI firms per capita. The UAE has secured a position among the top 10 nations worldwide with the highest number of artificial intelligence (AI) firms per million people, underscoring its ambitions to become a global leader in AI and digital transformation, as revealed in the Global AI Competitiveness Index . The report, a collaborative effort between the International Finance Forum (IFF) and Deep Knowledge Group, analysed over 55,000 AI companies worldwide. Image courtesy: International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group The ranking highlights the UAE's efforts to attract and develop AI-driven enterprises as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. The country has heavily invested in AI research, talent acquisition, and regulatory frameworks, positioning itself as a hub for innovation. Dmitry Kaminskiy, general partner of Deep Knowledge Group stated: 'The UAE's ranking among the top 10 countries for AI companies per capita demonstrates how targeted investments are creating an ecosystem where AI innovation thrives. This is a blueprint for how nations can transform strategic vision into measurable impact.' The UAE has introduced several national AI initiatives, including appointing the world's first Minister of State for AI in 2017 and launching the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, aimed at integrating AI across key sectors such as healthcare, finance, and education. The ranking places the UAE alongside global technology powerhouses, reflecting its growing influence in the AI sector. Analysts say the country's business-friendly policies and AI-focused investments have contributed to the surge in AI startups and enterprises. Industry experts expect AI adoption in the UAE to accelerate further as businesses and government entities increasingly integrate AI solutions into operations.
