HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENECE IS POWERING MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIES

Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract promise in the Middle East. It is becoming part of how economies work, how governments deliver services, and how countries imagine life after oil.

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Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), AI has moved from strategy documents into budgets, infrastructure, and everyday systems.

By 2030, AI could add as much as $320 billion to the region's GDP. That headline number often grabs attention, but the deeper shift matters more. For oil-rich economies, AI offers something rare: a credible engine for diversification that improves productivity while creating new industries.

Why Saudi Arabia and UAE Sit at the Centre of AI Push

Two countries dominate the regional conversation. Saudi Arabia is projected to gain up to $235 billion in GDP from AI by 2030, about 12.4% of its economy. The United Arab Emirates could see AI account for nearly 14% of GDP, roughly $96 billion.

Saudi Arabia treats AI as a national project. Vision 2030 places data and intelligence at the heart of economic reform. Through the Saudi Data and AI Authority, AI now shapes energy optimisation, logistics, urban planning, and government services. The ambition is straightforward: attract investment, create high-skilled jobs, and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons.