Data and AI to Add More Than USD 10 Billion to Saudi Arabia's Economy

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ots/PRNewswire) - Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence
Authority is driving the country's transformation into a leading data-driven
economy

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) yesterday
celebrated the launch of its brand identity at an event held at the Ritz Carlton
Hotel, in Riyadh under the theme, 'Data is the Oil of the 21st Century'.
Attended by ministers and top government officials, the celebration marks
SDAIA's readiness to establish the Kingdom among the world's leading economies
in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), which is expected to contribute
an estimated USD 135 billion to its GDP by 2030, corresponding to 12.4% of the
national GDP.

The strategic importance of SDAIA's mandate is reflected in Saudi leadership's
recognition of its role in establishing the Kingdom as a global leader among
global data-driven economies. The value of the country's data and AI economy is
currently estimated at USD 4-5 billion, with an opportunity to generate
additional government revenues and savings of over USD 10 billion by harnessing
data insights to help guide government decisions.

Since the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030 program in 2016, Saudi Arabia has made
significant progress in unlocking the value of data as a national asset, with
close to 70% of 96 strategic goals under Vision 2030 closely related to data and
AI. The establishment of Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA),
an entity mandated with driving the national data and AI agenda for transforming
the country into a leading data-driven economy, was a major step in that
direction.

Dr. Abdullah Bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of SDAIA, said, "We have witnessed
first-hand, the early impact of AI and data-driven initiatives and their
potential to propel Saudi Arabia's future economy, but we are still in the early
stages with several untapped opportunities available. We, at SDAIA, have been
tasked with defining the national data and AI strategy, and delivering on our
nation's vision for the future by optimizing our national resources, improving
efficiencies and enabling the creation of diversified economic sectors."

SDAIA has made tremendous progress in its first year of operations, including:

1. Establishing a national data bank, that has already consolidated
more than 80 government datasets, corresponding to 30% of
government digital assets
2. Implementing the G-Cloud, with the aim to build one of the largest
clouds in the region by merging 83 data centers owned by over 40
government bodies
3. Utilizing AI-analyzed data to detect opportunities that could
generate more than USD 10 billion in government savings and
additional revenues, and developing an ambitious and innovative
data and AI strategy for the Kingdom.

Speaking at the SDAIA brand launch celebration held yesterday under the theme of
'Data is the new oil', in Riyadh, Dr. Al-Ghamdi added, "Data is the single most
important driver of our growth and reform in the 21st century, and we have a
clear vision and roadmap for transforming Saudi Arabia into a leading AI and
data-driven economy. SDAIA is at the forefront of this transformation and is
primed for national data and AI agenda definition, implementation and
awareness."

SDAIA's vision is to establish the Kingdom as a global leader among the league
of data-driven economies. The establishment of SDAIA is a testament to Kingdom's
commitment towards this vision - SDAIA, as a world-class data and AI governance
body, is bringing global innovations to diversify the national economy, and
developing local human capital.

About the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)

Established by a royal decree issued on 30 August 2019 and directly linked to
the Prime Minister, Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is
responsible for overseeing the national data and AI strategy through three
executive arms: The National Data Management Office (NDMO), the National
Information Center (NIC), and the National Center for Artificial Intelligence
(NCAI).

Through its vision, SDAIA seeks to establish the Kingdom as a global leader
among the league of data-driven economies. Its mission relies on unlocking the
value of data as a national asset to realize Vision 2030 aspirations by setting
the national data and AI strategy and overseeing its execution through
harmonized data policies, data and insights capabilities, and continuous AI and
data innovation.

SDAIA plays an important role in fulfilling the objectives of the Kingdom's
Vision 2030 as close to 70 percent of the Vision's objectives are directly
impacted by data and AI strategies. In addition, data and AI must be utilized to
the fullest extent so the Kingdom can fulfil the Vision's objective to create a
leading digital economy.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100017/Abdullah_Bin_Sharaf.jpg

Contact:

+966 55 569 4089
Email: ahmed.alhassani@traccs.net

Additional content: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/142045/4538595
OTS: Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)

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