Saudi Arabia’s AI Future:
How Google is Powering the Next Wave of Economic Innovation
Saudi Arabia has been among the Middle East’s fastest-growing economies, reaching a GDP of over $1 trillion in 2023.1 Spurred by Vision 2030 and the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure, the Kingdom is harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of its future – one that accelerates economic diversification, fosters sustainable growth for the next generation and positions the Kingdom as a global leader.
SAR billion
Generative AI could grow the Kingdom’s economy by 727 SAR billion, the equivalent of 19% of Gross Value Added (GVA).
AI is helping new industries grow faster, making the Kingdom’s economy less dependent on traditional sectors. We estimate that generative AI alone could boost the Kingdom’s economic diversification by nearly 14%.
The momentum behind AI adoption in Saudi Arabia is already in full swing. According to new research by Public First, 80% of Saudi adults reported using AI tools, with 1 in 3 using them regularly. This is more than double the number of adults in the United States who report “regularly” using one of the LLM-based chatbots, which stands at just 13%.2 Meanwhile, 53% of businesses already rely on at least one AI tool in their workflows, and 88% of businesses agree that AI is an important opportunity for the Kingdom’s economy.
This progress is underlined by a surge in AI-focused startups, robust government investments, and growing consumer enthusiasm for emerging innovations. We found that 90% of adults believe that becoming an AI superpower should be a top priority for the government.
Google is playing a key role in supporting this transformation, from partnering with local institutions and businesses to drive forward-looking AI solutions, expand cloud infrastructure, support developer communities and champion responsible AI practices. Google’s ongoing initiatives aim to help Saudi Arabia realize the full benefits of AI – shaping a digital ecosystem that thrives on shared expertise, robust security, and long-term economic impact.
Google’s AI-powered tools are accelerating the Kingdom’s growth
AI is set to transform Saudi Arabia’s economy, opening new opportunities in business, industry, and digital connectivity. Through its wide range of AI-powered products, continued investments and partnerships, Google can help power this shift ‒ fueling the Kingdom’s transition to a diversified, tech-driven future.
In 2024, Google Search, Google Play, YouTube, Google Cloud and Google Advertising tools provided 31.2 SAR billion of economic activity for Saudi Arabia’s businesses, non-profits, publishers, creators and developers. This is equivalent to 1.6% of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP.
jobs
The app ecosystem underpinned by Google Play and Android has enabled the creation of 29,000 jobs in 2024.
people
Through the key upskilling initiative Maharat Min Google, Google has trained over 590,000 individuals in KSA since 2018.3
Making everyday life easier
Google, at its core, is focused on organising the world’s information and making it useful innovative ways. Through AI-powered tools like Search, Maps and Gemini, Google is simplifying a wide range of daily tasks for Saudis: from finding the quickest route to translating content in real time.
Google’s services create consumer benefits worth 564 SAR a month, or almost 6,775 SAR a year. That is equivalent to 162 SAR billion on additional consumer welfare benefits.
Gemini
53% of adults said they had used Gemini, Google’s AI Assistant, and 1 in 3 of users now use it every day. 86% of users agreed that Gemini helped them to be more productive. 78% of users agreed that Gemini is easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots.
Search
54% of adults agree that Google Search is essential to their daily lives and 89% said that they find the results of Google Search reliable.
Maps
88% of users said that Google Maps and/or Waze was helpful to avoid getting lost, 89% of consumers reported using Google Maps and/or Waze to find the fastest route to their destination, and 84% of adults that drive agree Google Maps and/or Waze helps with driving more safely.
Equipping the Saudi workforce with the right digital skills
Google’s AI-powered products and platforms are helping Saudis sharpen their digital skills, offering powerful tools for learning, research, and innovation in an increasingly AI-driven world. This will be all the more important as Saudis of all ages keep pace with the AI transformation.
57% of adults agree that they are not currently using AI tools to their full potential, demonstrating an appetite – and a need – for more skills training across the Kingdom.
92% of adults said they would be interested in participating in a Google skills programme to develop their technical skills.
Google plays a particularly important role supporting young people’s education:
Gemini
66% of 18-24 year old Gemini users said they had used it to support their studies (i.e. ideas for a project or revise a topic).
Search
77% of 18-24 year old Google Search users agreed that their education would have been more difficult without it.
YouTube
65% of 18-24 year old YouTube users said they find it a very helpful tool to learn new things.
Connecting businesses to customers around the world
Google’s tools are helping Saudi businesses of all types, from small retailers to global exporters and government bodies, reach new customers around the globe. From Search and Ads to Analytics, businesses are using Google’s platforms to grow their visibility, improve marketing performance, and export overseas.
89% of adults use Google Search at least once a month to compare the prices of products and services. 77% of 18-24 year olds said they use Google Search at least weekly to shop or browse products online.
70% of adults use Google Maps and/or Waze at least once a month to find a local business and 86% of those users said they had checked Google reviews at least once a month before visiting a local venue or business.
1 in 3
SAR billion
In 2024, we estimate that Google’s Search and Ads alone helped provide 27 SAR billion in economic activity for businesses in Saudi Arabia. Of this, Google Search, Ads and AdSense have helped Saudi businesses to export 2.6 SAR billion of goods and services across the world.
SAR million
In 2024, we estimate that Google’s Search and Ads alone helped provide almost 720 SAR million in economic activity for SMBs. Of this, Google Search, Ads and AdSense have helped Saudi SMBs to export 70 SAR million of goods and services across the world.
Unlocking the benefits of cloud technology
In 2023, Google Cloud announced the opening of its new cloud region in Dammam, bringing high-performance, low-latency Google Cloud Platform services to customers of all sizes, from public sector organizations and large businesses, to SMBs and startups in Saudi Arabia. This significant investment in the Middle East’s technology landscape reflects the company’s growing presence in the region and its commitment to supporting the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. This impact is then further accelerated by key programs such as Google for Startups.
SAR billion
The Google Cloud region in Saudi Arabia is estimated to contribute a cumulative 409 SAR billion in higher gross economic output between 2024 and 2030.4
jobs
The increased economic activity driven by the Google Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia is estimated to support the creation of 148,600 jobs in 2030 alone.5
SAR billion
In 2024, PIF and Google Cloud announced a strategic partnership to create a new global AI hub which is expected to increase Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 266 SAR billion over eight years.6
billion
To date, startups from 6+ MENA Google for Startups Accelerators have raised more than 3.55 SAR billion, with 2.88 SAR billion in Saudi Arabia alone, while creating over 1,335 new jobs in the region.7
SDM: Scaling AI-powered healthcare with the Google for Startups Accelerator
Healthtech startup SDM is transforming the diagnosis of chronic diseases. Confronted with scarcity of skilled healthcare providers in rural areas, SDM’s mission is to create an AI-powered platform with expedited diagnosis, superior accuracy, and an economically feasible examination. This began with tackling diabetic eye disease (retinopathy), prior to expanding to other chronic conditions including glaucoma, hypertension and heart diseases.
Google is powering SDM’s journey through their involvement in the Google For Startups Accelerator ‒ which aims to empower startups to build with the latest AI solutions and unlock faster growth through Google Cloud technologies. This was achieved via a curated program anchored in comprehensive workshops, focused mentorship, technical guidance and access to up to $300,000 in Google Cloud credits.
As a result, SDM saved 30% of their operational costs by migrating to Google Cloud. SDM now delivers expedited and actionable diagnosis, alleviating long queues from months to near real time. These expedited, highly accurate diagnoses, cut costs for patients in an extremely convenient manner. SDM’s AI-powered solutions can be 50–60% more economical than traditional methods. AI clinics currently operate more efficiently by reducing unnecessary clinic visits through smarter scheduling with a more convenient follow-up guidance.
The Google for Startups Accelerator was truly an eye-opening experience for SDM. The customized sessions designed for founders were extremely valuable for our engaging Engineers as well. We gained insights on system architecture, best practices, and the correct tools to use. It has made a significant difference in how we in SDM build and deliver our solutions.
Almarai's digital leap: A new era for food & beverage, powered by Google
Almarai — a titan in the Middle East’s food and beverage sector — is the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company, recognised as the fourth most valuable dairy brand globally in 2024. They’re also fiercely focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology.
To turbocharge their digital transformation and conquer the limitations of traditional infrastructure, Almarai made a strategic leap, migrating core business functions — including their SAP ERP system — to Google Cloud. This bold move unleashed incredible benefits: flexible scalability, dramatically reduced capital costs, and the power to deliver faster, smarter services seamlessly. Crucially, this migration also champions data sovereignty by hosting data within Saudi Arabia, aligning perfectly with Vision 2030 and Almarai national commitments. It stands as the pivotal first step in Almarai’s grand vision for operational excellence and truly elevated customer and employee experiences.
Beyond their foundational cloud infrastructure, Almarai also strategically harnessed Google Ads to powerfully expand their reach and connect with more consumers. By leveraging custom user insights to design optimum product mixes during the second half of 2024, they masterfully reduced their cost per acquisition (CPA) by an impressive 46%, and increased views by 63%. Google also assisted Almarai in creating highly targeted and contextually relevant YouTube campaigns, leveraging AI to generate over 1,200 personalised ads that resonated with viewers’ interests, resulting in 29.4 million views and a 56.8% completion rate. Meanwhile, Google’s Video Incentive Programme (VIP) — offering YouTube credit for video media spend — proved instrumental in helping Almarai effectively reinvest and sustain their media spend.
With traditional infrastructure, we’ve had to worry about data, space management and availability. All of those concerns are easily managed with Google Cloud. With proper planning, we’ve been able to overcome every challenge on the spot and smoothly migrate. And we haven’t had a single ticket raised by a user.
Boosting productivity in the workplace
AI is helping Saudis work smarter. Whether through generative tools like Gemini or everyday apps like Search and Workspace, Google is enabling people to work more efficiently, and focus on higher-value tasks. This is particularly true in the public sector.
hours
We estimate that AI tools could help increase productivity across the KSA by 16%. This is equivalent to 288 hours per worker reallocated to higher value tasks per year.
90% of public sector workers said that Google AI-enabled tools help them to be more productive at work, and 70% say their job would be harder without access to Google’s tools.
Supporting a sustainable news industry
An important element of driving Google’s overall mission is connecting users to news that matters to them and supporting journalists to get this job done. For over 20 years, Google has worked collaboratively with the news industry and provided billions of dollars to support journalism in the digital age.
One of the key programs bringing this commitment to life is the Google News Initiative. The Google News Initiative (GNI) is committed to partnering with publishers to foster a more sustainable future for the news industry. Through its collaborative partnerships, innovative products and programs, GNI aims to empower news publishers to leverage the benefits of AI and thrive in the digital landscape.
Google News Initiative has trained over 600,000 journalists and journalism students globally since 2015, including 20,000+ in the Middle East and North Africa alone.
Experimenting with AI in the newsroom: Arab News AI-Powered Storytelling with Google's NotebookLM
The series was created by Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-powered research tool, which helps users find, summarize, generate audio overviews and gain insights faster from their information. This innovative project leveraged AI to generate audio overviews and narrate historical events drawing from Arab News’ extensive archives, showcasing how technology can support in-depth storytelling and audience engagement.
This is a first step into what will be a very exciting future, whereby artificial intelligence is going to help us tell the story of the region to a wider audience. As an industry, we have suffered far too long from analysis paralysis, while artificial intelligence is evolving every day, we should simply just do it and remember that amateurs talk strategy, while professionals talk logistics, as the late World War II general, Omar Bradley, once said.
Partnering with local developers to capture opportunities
The Android and Play ecosystem is driving job creation and entrepreneurship across the Kingdom. From local app developers to digital startups and exporters, Google’s mobile platforms are enabling Saudis to build, innovate, and grow in the digital economy.
SAR million
In 2024, we estimate the Android App Economy generated over 20.7 SAR million in revenue for Saudi developers.
SAR million
In total, we estimate that Android and the Play Store are supporting 7.5 SAR million in exports in the Kingdom.
Powering Saudi’s Creator economy
YouTube offers Saudi creators a platform to share their culture and creativity with the world across multiple formats. Their content resonates strongly with viewers – particularly younger audiences – who view it as having high production value and are increasingly inspired to turn content creation into a thriving career.
79% of adults in KSA think that content creators produce content of equal production value to traditional media, with 1 in 3 regularly watching YouTube videos on their TV.
72% of 18-24-year-olds in Saudi Arabia have considered pursuing a career on YouTube as a way to earn a living.
YouTube:
Supporting creative entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, YouTube is helping people build vibrant communities around topics that matter to them, while crafting personal brands, and launching successful businesses. At the heart of YouTube’s impact are the creators who come to the platform to bring their passions to life, creating real world impact. The experiences of Raoum from Sukkari Life and Manal Marvelous are a testament to this impact.
Through her authentic videos on YouTube, Raoum documented her transformation from a self-proclaimed “healthy eating skeptic” to a passionate plant-based advocate inspiring a community of over 100,000 loyal subscribers. The Sukkari Life channel enabled Raoum to transform her entrepreneurial aspirations into a reality from starting her own e-commerce lifestyle business to becoming a yoga teacher. The strong foundational trust directly built with her audience turned into significant business growth, with an estimated 70% of her business stemming directly from her YouTube channel.
YouTube was the foundation for everything. It allowed me to truly connect with my audience and build trust. By the time I decided to offer yoga classes or launch my online store, there was already a community that believed in my vision.
Manal Marvelous is a Saudi fashion and lifestyle Creator whose YouTube channel blends everyday storytelling with creativity, culture, and connection. Her carefully crafted channel started as a place for Manal to express her creativity but now has garnered over 100,000 engaged subscribers and helped Manal forge a career as a creative entrepreneur. YouTube was the foundation of her personal brand allowing her to build trust and visibility that extends far beyond the platform, while creating opportunities for brand collaborations with the likes of Garnier, Hollister, Virgin Mobile, and Netflix.
Beyond brand partnerships, YouTube also served as a training ground for Manal, teaching her crucial business skills such as storytelling, marketing, video production, and negotiation. The income generated from YouTube was transformative for Manal, providing financial independence and the freedom to pursue her personal and professional goals.
YouTube helped me build a community that feels like family. It’s not just views—it’s real connection.
Together, the journeys of Manal and Sukkari show how YouTube empowers creators to cultivate deeper connections with an engaged community, while transforming their creative passions into sustainable, long-term careers.
Supporting local non-profits to enable communities through Google.org
Through Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, Google supports local social innovators and non-profits to make the most of the opportunity that technology brings and advance local communities. This support helps to boost overall economic growth, with Public First estimating that every $1 invested in the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem generates a $1.9 return for the wider economy.
Google.org applies Google’s innovation, research, and resources to promote progress and expand opportunity for everyone. Since 2019, Google.org has given more than $25 million to organisations across the MENA region, including more than $17 million in cash funding, $8 million in in-kind giving and 7,000 pro-bono hours of Google employee time.
Google.org’s activity focuses on three key areas:
Knowledge, Skills, & Learning:
Creating pathways for people to gain the technical and AI skills they need to thrive in the digital economy.
For example, with $1 million support from Google.org, Micromentor is scaling its digital mentorship platform to empower over 21,000 entrepreneurs across the region, contributing to the creation of 3,800 jobs and the retention of 3,200 jobs. Building on this success, Micromentor now aims to reach an additional 10,000 entrepreneurs over the next two years, contributing to the creation and retention of another 2,600 jobs. Google.org originally supported the launch and Arabic localisation of the platform in 2020, and also provided hands-on pro bono support for the organisation’s first open-source, low-bandwidth mobile application through a 6-month Google.org fellowship.
Scientific Progress:
Accelerating research and AI-enabled innovation for societal impact in collaboration with university partners and the academic research community.
For example, with $1 million in support from Google.org, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is developing e-ReWater: an AI-powered platform that uses satellite imagery and earth observation data to help MENA countries make better use of their treated wastewater. The platform will ultimately feature an interactive dashboard that maps where and how treated wastewater can be reused, particularly in agriculture, the sector that consumes the most water.
Stronger Communities:
Helping to build resilience online and in the places people live and work – promoting digital wellbeing, strengthening online safety, and supporting local communities.
For example, INJAZ Al-Arab, a non-profit organization focused on business education and empowering the young minds of the MENA region to help them succeed in the global economy has received $1.5 million in funding from Google.org supporting multiple initiatives empowering over 160,000 youth with skills needed to thrive the global economy, including with online safety skills. This online safety initiative grant has reached more than 50,000 students directly, 3,500 teachers who have access to an additional 140,000 students and nearly 1,000 parents across local communities in the MENA region.
This is just the beginning. In 2024, Ruth Porat launched the MENA Opportunity Initiative which included the announcement of Google.org’s planned contribution of $15 million between 2024 and the end of 2027 to help leverage technology – and particularly AI – to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges.
About the research
Google commissioned independent consultancy Public First to explore how Google’s innovations and products are helping communities, workers and businesses in KSA, as well as the future potential of AI across the Kingdom.
Public First conducted a survey of 1,059 online adults based in the KSA and a survey of 370 business leaders based in the KSA. These surveys were conducted in English and Arabic in March 2025. All results are weighted using Iterative Proportional Fitting, or ‘Raking’. The online adult results are weighted by age, gender, education level, and region to nationally representative proportions.
A full modelling methodology can be accessed here.
