TL;DR
- The UAE and Saudi Arabia now rank in the top 20 countries for AI talent, ahead of Italy and Russia.
- Saudi Arabia is offering world-leading AI salaries, long-term research incentives, and building AI cities.
- The UAE is focusing on fintech, smart governance, and public services to grow its AI ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have earned places among the world’s top 20 countries for AI talent density, according to the Global AI Competitiveness Index, a report by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group.The UAE holds 0.7% of global AI talent, ranking 16th worldwide. Saudi Arabia follows at 0.4%, ranking 19th. While their shares may seem small, these numbers put them ahead of countries like Italy and Russia, nations with much longer histories in tech development.What’s clear is that both Gulf states are no longer just talking about digital transformation, they’re making it happen by building ecosystems that attract, develop, and retain top AI talent.
Saudi Arabia: Building an AI Powerhouse from Scratch
Saudi Arabia is moving fast. Through Vision 2030, the country aims to become a top-10 AI nation, with $20 billion in investment and 200,000 high-tech jobs planned.Key moves include:
- Creating SDAIA, a central AI agency that fast-tracks projects.
- Funding 98% of AI initiatives directly, rare even in advanced economies.
- Offering unmatched packages: $420,000 median salary, $5 million bonuses, and “Platinum Visas” for permanent residency.
In NEOM, the Kingdom’s $500 billion smart city, special economic zones relax cultural norms, allowing mixed-gender workplaces, civil law systems, and even alcohol, which is otherwise banned. This has helped attract top global talent, especially from countries where these freedoms are the norm. Today, 65% of Saudi’s AI workforce is made up of foreign nationals.Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in AI education. Its KAUST research university has partnered with Stanford and allocates $800,000 per researcher annually, more than MIT. Programs like “10,000 Coders” send young Saudis to Silicon Valley for hands-on training.Saudi Arabia’s ability to host both US and Chinese tech players, like Microsoft’s Azure AI center and Huawei infrastructure, also positions it as a rare neutral zone in the global AI race.
UAE: A Focused, Nimble Approach
The UAE has taken a more measured but equally determined path. It now ranks 16th globally in AI talent share, with 0.7% of the world’s AI workforce, the highest in the Arab world.This might not make headlines like Saudi’s megaprojects, but the UAE’s AI strategy is tightly woven into its national goals. Talent density is one of the highest in the world, with over 2,100 AI professionals per million people. That’s not just impressive, it’s intentional.The country has focused on key areas where AI can drive real value fast:
- Fintech
- Smart governance
- Blockchain
- Public services
Rather than trying to do everything at once, the UAE has built a lean, targeted approach, partnering with startups, investing in education, and developing AI-specific visa and work policies.While the UAE may not have the same oil-funded war chest as Saudi Arabia, it’s positioned itself as a nimble, business-friendly hub. Companies see it as a place where AI projects can be piloted quickly, with fewer regulatory hurdles and easy access to regional markets.Dubai and Abu Dhabi are already known for their use of AI in government services, whether it’s facial recognition for airport security or AI chatbots in customer service. And as digital identity, payments, and logistics increasingly depend on machine learning, the UAE is set to grow its footprint even further.
Why This Shift Matters
This isn’t just about bragging rights. AI is expected to contribute over $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Countries that fail to develop and attract AI talent risk being left behind, not just in tech, but in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and even diplomacy.The UAE and Saudi Arabia understand this. Their efforts to climb the AI talent rankings aren’t just about numbers, they’re about shaping the future of their economies. By creating places where global talent wants to live and work, they’re quietly becoming players in the next wave of global innovation.
Where Other Countries Stand
The United States leads the global AI talent pool with 32.6%, followed by Mainland China at 24.4%. India holds third place with 7%, while the United Kingdom comes next at 5%. Other top countries include Canada (3.5%), Germany (3%), France (2.5%), and Israel (2.2%). Japan and South Korea round out the top 10 with 2% and 1.8%, respectively. Also in the top 20 are Singapore (1.5%), Australia (1.3%), Netherlands (1.2%), Switzerland (1.0%), and Sweden (0.8%). The UAE, ranked 16th, holds 0.7%, ahead of Spain (0.6%), Brazil (0.5%), Saudi Arabia (0.4%), and Italy (0.4%).
