Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Santa Clara, USA – May 14, 2025 – In a landmark move set to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) goals, US tech giant Nvidia has announced a significant partnership with Humain, a newly launched AI company backed by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Nvidia will supply advanced semiconductors, including its cutting-edge Blackwell architecture chips, to power Humain’s development of next-generation data centers and AI infrastructure.
This strategic collaboration, highlighted during a recent US presidential visit to the region, positions Saudi Arabia to become a formidable global player in the rapidly evolving AI landscape and marks a significant step in its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy beyond oil.
Key Highlights of the Nvidia-Humain Partnership:
- Advanced Chip Supply: Nvidia will provide “several hundred thousand” of its most advanced GPUs to Humain over the next five years. The initial phase will see the deployment of an 18,000 NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell AI supercomputer, one of the most powerful AI systems available.
- Building “AI Factories”: The supplied chips will be instrumental in Humain’s plan to construct “AI factories” in Saudi Arabia, with a projected data center capacity of up to 500 megawatts.
- Fueling a National AI Champion: Humain, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to operate across the entire AI value chain. This includes developing AI infrastructure, cloud capabilities, advanced AI models (including sophisticated Arabic large language models), and AI-driven solutions for various sectors.
- Broader Ecosystem Development: The partnership extends beyond hardware. Nvidia will also support Humain in deploying NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud to simulate and test physical AI solutions using digital twins. Crucially, the collaboration includes large-scale initiatives to upskill and train thousands of Saudi citizens and developers in advanced AI, simulation, robotics, and digital twin technologies.
- Strategic Timing & Policy Shifts: The announcement coincides with a reported easing of US export rules for advanced AI technology to the region, signaling a potentially more open avenue for such high-tech collaborations.
Humain: Saudi Arabia’s AI Powerhouse in the Making
Launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and backed by the formidable Public Investment Fund (PIF), Humain is designed to be the Kingdom’s flagship entity in the AI domain. Led by CEO Tareq Amin, a former executive at Aramco Digital and Rakuten, Humain is tasked with establishing Saudi Arabia as a globally competitive AI hub. Its strategy involves not just building state-of-the-art infrastructure but also fostering local innovation, developing indigenous AI models, and attracting global talent.
Nvidia’s Vision: AI as Essential Infrastructure
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, underscored the importance of the partnership, stating, “AI, like electricity and internet, is essential infrastructure for every nation. Together with HUMAIN, we are building AI infrastructure for the people and companies of Saudi Arabia to realize the bold vision of the Kingdom.” This reflects Nvidia’s broader strategy of enabling sovereign AI capabilities worldwide.
Aligning with Saudi Vision 2030
This collaboration is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a comprehensive roadmap for economic and social reform. By investing heavily in AI, the Kingdom aims to:
- Diversify its economy: Reducing reliance on oil revenues by fostering new high-tech industries.
- Become a technology leader: Establishing itself as a hub for innovation and digital transformation in the Middle East and globally.
- Create high-value jobs: Developing a skilled workforce capable of driving and sustaining an AI-powered economy.
- Enhance various sectors: Applying AI to improve efficiency and outcomes in areas like energy, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and smart city development.
The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) is also involved, planning to deploy Nvidia Blackwell GPUs for a sovereign AI factory and smart city solutions. Furthermore, energy giant Aramco Digital will collaborate with Nvidia on AI computing infrastructure and an engineering and robotics center of excellence.
The Bigger Picture: Geopolitics and the Global AI Race
The deal highlights the increasing geopolitical significance of AI technology and the global race for AI supremacy. For Saudi Arabia, securing access to top-tier AI chips and expertise is crucial for its national strategy. For Nvidia, it represents an expansion into a rapidly growing market with substantial financial backing and a strong governmental push. The partnership also comes at a time when access to advanced AI hardware is a critical determinant of a nation’s technological prowess.
What’s Next?
The Nvidia-Humain partnership is set to rapidly advance Saudi Arabia’s AI capabilities. The development of these “AI factories” will provide the computational power needed for large-scale AI model training, research, and the deployment of innovative AI applications. As the infrastructure comes online and talent development initiatives bear fruit, Saudi Arabia is poised to make significant strides in the global AI arena, potentially transforming its economy and influencing technological development across the Middle East. This collaboration, alongside other strategic partnerships like Humain’s recent major investment announcement with AWS, signals the Kingdom’s serious intent to be a leader in the age of artificial intelligence.