Investing in people and AI: Saudi Arabia’s vision for a new Middle East

At a time when traditional centres are in decline, the forum offers a more pragmatic, less ideological investment model focused on creating long-term value. Al-Rumayyan urged governments and the private sector to act as partners in driving global prosperity, noting that foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia had risen by 24% over the past year, reaching $31.7bn.

Turning energy into 'smart data'

Riyadh is leveraging its energy resources to establish itself as a key hub for AI infrastructure. As Jonathan Ross, the chief executive of US-based AI firm Groq, explained, the central concept is to convert energy into data by bringing computational processing and AI operations directly into the kingdom.

This focus not only drives economic diversification—a cornerstone of Vision 2030—but also positions Saudi Arabia at the centre of the emerging digital economy. The ambition is clear in the goals of major domestic firms seeking to become the 'world's third-largest provider of artificial intelligence.'

These developments reflect a vital strategic flexibility, underpinned by the central role of the PIF, described as a 'bridge' for global liquidity, providing investors with the stability they seek in an increasingly volatile market. Discussions on AI, sustainable energy, and the 'paradoxes of innovation' are shaping capital flows for the years ahead and reinforcing the nation's objective to enhance its position in global indices.

The current global trade system no longer meets the demands of the 21st century, according to World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has called for updated rules to keep pace with the digital and AI revolutions. She highlighted that "services trade is growing at twice the rate of goods trade," and that 42% of global trade growth in the first half of the year stemmed from AI-related goods. These figures underscore the pivotal role AI could play in propelling Saudi Arabia to a leading position within the global digital economy, driven by its vast projects in energy, data, and technological infrastructure.

Humain AI and technology

Alongside the forum sessions, the Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII Institute)—the non-profit behind the annual event—and Saudi AI firm Humain announced a strategic partnership, reaffirming the principle that the core of development lies in aligning capital with technology to serve humanity. Humain seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for AI and accelerate the transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

Humain's chief executive, Tareq Amin, said the company's AI product, Humain One, has already been deployed within Saudi government institutions and in pilot programmes at three entities affiliated with the PIF, with plans for a global rollout. The FII Institute's chief executive, Richard Attias, emphasised that the partnership with Humain will help "shape the future of artificial intelligence in ways that drive innovation, boost economies, and ensure technology truly serves humanity."

In a further development, Humain and US-based Qualcomm Technologies announced a high-profile strategic partnership to launch advanced AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The initiative aims to deliver world-class inference services, enabling the efficient operation and output of smart models through the world's first fully integrated hybrid AI system that combines edge and cloud computing.

Also during the sessions, Aramco president and chief executive, Amin Nasser, announced a major investment plan to bolster the company's technological arm, with a targeted $2bn injection into Aramco Digital over the next two to three years. He noted that Aramco's investments in the technology sector have generated a cumulative value of $6bn over the past two years.

A blueprint for health and humanity

On the social and humanitarian front, and in parallel with the launch of major investment and technology initiatives, the FII Institute announced the launch of 'Blueprint for Healthy Humanity.' This initiative seeks to place prevention and comprehensive care at the heart of global health systems, advocating free preventive check-ups for every citizen every two years.

The shift reflects a growing awareness that 75% of healthcare costs arise from preventable conditions, and that every dollar invested in prevention can generate up to six dollars in economic returns. As such, the blueprint focuses on prevention, screening, and diagnosis (leveraging AI), health management, and upskilling, transforming preventive care into 'a right for all, not a privilege.'

Elsewhere, Al-Rumayyan highlighted growing concerns over the impact of AI on global justice, emphasising that inequality is not merely an economic gap but "an obstacle to human aspiration." His remarks draw a direct connection between economic development and social justice in the quest for a more equitable global order.

Planning a New Middle East

Amid ongoing geopolitical challenges, this year's forum takes on added significance, emerging as a platform that links political stability to economic investment. A new Middle East cannot be built on conflicting visions or selective notions of peace. Peace cannot exist without political justice. The region cannot undergo true transformation without ending the occupation and creating a credible path toward Palestinian self-determination—an essential condition for any future regional framework to gain the legitimacy needed for genuine popular acceptance.

As Okonjo-Iweala observed, the global system is in urgent need of reform. She urged regional powers to work alongside Washington and Beijing to modernise trade rules in line with the digital economy and AI, ensuring that the opportunities ahead are open to all.

Through the FII, it is becoming increasingly clear that partnership, not power, offers the most effective path forward for the new Middle East. Stability is no longer secured through arms but built on trust and development. When the economy is just, it becomes a vehicle for peace rather than a source of conflict. Proposing an 'alternative plan' for the region requires a complete redefinition of power and influence—one no longer rooted in fear but grounded in trust.

One major investor at the forum captured this emerging reality, stating: "The Kingdom represents the most balanced future in an unbalanced world." Riyadh today is a city building the future without dismantling the present, transforming an energy surplus into a surplus of hope.

Through the FII, a practical model is emerging, one that merges unconditional growth ambitions with flexible implementation. Riyadh is striving to anchor a new Middle East driven by capability and creative thinking, centred on human development, where inclusive prosperity, not military strength, becomes the foundation of stability.