Senior Web Developer
Ziphire HR Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia recently announced "Project Transcendence," a staggering $100 billion fund aimed at accelerating advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology.
The idea is for KSA to position itself as the regional leader in AI and Machine Learning (ML).
This can only have a huge impact on the number of artificial intelligence jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Here on Zero Tax Jobs, I bring you the best software engineering jobs in Saudi Arabia, so this was news I had to sit up and pay attention to.
For me, this investment signals a significant opportunity for job seekers in the region, specifically in fields like AI, machine learning, and data science.
In this article, I try to make sense of this huge investment and what it means for software engineering and AI jobs in Saudi Arabia.
The scale of Saudi Arabia's proposed AI investment is ambitious and reminiscent of similar initiatives we've seen in the region.
The UAE, for instance, has already invested heavily in its tech and AI infrastructure.
The UAE's sovereign wealth fund (Mubadala) has been instrumental in funding AI initiatives, leading to major tech partnerships, such as the one between Microsoft and Abu Dhabi's G42. This pattern looks set to continue with UAE's recently announced MGX fund.
In the UAE, these initiatives have led to an influx of tech startups, a significant rise in high-paying AI and machine learning jobs, and the attraction of tech talent from around the world.
Consultants often say that Saudi is two years behind UAE on AI. As such, with this recent investment, we can expect Saudi Arabia to follow a similar trajectory—but of course with its own unique opportunities.
The $100 billion fund is a marker of the demand to come.
Over the next few years, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative and the ongoing development of megaprojects like NEOM—a smart city built with an AI-first mindset—are set to create a new demand for skills related to artificial intelligence, generative AI, and advanced machine learning.
Like UAE, we therefore can expect to see a serious increase in the number of machine learning and artificial intelligence jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Similar to Microsoft's presence in UAE, Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, is rumored to be preparing for an increased presence in the region.
It is said they have earmarked between USD 5 billion and USD 10 billion in partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Such a partnership will open the door for additional alliances with global tech leaders, and I'd expect to see this further increase demand for skilled workers in AI, ML, and data science.
Consultancies such as Strategy& Middle East have also reported that Generative AI (GenAI) is already beginning to drive substantial profit growth across multiple sectors in Saudi Arabia.
The technology sector is, of course, likely to benefit the most, with Strategy& predicting GenAI could boost operating profits by as much as SAR 15 billion.
This all means that AI and machine learning jobs in Saudi Arabia will continue to multiply and that this won't be limited to pure research roles. We can expect opportunities in engineering, development, operations, and even ethics.
Assuming companies from around the globe further enter the market, they will, of course, be seeking talent to help realize Saudi Arabia's AI vision.
Demand for data scientists, software engineers, and AI researchers from all over the world will increase accordingly.
One of the great things about the AI/ML boom is that there are new powerful frameworks and technologies coming out every day.
In my opinion, this is a great equalizer; it means a relatively fresh software engineer has the potential to have the same amount of hands-on experience as a veteran developer. That's a great thing in a tough job market that usually strongly favors seniors.
If I were looking to take advantage of Saudi Arabia's strong bet on artificial intelligence, these are the sorts of things I would do:
Saudi Arabia aims to train one million AI-skilled professionals by 2030 through SDAIA's "One Million Saudis Initiative," launched in 2024.
This is a significant push to develop local talent; however, it also opens up more opportunities for experienced international professionals who can provide mentorship, expertise, and leadership in implementing these ambitious plans.
If the planned $100 billion investment in AI and technology comes to fruition, Saudi Arabia will continue to stand out as a great opportunity for tech talent.
While many countries and companies are investing heavily in AI, this initiative could position Saudi Arabia as a significant player in the region, particularly through megaprojects like NEOM and partnerships with global tech giants.
AI is expected to contribute 12% to Saudi Arabia's GDP by 2030, with the national AI market projected to grow at a CAGR of 29%.
For software engineers and AI specialists, this is a chance to be part of an emerging tech environment, with opportunities across various fields, from data science to AI system deployment. By understanding the timeline and investing in the right skills, you could benefit from a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
I'd hope this leads to a source of growth in terms of expatriate jobs in Saudi Arabia, after the historic declines in employment of international workers in the petroleum sector.
For those who are interested in diving deeper into the KSA job market, I've written a guide about finding a software engineering jobs in Saudi Arabia.
If you’re looking to explore AI jobs in Saudi Arabia or just want to see what’s out there, then please keep an eye on Zero Tax Jobs for the latest opportunities as KSA's AI projects develop.
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