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.
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Learning From UAE
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.
What This Means for AI & ML Jobs in Saudi Arabia
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.
Of course, all this demand will see an increase in average salaries for software engineers in Saudi Arabia.
Preparing for the Opportunity: Skills and Experience
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:
- Keep Up To Date: Keep abreast of emerging AI technologies and frameworks. Even if you're early in your career, immersing yourself in the latest advancements can set you apart. Companies are often looking to adopt new tech, and being familiar with cutting-edge solutions could position you as a valuable expert.
- Master Advanced AI Concepts: Move beyond foundational concepts and dive into advanced machine learning and AI frameworks. Focus on deep learning architectures, natural language processing (NLP), reinforcement learning, and large-scale data engineering. Familiarity with libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Keras will be crucial.
- Get Hands-On with Generative AI Tools: Dive into tools like GPT-4, Stable Diffusion, and other generative models, but focus on practical implementations. Understand how to leverage these technologies to solve complex real-world problems, build proofs-of-concept, and integrate generative models into larger systems. Companies are looking for engineers who can take generative AI concepts and turn them into products.
- Understand Saudi Arabia’s AI Ecosystem: Familiarize yourself with NEOM, Vision 2030, Project Transcendence, and other AI initiatives. Understand the underlying infrastructure, such as cloud services, data centers, and smart city technologies that power these projects. Saudi Arabia’s partnership with Google is also significant—knowing about the synergies between public initiatives and private tech giants will give you an edge.
- Develop Project-Based Experience: Employers are looking for problem solvers who can hit the ground running. Build real-world applications or contribute to open-source projects that demonstrate your ability to deploy AI solutions at scale. Get involved in hackathons or build side projects that illustrate your technical ability to apply AI models to real business challenges. The UAE has set a precedent of preferring global talent with demonstrable experience in deploying large-scale tech solutions, and Saudi Arabia will follow a similar approach.
What About Saudi Nationals
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.
Timeline for Hiring Ramp-Up
- Now - 6 Months: The hiring wave has already started, with Saudi companies seeking foundational roles in AI and machine learning. Focus on building advanced skills in deep learning, NLP, and hands-on experience with AI tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch. Start applying for early-stage roles and build connections within the industry.
- 6 - 12 Months: As projects like NEOM progress into their execution phases, there will be a significant increase in demand for experienced software engineers, data scientists, and AI specialists. Companies will look for professionals who can implement and scale AI solutions. This is a key window to showcase real-world project experience and practical problem-solving abilities.
- 12 - 24 Months: The need for tech talent will skyrocket as megaprojects move into full-scale execution. Saudi Arabia will prioritize candidates who can hit the ground running, especially technical leads and specialists in generative AI. By this stage, having hands-on experience with large-scale AI deployments and the ability to lead teams will be highly advantageous. Ensure you have built a solid portfolio and are prepared for leadership opportunities.
The Future of Tech in Saudi Arabia
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.
