Saudi Arabia Aims to Lead Global AI Token Exports as It Builds a Regional Tech Powerhouse
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — February 10, 2026 — Saudi Arabia is accelerating its push to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with ambitions to emerge as the world’s largest exporter of AI tokens, according to Tareq Amin, Chief Executive Officer of AI company Humain.
Speaking at the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Private Sector Forum, Amin highlighted the Kingdom’s strategic advantages — abundant energy, infrastructure, and geographic connectivity — that underpin its bid to shape the future of AI globally. [1]
Image source: arabnews.com, Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain
The AI token strategy reflects a broader drive to embed AI into Saudi Arabia’s economic and industrial transformation, aligning closely with Vision 2030.
At the forum, Amin noted that Saudi AI infrastructure — especially large-scale data centers — is designed not only for domestic use but also for international partnerships and token trading with global clients, including major cloud platforms. The initiative sets a foundation for AI tokens to function as tradable digital assets representing computing or intelligence capacity, potentially linking Saudi infrastructure with global markets.[2]
Humain, established by the PIF in 2025 to spearhead the Kingdom’s AI strategy. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia agreed on a financing framework worth up to $1.2 billion to scale AI and digital infrastructure, targeting as much as 250 megawatts of hyperscale AI data center capacity.[3]
The AI strategy has attracted interest from global technology leaders. In 2025, international partnerships — including a major collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) — committed more than $5 billion to build advanced AI zones in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the country’s appeal as a destination for cutting-edge technology investment.[4]
Saudi Arabia’s AI ambitions also resonate beyond economics. AI infrastructure is expected to fuel innovation in sectors such as energy, healthcare, transportation, and education, where data-driven solutions can improve efficiency and service delivery. By exporting AI tokens and capabilities, Riyadh envisions developing digital trade channels that complement its traditional energy exports, reshaping how technology and services are traded globally.
For China and Saudi Arabia, this presents potential future cooperation avenues. Chinese firms are already active in AI hardware, cloud services, and digital ecosystems, and deepening engagement with Saudi AI infrastructure could accelerate technology transfer, co-development of AI use cases, and joint ventures in digital platforms — aligning with China’s own investment priorities and Belt and Road digital economy initiatives.
References:
[1]Arab News 2026, "Saudi Arabia aims to become world’s largest AI token exporter: Humain CEO", <https://www.arabnews.com/node/2632459/business-economy>
[2]GHADA.I. 2026, "HUMAIN Sets Sights On Making Saudi Arabia As Global AI Exporter", <https://en.sharikatmubasher.com/media-hub/news/21533324/humain-sets-sights-on-making-saudi-arabia-as-global-AI-exporter>
[3]AETOSWire 2026, "HUMAIN and Infra Announce AI and Digital Financing Framework Agreement", <https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260122600897/en/HUMAIN-and-Infra-Announce-AI-and-Digital-Financing-Framework-Agreement>
[4] Amazon 2025, "AWS and HUMAIN Announce Groundbreaking AI Zone to Accelerate AI Adoption in Saudi Arabia and Globally", <https://press.aboutamazon.com/2025/5/aws-and-humain-announce-groundbreaking-ai-zone-to-accelerate-ai-adoption-in-saudi-arabia-and-globally>
