Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, Shareek Sign Deal to

Accelerate AI, Cloud Innovation

Saudi Arabia’s private sector is set to
gain a boost in AI-driven innovation
and data capabilities through a new
agreement aimed at accelerating digital
transformation across key industries. The
new deal, signed between the Saudi Data
and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the
Private Sector Partnership Reinforcement
Program, known as Shareek, aims to
conduct comprehensive market studies
and coordinate with relevant authorities,
according to an official statement. The
memorandum of understanding also
includes a mandate to develop AI-aligned
business models and provide technical
consultation services to private sector
entities participating in the Shareek It added that the agreement will also focus comes as the Kingdom expands its global
program. This comes as the Gulf’s largest on “identifying and prioritizing investment tech alliances, with SDAIA signing an MoU
economy positions itself as a global AI hub opportunities and providing specialized with Advanced Micro Devices, or AMD, on
under its Vision 2030 strategy, which targets technical consultations,” as well as the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment
$135.2 billion in economic value from the “sharing investment opportunities with the Forum in Riyadh in May to strengthen
technology by the end of the decade. The sector and relevant authorities to join the the AI ecosystem. The agreement aims
same roadmap aims to raise the private Private Sector Partnership Reinforcement to develop specialized AI data centers
sector’s contribution to gross domestic Program – Shareek.” Launched in 2021, powered by AMD technologies, supporting
product to 65 percent by 2030, signaling a Shareek is a flagship public-private the Kingdom’s efforts to build a robust
shift toward tech-led diversification away partnership program aiming to unlock SR5 digital infrastructure. These developments
from oil dependency. In a post on X, SDAIA trillion ($1.33 trillion) in investments by come as Saudi Arabia’s global AI standing
stated that the MoU also seeks to “develop 2030. It supports large Saudi companies in continues to rise, with the Kingdom ranking
investment opportunities in cooperation accelerating growth and driving economic third worldwide in the OECD AI Policy
with relevant authorities” and to “develop development. Its collaboration with SDAIA Observatory in December, behind only the
business models for both parties, in highlights its role in advancing large-scale US and the UK.
accordance with established procedures.” digital transformation. The development

Australia, Papua New Guinea Discuss New Subsea Cables to Boost Connectivity

The governments of Australia and Papua the Australian Infrastructure Financing cables are not just physical infrastructure
New Guinea (PNG) have held talks on Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) to seek - they are bridges for digital inclusion and
the potential construction of three new potential support for the project. DICT economic opportunity. We are pursuing
subsea cables, aiming to meet the stated that if the subsea cables were built, this initiative with urgency and shared
Pacific Island nation’s growing demand they would significantly enhance PNG’s strategic intent.” The delegation also
for digital connectivity. In a statement, internet capacity, network redundancy, and held discussions with major technology
PNG’s Department of Information and regional digital integration—key priorities providers including Amazon Web Services,
Communications Technology (DICT) said under the country’s digital transformation Oracle, and Australian telecoms and data
it had sent a delegation to Canberra to strategy. Minister for Information and centre firm Vocus, exploring the use of
engage with Australia’s Department of Communications Technology, Timothy cloud and AI technologies to modernise
Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Masiu, who led the delegation, said: “These government services.
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