RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been ranked first in the Arab world and 22nd globally in the Global Artificial Intelligence Index.
Prepared by the Tortoise Intelligence report, it is the first global index to benchmark nations on their level of investment, innovation and implementation of artificial intelligence.
The Global AI Index is based on 143 separate indicators. Saudi Arabia ranked second worldwide in the “government strategy” category, took ninth place globally in the “operating environment” standard and 12th in the “research” rankings. It also took 22nd place for infrastructure and was ranked 46th in the “talent” and “commercial” categories.
The Kingdom advanced by seven places on the index, moving up from 29th place in 2019. The US ranked first followed by China, the UK, Canada, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, France and Singapore.
Commenting on improving seven places in the index, Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), said: “The Kingdom’s progression to seven places in the Global AI index in one year affirmed the leadership’s constant support for this pivotal sector at the national level.”
The rise is the result of efforts to integrate government agencies and entities that took part in National Transformation Program (NTP 2020) initiatives taken in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, he said.
Saudi Arabia leads Arab world in global AI index
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Saudi Arabia leads Arab world in global AI index
- The Kingdom advanced by seven places on the index, moving up from 29th place in 2019
Saudi Arabia sees 21% jump in mining sector licenses since 2016
- The growth in the Kingdom’s mining sector licenses aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, launched in 2016
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has shown sustained growth, with the number of mining licenses increasing from 1,985 in 2016 to 2,401 by the end of 2024, representing cumulative growth of 21 percent, according to the 2024 mineral wealth statistics from the General Authority for Statistics.
The data highlights a steady upward trend in recent years. Licenses rose to 2,100 in 2021, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year.
The upward trajectory continued with 2,272 licenses in 2022, 2,365 in 2023, and 2,401 in 2024, reflecting expanding exploration and investment activity across the Kingdom’s mining sector. Building material quarries accounted for the largest share of mining permits, climbing from 1,267 licenses in 2021 to 1,481 by 2024.
Exploration licenses also recorded consistent growth, supporting the Kingdom’s broader push to develop its mineral resources.
Other categories of mining activity saw significant expansion, including 2,554 exploration licenses, 744 exploitation licenses, 151 reconnaissance licenses, and 83 surplus mineral ore licenses issued during the same period.
The growth in the Kingdom’s mining sector licenses aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, launched in 2016, which aim to diversify national income sources and strengthen non-oil sectors.
