Saudi Arabia secures third spot in global AI policy ranking, behind US, UK
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Saudi Arabia has been ranked third worldwide in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) AI Policy Observatory, following the United States and the United Kingdom.
Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), highlighted the achievement during a panel discussion at the Internet Governance Forum, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Ghamdi credited the ranking to the Kingdom’s strong focus on AI regulation and ethics. He emphasized that ethics have been central to Saudi Arabia’s AI initiatives since the founding of SDAIA in 2019.
The AI Ethics Early Adopters initiative and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) were noted as key drivers in building trust and creating global ethical standards for AI products and services. ICAIRE, headquartered in Riyadh and backed by UNESCO, has been recognized as a significant regional and international partner in advancing ethical AI practices.
Al-Ghamdi further pointed to UNESCO's recent acknowledgment of Saudi Arabia’s progress in AI development. A report by the organization praised the Kingdom’s readiness to implement AI while adhering to international ethical values and standards.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia played a pivotal role in setting up a UN-affiliated AI advisory body and has continued to share its expertise with other nations. Collaborative efforts with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League have included workshops to raise awareness about ethical tools for AI evaluation.
Al-Ghamdi also referenced initiatives introduced at the Global AI Summit in Riyadh last September, including the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence, a project launched in partnership with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The Kingdom’s focus on trust, transparency, clear guidelines and proactive risk management, Al-Ghamdi noted, has been instrumental in positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in AI development and regulation.