Saudi Arabia Launches Humain to Lead National AI Strategy Under Tareq Amin

Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of Humain, a new state-backed artificial intelligence company, as part of its ongoing efforts to transform the kingdom into a global AI leader. Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Humain aims to develop and invest across the entire AI value chain. The company will be led by Tareq Amin, former CEO of Aramco Digital and Rakuten executive, who stepped down from his previous role in December to take on this new challenge. Humain’s mission includes building proprietary AI technologies, accelerating the adoption of AI tools within the Saudi economy, and streamlining the development of large-scale data centers. The initiative has attracted talent from other major Saudi tech projects, including Aramco Digital, the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), and Tonomus, the tech arm of the Neom smart city project. While the budget for Humain has not been disclosed, Saudi Arabia has recently committed around $15 billion in deals with global chipmakers and cloud providers, underscoring its ambition in the AI sector. The launch of Humain coincided with President Donald Trump’s state visit to the kingdom, which was expected to generate significant investment opportunities for U.S. tech firms. Humain is seen as a strategic move to compete with the UAE’s aggressive AI investments and reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader goal of diversifying its economy beyond oil. Access to advanced AI chips and easing U.S. export controls are also key issues as the kingdom seeks to establish itself as a major AI hub.