Saudi Arabia ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025, published by Oxford Insights, one of the leading global benchmarks used to inform policy and regulatory planning in artificial intelligence.

The ranking reflects the Kingdom’s continued progress in adopting and developing AI applications across government in a structured and sustainable manner. The index evaluates the capacity of 195 governments worldwide to deploy and use AI in public policy and government services, based on indicators spanning governance frameworks, infrastructure, and institutional readiness.

The result highlights the growing maturity of Saudi Arabia’s national AI ecosystem and its expanding role in advancing the responsible use of advanced technologies to improve service delivery, enhance government efficiency, and support the objectives of Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia also placed seventh globally in the governance pillar and ninth worldwide for public-sector AI adoption, pointing to parallel advances in regulatory frameworks and practical implementation.

The report comes amid continued support for the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) from Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of SDAIA’s Board of Directors Mohammed bin Salman, which has enabled the authority to strengthen data and AI capabilities and drive innovation across government.

According to the index, Saudi Arabia performed strongly across several core pillars, including AI infrastructure supported by national platforms such as HUMAIN, which contribute to enhanced computing capacity and the development of AI models. 

The report also cites progress in AI governance, the deployment of smart technologies in the public sector, the development of national policies, and the acceleration of AI systems, underscoring the Kingdom’s flexible approach to adopting emerging technologies.