National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI)

National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) is a long-term national strategy launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). It aims to map out the future of data and artificial intelligence (AI) both locally and internationally, in addition to positioning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as one of the leading countries in the field of AI at the global level.

In 2020, the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence was announced at the first Global AI Summit organized by SDAIA, held in the capital, Riyadh. Through this strategy, the Kingdom aims to empower the private and public sectors, and enable relevant programs in line with Saudi Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The National Data and AI Strategy is built around six core components. The first focuses on positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for leading data and AI technologies. This is achieved by developing a comprehensive plan for the Kingdom's participation in events and initiatives related to data and AI, both locally and internationally.

The second component emphasizes developing and empowering the local workforce in data and AI, aiming to build a sustainable pool of national expertise in these areas. The third component focuses on establishing a welcoming legislative framework for companies and professionals specializing in data and AI.

Through the fourth component, the strategy seeks to attract, stimulate, and enable high-potential investment opportunities in the data and AI sector. This is achieved through a support fund that offers specific incentives by mitigating risks or boosting returns, along with an investor support program that provides specialized services such as pricing evaluations and business planning.

The fifth component aims to strengthen research institutions specializing in data and AI, empowering them to drive innovation and maximize impact. The Kingdom is embarking on several megaprojects where modern technologies are a top priority, and the emergence of smart cities will foster an environment conducive to the innovative use of AI and data. These cities will serve as testing grounds for AI applications in diverse areas, including policy, regulation, algorithm development, and application deployment.

The sixth component aims to accelerate the adoption of data and AI technologies by fostering a system centered around the development of a strong digital infrastructure. This infrastructure empowers developers to use and engage with these technologies and provides startups and individuals with access to advanced data and AI platforms.

The National Strategy for Data and AI aims to achieve several objectives by 2030, including sixty-six goals that directly or indirectly rely on data and AI. Among these, the Kingdom seeks to rank among the top fifteen countries in AI, the top ten in the Open Data Index, and the top twenty in data and AI-related publications.

Additionally, the strategy targets training 40 percent of the workforce in basic skills to eliminate data and AI illiteracy, developing a pool of twenty thousand data and AI specialists and experts, attracting local and foreign investments amounting to SAR75 billion, and fostering entrepreneurship by supporting over three hundred startups in the data and AI sector.

The National Strategy for Data and AI outlines six key targets of initiatives aimed at maximizing the benefits of data and AI to drive digital transformation in the Kingdom. These are ambition, skills, policies and regulations, investment, research and innovation, and ecosystem.

The "Ambition" initiatives aim to strengthen the Kingdom's global presence in data and AI by enhancing the national character in these fields. The "Skills" initiatives focus on developing human capital by securing specialized talent in data and AI, ensuring they can adapt to the rapid changes in these sectors. Meanwhile, the "Policies and Regulations" initiatives are part of the Kingdom's national legislative transformation program, designed to create a legislative environment that fosters innovation among companies and talent in data and AI.

The "Investment" initiatives are designed to boost assets and strengthen the Kingdom's economy by attracting both local and international investors, while financing opportunities in the data and AI sectors. The "Research and Innovation" initiatives seek to establish a cutting-edge research environment within smart and emerging cities, aiming to develop human talent and sharpen their skills to drive innovation and maximize impact. Meanwhile, the "Ecosystem" initiatives prioritize encouraging the adoption of data and AI technologies in megaprojects and large cities, enhancing productivity, service quality, and overall well-being.

Fifteen streams were developed to activate the implementation of the strategy, including global data and AI agenda, data and AI literacy, data and AI specialists, data and AI experts, regulatory framework, the Companies Incentives program, Talents Incentives program, data and AI investment funds, Investors Support program, excellence in R&D and innovation, national innovation testbeds, data and AI sector strategies, data and AI platforms, and smart cities.

The strategy, through its six initiatives in its first phase, focuses on five main sectors in the Kingdom, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the budget and gross domestic product (GDP) reports of the Kingdom, and thought leadership in AI. These sectors include education, healthcare, energy, mobility, and government, with the aim of adopting data and AI technologies.

In the education sector, the strategy aims to integrate data and AI to align the education system with labor market demands, enhancing the educational process. For the government sector, the focus is on leveraging data and AI to create a more efficient and productive government sector, driven by smart technology solutions.

In the healthcare sector, the goal is to harmonize data and AI within healthcare systems to improve access to health services and preventive care, meeting the rising demand for medical services. In the energy sector, the strategy seeks to optimize data and AI usage to enhance capacity and efficiency, contributing to the development of energy-related industries.

The mobility sector is a key focus, with the integration of data and AI aimed at establishing a regional logistics hub, implementing smart mobility systems, and improving urban traffic safety.