AWS forms strategic AI partnership with Saudi-backed Humain
Amazon is deepening its presence in Saudi Arabia with a strategic partnership alongside Humain, an artificial intelligence startup recently launched under the auspices of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two companies will collaborate on developing an “AI Zone” in the kingdom—an initiative valued at more than $5 billion.
The AI Zone will be built on the backbone of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and include dedicated infrastructure such as servers, networking hardware, and a full suite of training and certification programs. Humain, backed by Saudi Arabia’s powerful Public Investment Fund (PIF), will use AWS technologies to develop AI solutions and expand access to tools for local startups working in AI.
This partnership marks another major win for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil through massive investments in technology and innovation. It also reflects the growing trend among U.S. tech giants—including Nvidia, AMD, Google, and Salesforce—to tap into the PIF’s resources and gain footholds in the Gulf region’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.
The timing of Amazon’s announcement is notable. Just this week, a U.S.-Saudi investment forum was held, attended by former President Donald Trump and several American tech leaders. Under new Trump administration policies, U.S. firms including Nvidia and AMD have been given the green light to enter deals with Saudi firms more freely—suggesting a broader alignment of political and business interests aimed at accelerating cross-border AI development.
The Saudi government has made data localization a requirement for operating in its market. Companies looking to do business there must store data within the country—an incentive for global tech firms to invest in physical infrastructure locally. In the past year alone, Google and Oracle have announced significant expansion plans in Saudi Arabia.
Amazon had already committed in March to invest approximately $5.3 billion to build AWS data centers in the kingdom, with operations expected to begin in 2026. The new AI Zone initiative, the company clarified, is a separate investment from that initial pledge—though it remains unclear whether the latest commitment overlaps with or draws from the earlier announced capital.
As of now, Amazon has not specified how the more than $5 billion for the AI Zone will be allocated, and further details may emerge as the initiative develops.
With Humain’s ambitions and Saudi Arabia’s growing tech sector momentum, this partnership could be a turning point in the kingdom’s emergence as a global hub for artificial intelligence development.
