Saudi AI Firm Humain Begins Data Center Construction for 2026 Launch

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain has commenced construction of its first domestic data centers, marking a significant step in the kingdom's technological ambitions. The facilities, located in Riyadh and Dammam, are projected to become operational by early 2026.

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney

Strategic Partnerships and Semiconductor Imports

The state-backed firm, established during former US President Trump's May visit to Saudi Arabia, will primarily source semiconductors from American manufacturers including NVIDIA. Humain has already secured regulatory approval to purchase 18,000 of NVIDIA's latest AI chips, according to CEO Tareq Amin.

"While we haven't set a definitive timeline, this demonstrates Saudi Arabia's commitment to accelerating AI chip procurement," Amin stated. "All purchases remain subject to US government approvals and governance agreements."

Expansion Plans and Regional Ambitions

Each initial data center will have a capacity of 100 megawatts, with partial operations expected by Q2 2025. Humain plans to add 1.9 gigawatts of additional data center capacity by 2030 as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 diversification strategy.

The company is establishing a joint venture with AMD, which will hold equity in a special Saudi fund. This forms part of a broader $10 billion AI infrastructure agreement between the two firms.

Building an AI Ecosystem

Humain has already forged partnerships with technology leaders including:

Qualcomm for chip design collaboration
Cisco for networking infrastructure
Preliminary discussions with Elon Musk's xAI regarding potential Saudi data center projects

These strategic moves position Saudi Arabia to compete in the global AI market while establishing regional technological leadership.

Key Points:

🏗️ Construction underway for Humain's first Saudi data centers (Riyadh & Dammam)
💻 18,000 NVIDIA chips approved for import to power AI infrastructure
🤝 $10B partnership with AMD establishes JV and special fund
🌍 Goal to make Gulf region an AI hub by 2030
🔌 Initial 100MW capacity per facility, expanding to 1.9GW total