Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia target key sectors in push to deepen economic ties

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has ranked 15th globally in artificial intelligence research output for 2025, driven by the volume of academic publications, according to a new report.    

The Kingdom produced 29,639 AI-related publications, placing it among the top contributors to global AI research and highlighting its emerging role as a regional technology leader.  

This performance places Saudi Arabia ahead of several long-established research hubs, including the Netherlands, Singapore, and Russia, as well as Switzerland and Sweden, according to the newly released Global AI Competitiveness Index.      

Dmitry Kaminskiy, general partner at Deep Knowledge Group, said: “Saudi Arabia’s ranking aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, reinforcing the country’s commitment to developing a sustainable, diversified knowledge-based economy.”   

He added: “With AI being a central pillar in the nation’s development plans, the findings of our report pave the way for continued excellence and leadership in the field.”  

The Global AI Competitiveness Index, jointly developed by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group, evaluated more than 2 million AI-related scientific papers and invention patents worldwide.    

The report measures countries based on both the quantity and impact of their AI research contributions.  

The Kingdom’s output translates to over 823 AI publications per million people, which reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen its scientific and technological landscape.  

“Saudi Arabia’s AI research output is a testament to the country’s commitment to becoming a leader in technology and innovation. The Kingdom’s strategic investments in AI infrastructure and talent development are already yielding impressive results, setting the stage for further advancements,” Kaminskiy added.  

The research milestone comes amid broader gains in global AI competitiveness. In the 2024 Global AI Index by Tortoise Media released in September, Saudi Arabia climbed 17 positions to rank 14th overall, overtaking the UAE as the leading Arab nation in AI.    

The index, which evaluates countries on factors such as research, talent, infrastructure, and government policy, also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s top global ranking in the government strategy category.  

Global trends  

The Global AI Competitiveness Index report also underscores broader international trends, with Mainland China leading in total volume of AI papers — reporting a 696 percent increase over the past decade to reach 769,000 publications.    

Japan and South Korea’s entry into the global top 10 further reflects the growing dominance of East Asia in the international AI research landscape, the report noted.   

Saudi Arabia has also been ranked 24th globally in AI patent output. With a total of 1,189 AI-related patents filed, the Kingdom is continuing to build its innovation capacity in parallel with its growing research footprint.    

While its absolute patent count remains modest compared to leading nations, the ranking reflects the country’s early but expanding efforts in technological commercialization and intellectual property development within AI.   

In terms of AI patents per million people, Saudi Arabia reported a rate of 35, placing it ahead of larger economies such as Russia with 6.4, and India with 3.1, but still trailing far behind global leaders like South Korea, 2,317.9, Japan, 1,751.2, and the US, 1,365.2.

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia’s event season ramps up, the hospitality sector is already showing signs of strong performance. During the week of April 13–19, hotel transactions rose notably, signaling a promising start to a period packed with cultural, sports, and entertainment events across the Kingdom.

According to the latest point-of-sale data from the Saudi Central Bank, hotel transactions reached 677,000 during the week—an increase of 2.4 percent compared to the previous week.

The total value of these transactions climbed 2.2 percent to SR295 million ($76.8 million), up from SR288.6 million. Analysts attribute the growth to the influx of domestic tourists and visitors attending high-profile events.

April has proven to be a dynamic month for Saudi Arabia’s events calendar. The return of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to Jeddah from April 18 to 20 drew global attention, with Oscar Piastri securing a thrilling victory and Jennifer Lopez headlining a star-studded concert. Simultaneously, Dammam hosted the Asian U18 Athletics Championships from April 15 to 18, while the AFC U-17 Asian Cup concluded on April 20.

Cultural programming has also contributed to heightened visitor activity. The Saudi Film Festival, running in Dammam from April 17 to 23, and the ongoing Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah are attracting both local and international audiences.

While the hotel industry benefited from this surge in tourism and events, other sectors painted a less optimistic picture. Most consumer-facing industries recorded week-on-week declines in both transaction volume and value.

The restaurant and cafe segment, typically among the most active, experienced a 2.5 percent dip in transaction count to 56.98 million, while spending fell 4.6 percent to SR1.68 billion. Food and beverage outlets saw even steeper declines—transaction volume dropped 3.2 percent and value plunged 9.3 percent to SR1.65 billion.

Retail categories such as clothing and footwear were also affected, with transaction volume down 4.9 percent and spending down 4.2 percent. Electronics and electrical goods followed suit, reporting a 5.5 percent decrease in volume and a 4.8 percent decline in value. The health sector recorded a 5.4 percent drop in transactions and a 2.6 percent decrease in spending.

One bright spot in the consumer landscape was construction and building materials, which saw a modest 1.78 percent increase in transaction value to SR317.1 million, despite a slight 1.25 percent decline in volume.

In contrast, the telecommunications sector faced significant contraction, with a 7.4 percent drop in volume and a sharp 13.8 percent fall in spending. Jewelry sales—often sensitive to seasonal gifting trends—plummeted, recording a 13.3 percent decrease in transaction count and a 17.2 percent drop in value, totaling SR271.4 million.

Regionally, major cities across the Kingdom reported overall declines in spending. Riyadh saw a 1.1 percent drop in transaction volume and a 4.5 percent fall in value, totaling SR4.1 billion. Jeddah’s spending declined by 5.7 percent, while Madinah and Dammam experienced drops of 7.7 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively. Other cities, including Tabuk, Hail, and Abha, registered declines ranging from 7.9 percent to 12.5 percent.

Despite a broader slowdown in consumer spending, the hospitality sector stands out as a potential bellwether for the Kingdom’s evolving tourism landscape — driven by Vision 2030 and a concerted push to diversify economic activity through entertainment and cultural engagement.