New data highlights high AI adoption, strong female representation and expanding investment in the sector.
Saudi Arabia has ranked first globally in artificial intelligence fields related to security, privacy and cryptography, according to the 2026 AI Index published by Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
The report also places the Kingdom at the top globally for the empowerment of women in AI, with female representation among AI inventors and authors reaching 32.3%, ahead of Australia at 30.1% and Canada at 29.6%.
In specialised AI domains, Saudi Arabia holds the highest share of inventors working in security, privacy and cryptography at 15%, followed by India at 13% and the United Arab Emirates at 12%.
The report also identifies the Kingdom as one of a limited number of countries with a positive net flow of AI talent, recording the fastest growth globally in its share of talent, which more than doubled between 2019 and 2025.
Adoption rates are also among the highest worldwide, with more than 80% of respondents reporting regular use of AI tools at work. Among university students, usage reached 89%, compared with 67% in the US and UK.
The findings contrast with adoption levels in North America and Europe, where around half of employees report regular AI use and trust levels range between 40% and 48%.
The report also highlighted ongoing investment in the sector, including a $5 billion initiative by Amazon Web Services in partnership with HUMAIN to develop an AI-focused zone in the country.
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