Saudi Arabia and China: A Strategic Technological Partnership in AI, Space, and Digital Economy
In a move that enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading digital hub in the region, Saudi Arabia has intensified its technological partnership with China over the past few days, through a series of high-level meetings in Beijing, exploring cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, advanced technologies, and the space sector.
This visit was led by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency, Engineer Abdullah Al-Sawaha, accompanied by the Governor of the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission, Engineer Haitham Al-Ouhali, where they met with senior government officials and technology leaders in China.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy at the Heart of Discussions
Al-Sawaha met with Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Cheng, and they discussed expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, and emerging technologies. The discussions focused on localizing advanced technologies and enhancing joint initiatives in communications, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.
This step comes within the objectives of Vision 2030, where Saudi Arabia aims to be among the top 10 digital economies in the world, and it has an ambition to increase the contribution of the digital economy to the GDP to more than 20% by 2030.
Space: Localizing Technologies and Manufacturing Satellites
In the space sector, Al-Sawaha held a meeting with the President of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Zhou Ji, where they discussed enhancing cooperation in space technologies, exploring opportunities for localizing these technologies in the Kingdom, developing Saudi satellite manufacturing capabilities, and accelerating the transfer of knowledge to support the growing space sector in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia launched the Saudi Space Agency in 2018, and it aspires to be a major player in the global space sector, with ambitious programs that include sending Saudi astronauts and developing advanced satellites.
Smart Cities and Digital Services
Al-Sawaha also met with the founder and president of Meituan, Wang Xing, to explore opportunities for cooperation in AI-powered digital services, smart logistics services, and smart city applications. Meituan is one of the largest technology companies in China, providing services that include smart delivery, e-commerce, and digital services to over 700 million users.
The visit also included meetings with officials in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to enhance technological partnerships and attract quality investments in the Saudi technology sector.
Key Points about the Saudi-Chinese Technological Partnership
- Technology Localization: The primary goal is to transfer knowledge and manufacture technologies within the Kingdom, not just import them.
- Diversified Fields: The partnership includes artificial intelligence, space, advanced manufacturing, communications, and digital services.
- Alignment with Vision 2030: These agreements support the Kingdom’s ambitious digital transformation objectives.
- Job Opportunities: Localizing technologies means creating new job opportunities in programming, engineering, and scientific research.
- Chinese Investments: These partnerships are expected to attract quality investments in the Saudi technology sector.
- Saudi Space: The Kingdom is steadily moving towards having independent space capabilities, with trusted international partners.
- Smart Cities: Cooperation with companies like Meituan enhances smart city applications in projects like NEOM and Qiddiya.
The Saudi-Chinese Technological Partnership in a Global Context
This visit comes after days of a visit by toly.today to China, where Saudi officials met with their Chinese counterparts to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, including technology and space.
A model carried out by Saudi tourists to South Korea, reflecting the Kingdom’s strategy in building diverse partnerships with the world’s largest tech countries. Saudi Arabia seeks to benefit from Chinese expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence and space, while China looks for a strategic partner in the Middle East to support its global technical ambitions.
Saudi Arabia has recently announced a national framework for managing artificial intelligence risks in collaboration with the Digital Government Authority and SDAIA, reflecting a balanced approach between adopting technology and ensuring safety, security, and reliability.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who needs this technical partnership?
The beneficiaries are: the Saudi citizen who will see better digital services, entrepreneurs in the tech sector, Saudi students in STEM specializations, and investors in the technology sector. The partnership will create training and employment opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence, space, and communications.
2. Where do these technical partnerships take place?
They are primarily conducted in Riyadh and Beijing, but their applications will be across Saudi Arabia through smart city projects and the development of digital infrastructure in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and major projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
3. What is the cost of these technical projects?
Costs vary depending on each project. Technical investments between Saudi Arabia and China are estimated in the billions of riyals, but the government funds them from the digital transformation budget and the Public Investment Fund. For individuals and startups, there are support programs such as Code 9 66 and the Bold Investment Fund, which offer financing starting from 500,000 riyals.
4. How long do these projects take?
The implementation period for technical partnerships ranges from 3 to 5 years for large projects such as localizing space technologies, while artificial intelligence and digital services projects show results within months. Some initiatives, such as smart city applications, have already begun to appear in apps like Tawakkalna and Absher.
5. How can I benefit from this partnership as an individual or a company?
If you are a student: follow scholarship programs in artificial intelligence and space engineering specializations. If you are an entrepreneur: explore partnership opportunities with Chinese tech companies in Saudi Arabia through the “Tatweer” platform or the Saudi Export Development Authority. If you are an employee: develop your skills in programming, data, and artificial intelligence through platforms such as SDAIA and Future Skills.
