Have you heard of “ALLaM”? The Saudi AI model that competes with the world

In a time when artificial intelligence is the talk of the hour, Saudi Arabia did not just settle for using ready-made technologies from abroad. No, it took a bold step and developed its own artificial intelligence model called “ALLaM” (ALLaM). This model is not just any ordinary model — it is the first foundational AI model to be fully developed in the Kingdom and focuses on the Arabic language and culture.

And since 2026 is the “Year of Artificial Intelligence” in Saudi Arabia after it was approved by the Council of Ministers, the topic of “ALLaM” has become more important than ever. Let’s explain it to you in simple terms: what is “ALLaM”? What is the difference between it and ChatGPT? And how can the ordinary citizen benefit from it?

What is “ALLaM” exactly?

“ALLaM” is an artificial intelligence model (Large Language Model) similar to ChatGPT from OpenAI, but with a fundamental difference: ALLaM is designed specifically for the Arabic language. Global models like ChatGPT and Gemini are primarily trained on the English language, with Arabic coming in second or third. ALLaM, on the other hand, was trained on a huge amount of Arabic content and understands local dialects and the Saudi and Gulf context.

The developing party is the company “HUMAIN” (HUMAIN), which is a company affiliated with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) with a massive budget exceeding $40 billion. The model is now available on the global IBM watsonx platform, and has joined forces with AMD and Cisco on massive infrastructure projects.

Key achievements of “ALLaM”

  • It was developed entirely within Saudi Arabia — in the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and under the supervision of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
  • It was listed on the IBM watsonx platform — which means it is now available globally for companies and developers.
  • Its development team is 100% Saudi — which is an achievement in itself as it proves that we have national competencies capable of building global technologies.
  • It collaborates with NVIDIA and more than one international partner — to obtain the most powerful artificial intelligence processors.

How can the ordinary citizen benefit from it?

An important question. Imagine having a smart assistant that understands your Saudi dialect – you can ask it about government services, medical inquiries, school information, or anything else in formal and colloquial Arabic. “ALLaM” will be integrated into:

  • Government applications — such as the “Absher” platform and the “Tawakkalna” app, among others, to provide better services to citizens.
  • Education — to help students understand materials and translate foreign content.
  • Health — as an aid to doctors in diagnosis in the Arabic language.
  • Business — to write contracts and official correspondence in proper Arabic.

Does it differ from ChatGPT and Gemini?

Yes, the difference is significant:

Feature ALLaM (ALLaM) ChatGPT / Gemini
Focus on Arabic 💚 Excellent – designed specifically for Arabic 🟡 Good but Arabic is not the priority
Saudi dialects 💚 Understands them perfectly 🟡 Weak in colloquial dialects
Saudi context 💚 Understands local systems and laws 🟡 General and not accurate in local details
Privacy and data security 💚 Your data is within Saudi Arabia 🟡 Your data goes to external servers

In conclusion

“ALLaM” is not just a passing technological project. It is a long-term strategic investment aimed at putting Saudi Arabia on the global artificial intelligence map. And since 2026 is the year of artificial intelligence in the Kingdom, we expect to see practical applications of ALLaM in our daily lives very soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is “ALLaM” available to the public?
A: Currently, it is not available to the public.

Q: Is “Alam” free?
A: The service through watsonx is paid for institutions, but government applications that will use it are usually free for citizens.

Q: Is “Alam” better than ChatGPT in Arabic?
A: In Arabic and Saudi content, “Alam” is better because it is specifically designed for Arabic. But ChatGPT is stronger in general fields and English content.

Q: When will we use “Alam” in our daily life?
A: Expectations indicate that by early 2027, we will see actual applications in government services and banks.