The infrastructure behind Saudi Arabia’s next phase of AI

Saudi Arabia's artificial intelligence (AI) efforts are advancing into new territory. Government agencies, key sectors, and private businesses are transitioning from AI pilot projects to full-scale implementation. During the LEAP 2026 event, attendees are focusing on the practical aspects of using AI, including infrastructure, workforce development, and regulation.

Underpinning all AI applications are the physical systems that support them. These data centers have evolved beyond their previous definition as IT assets. As Sami Alfaraj, MEA Head of Technology at Submer, points out, with 66 out of Vision 2030's 96 strategic objectives reliant on data and AI, the infrastructure supporting these systems now represents national infrastructure and should be engineered accordingly.

The shift in AI strategy changes how facilities are designed, starting with the AI accelerator roadmap that dictates building requirements.

AI's computational demands necessitate significant cooling systems. Today's hardware racks consume over 100 kilowatts, a massive increase from older racks combined. This heat generation poses challenges for traditional air cooling methods.

Rahul Misra, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for MEA at IFS, emphasizes the importance of AI in industrial settings where operational delays translate directly to financial consequences. In asset-intensive industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, utilities, and logistics, AI enables autonomous operational orchestration.

These systems optimize supplier management, inventory control, maintenance scheduling, and other critical processes across connected assets, reducing unplanned downtime and streamlining supply networks.

However, the expansion of AI also introduces cybersecurity challenges. Maher Jadallah, Vice President for Middle East and Africa at Tenable, highlights that identifying vulnerabilities is only the first step. Exposing these weaknesses and implementing effective exposure management is crucial to preventing attacks. The common scoring system often flags up to 60% of flaws as high or critical, yet only a small fraction of these vulnerabilities are truly exploitable by attackers.

Attackers typically exploit a single flaw in combination with other weaknesses, such as open cloud configurations and excessive permissions, targeting valuable assets. The warning signs of an imminent breach may appear too late, indicating a need for preemptive, robust defenses.

AI's integration into everyday operations is also transforming office environments. Lakshimi Narayanan, General Manager at Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia, advises that organizations should establish clear performance metrics before implementing AI solutions. They should redesign processes to incorporate the technology rather than attempting to retrofit existing systems.

Assigning responsibility for results to the department most directly impacted by changes can ensure more effective adoption. Small but frequent improvements are more valuable than occasional, high-profile overhauls.

In the workplace, AI is becoming a more discreet presence. Murad Ali, Head of Middle East and Central Asia at Logitech for Business, notes that modern office equipment enhances audio and video quality, simplifies setup, and connects individuals both in the room and remotely. Smart features, like occupancy and environmental sensors, help manage meeting rooms, while cloud-based management systems provide IT teams with visibility and control over various devices and settings.

AI should be seen as a means to improve human collaboration and employee experiences, enhancing inclusivity and sustainability alongside efficiency.

As the terminology surrounding AI evolves, Narayanan predicts that within three years, the phrase "AI project" will become obsolete. Instead, AI will be integrated seamlessly into specific use cases and tasks, representing a truly transformative technology that is now an expected part of operational design.