The first phase of establishing the Economic Zone for Artificial Intelligence is expected to commence in the last quarter of 2027, according to Dr. Sohaam bint Ahmed Al Harithi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Afooq International Investment and Development Company – the developer and operator of the zone.
The AI zone, established by Royal Decree No. (50/2026) and covering a total area of approximately 104,000 square meters, is anticipated to attract investments worth $275 million. It will include laboratories for prototypes and robotics, centers for industrial automation, a specialized research and applications center, a data center, cloud computing infrastructure, and facilities for training and events, with a total investment cost exceeding $270 million. There is also an initiative to establish a university specialized in AI technologies, based on ongoing serious negotiations with leading international universities in this field.
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