Dubai – Saudi Aramco has finalized a strategic acquisition deal that significantly strengthens its presence in the artificial intelligence sector, marking a pivotal step in the oil giant’s broader efforts to expand its technological investments globally.
The transaction involves Aramco acquiring a 49 percent stake in HUMAIN, a Saudi artificial intelligence specialist, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries. The remaining 51 percent share is retained by the Public Investment Fund, ensuring continued state backing for the venture.
According to a statement obtained by Energy Platform, headquartered in Washington, the deal aims to enhance the company’s capabilities in utilizing advanced AI technologies. These advancements are intended to improve operational efficiency across industrial processes and support the development of global business activities.
The agreement includes cash contributions from Aramco totaling approximately 9.9 billion Saudi riyals, equivalent to 2.6 billion dollars, scheduled for payment during 2026. Additionally, the deal entails the transfer of assets related to artificial intelligence, computing, and digital technologies to accelerate HUMAIN’s expansion into international markets.
This move unites the technical assets and expertise of both entities to support the growth of the new company and bolster its competitive position in the AI sector. It follows plans announced in October 2025, transitioning the partnership from concept to actual execution with defined ownership percentages and asset transfers.
Strategic Industrial Applications
Aramco and its subsidiaries are expected to benefit from the infrastructure and solutions developed by HUMAIN. These tools will convert AI capabilities into industrial applications supporting oil and gas operations, helping to improve performance and increase operational efficiency while creating new revenue growth opportunities.
Yazid Al-Humaid, Deputy Governor and Head of Middle East and North Africa Investments at the Public Investment Fund, stated that consolidating AI assets within HUMAIN will foster innovation, develop national competencies, and strengthen intellectual property rights aligned with the fund’s 2026-2030 strategy.
HUMAIN, launched in May 2025, is developing an integrated system including advanced data centers, high-performance computing infrastructure, cloud services, and specialized AI models like “Allam” for Arabic language processing. The company targets developing data centers with a capacity of three gigawatts by 2030 to meet rising regional and global demand.
Financial Impact and Future Outlook
Amin Nasser, Chairman and CEO of Saudi Aramco, revealed that technology utilization since 2023 generated approximately 42.4 billion riyals ($11.3 billion). He emphasized the importance of partnering with the Public Investment Fund to localize the industry and expand application scopes, aligning with the Kingdom’s vision to enhance its global standing in AI markets.
This story was produced in the newsroom from the disclosed sources named above.
