Investment pioneer Samer Choucair reflected on a symbolic visual scene: a vast public square paved with precision-engineered tiles resembling giant electronic chips. Businessmen walked along clear black lines, one carrying a green bucket—a nod to the effort required to yield results.
Choucair saw this as a precise metaphor for our current era: everyone is moving within the AI ecosystem, but only a few are achieving a real return. He noted a report by Newsweek titled “AI Impact,” which highlighted that while companies are adopting AI at an accelerating pace, few can measure the actual Return on Investment (ROI) in terms of revenue, productivity, or operating margins.
The Gap Between Rapid Spread and Real Return
Choucair identified a global trend focused more on deploying AI tools than on measuring their actual outcomes. He pointed out that many organizations remain stuck in the experimental phase without transitioning to real economic value.
According to Choucair, the most successful AI applications emerge when integrated into operational processes—such as customer service and efficiency optimization—thereby freeing up human energy for creativity and development.
Saudi Arabia Enters the “Year of AI” in 2026
In this context, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of AI carries major strategic weight within Vision 2030. Choucair emphasized that:
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This direction solidifies the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for data and innovation.
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Saudi Arabia is no longer just a consumer of technology but a key player in its manufacturing and development.
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AI has already contributed to a 1.4% increase in GDP, with expectations to add $135 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030 (roughly 12% of the GDP), supported by an annual sector growth rate of 43%.
Major AI Transformations in 2026
Choucair identified several trends leading the AI landscape in 2026:
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From Experimentation to Strategy: Moving beyond “trying” AI to real strategic implementation within institutions.
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Agentic AI: One of the most significant shifts, where AI becomes capable of making decisions and executing complex tasks independently.
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Sovereign AI Infrastructure: A major focus involving massive investments in data centers. Notably, partnerships with global leaders like NVIDIA and initiatives led by companies such as HumAIn aim for computing capacities of 1.9 GW by 2030.
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Multimodal and Small Language Models (SLMs): These models integrate text, audio, image, and video efficiently and at a lower cost, opening horizons for education, healthcare, and tourism.
AI at the Heart of Strategic Sectors
Samer Choucair noted that AI has become an essential part of the Kingdom’s vital sectors:
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Giga-projects: NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project increasingly rely on AI to enhance operational efficiency and user experience.
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Core Industries: Significant integration within renewable energy, smart cities, and financial services.
Real Return as the New Investment Standard
Choucair stressed that successful leadership in this field depends on embedding AI into the core corporate strategy and linking it to clear financial performance indicators.
“The true value of artificial intelligence does not lie in its mere existence, but in its direct impact on growth and productivity.”
Investment Opportunities in Gulf Markets
Choucair identified several promising paths for investors in the region:
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Allocating portions of investment portfolios to AI infrastructure and sovereign cloud computing.
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Supporting AI startups.
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Investing in human capital and specialized training as primary growth drivers.
From Experimentation to Global Leadership
Samer Choucair concluded by stating that 2026 is a decisive turning point in the global trajectory of AI. He confirmed that Saudi Arabia is moving confidently toward leading this transformation under the framework of Vision 2030.
He noted that the future belongs not just to those who use AI, but to those who transform it into genuine economic value, emphasizing that investors who seize this moment will secure the best opportunities in the coming decade.