US chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies and Saudi Arabia’s national AI company, HUMAIN, will jointly open a new Qualcomm AI Engineering Centre in Riyadh. The facility, slated to begin operations in December 2025, will be strategically co-located with HUMAIN headquarters to facilitate rapid integration and deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions.
Expanding AI Infrastructure in the Kingdom
The centre’s primary focus will be the rollout of 200 megawatts of data centre capacity powered by Qualcomm’s Cloud AI technologies, starting in 2026. This expansion is not merely about hardware supply; it represents Qualcomm’s commitment to establishing a direct, technical presence within Saudi Arabia’s emerging AI ecosystem.
The engineering hub will encompass key capabilities:
- Advanced AI Engineering: Development and deployment of optimised edge-to-cloud services.
- Customer Engineering: Scaling AI solutions for clients, including major entities like Saudi Aramco.
- AI Model Onboarding: Facilitating the integration of new AI models into the infrastructure.
- Technology and Ecosystem Development: Fostering a robust local AI ecosystem.
- AI Training Capabilities: Equipping professionals with the skills needed to operate and maintain the advanced systems.
Why This Matters: Beyond Hardware
This move signifies a deeper commitment than simply providing technology. By integrating with HUMAIN, Qualcomm enables its customers to fully leverage optimised edge-to-cloud hybrid AI. The centre is designed to streamline deployment, reducing time-to-market for advanced services powered by Qualcomm AI solutions.
This partnership combines Qualcomm’s four decades of technology leadership in intelligent computing with HUMAIN’s full-stack AI capabilities, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global AI hub.
Regional Expansion: A Growing Trend
This initiative builds upon Qualcomm’s broader regional expansion, including the opening of a Global Engineering Centre in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. These moves demonstrate Qualcomm’s strategy to establish technical innovation hubs in key markets, leveraging partnerships with local investment firms and tech providers like G42’s Core42 and e& in the UAE.
The trend reflects a growing demand for high-performance, power-efficient computing, particularly in industries reliant on advanced AI applications.
In short, Qualcomm is not just selling chips; it’s building ecosystems. This is a key shift in how the tech industry operates in emerging AI markets, prioritizing local expertise and rapid deployment over purely transactional relationships.
