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Global Index Score

33.36

Global: 67thRegional: 6thIncome Group: 39th

Saudi Arabia's index score lands +1.3 against the Middle East average (32.1) and -18.8 against High income peers (52.1). It scores ahead of 51% of the 135 economies assessed this edition. Published score 33.4 reflects a URAI adjustment from 34.8 (1 government-misuse evidence item on file) — including "NEOM". The profile rests on 23 documented evidence items spanning policy frameworks, government initiatives and civil society activity.

How Saudi Arabia Performs Across the Five Dimensions

GIRAI evaluates countries across five core dimensions that capture the social, ethical, and institutional impacts of artificial intelligence.

AI Policy

29.82

Avrg. Score

26.13

Global: 64thRegional: 6th

Enabling Conditions

55.68

Avrg. Score

52.95

Global: 69thRegional: 3rd

Civil Society Engagement

1.54

Avrg. Score

13.39

Global: 120thRegional: 8th
1

Inclusion and Diversity

22.04

Index Score

32.56

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 88thRegional: 7th

Saudi Arabia runs -10.5 against the regional average (32.6) on Inclusion and Diversity. Strongest indicators: Gender Equality (18.2), Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (9.1). Weakest: Children's Rights (0.0). This dimension ranks 88th globally — behind the country's overall position (67th). 3 evidence items on file, including "Humain" and 2 other documented items.

2

Ethics and Sustainability

39.25

Index Score

31.58

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 58thRegional: 4th

Saudi Arabia runs +7.7 against the regional average (31.6) on Ethics and Sustainability. Strongest indicators: Transparency and Explainability (59.1), Fairness and Non-discrimination (50.0). Weakest: Human Oversight and Determination (40.9), Environmental Impact (46.2). This dimension ranks 58th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (67th). 9 evidence items on file, including "AI Ethics Principles (September 2023) (Version 1.0) (Saudi Arabia)" and 4 other documented items.

3

Labour and Skills

41.47

Index Score

34.73

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 60thRegional: 3rd

Saudi Arabia runs +6.7 against the regional average (34.7) on Labour and Skills. Strongest indicators: Reskilling/Upskilling Initiatives (73.9), AI Literacy (45.5). Weakest: Labour Protections (0.0). This dimension ranks 60th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (67th). 4 evidence items on file, including "National Strategy for Data & AI (Saudi Arabia)" and 2 other documented items.

4

Trust and Safety

48.77

Index Score

36.90

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 45thRegional: 2nd

Saudi Arabia runs +11.9 against the regional average (36.9) on Trust and Safety. Strongest indicators: AI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence (43.2), Safety and Security (40.9). Weakest: Impact Assessments (34.1), Access to Redress and Remedy (40.1). This dimension ranks 45th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (67th). 5 evidence items on file, including "AI Ethics Principles (September 2023) (Version 1.0) (Saudi Arabia)" and 1 other documented items.

5

AI Use in Public Service

22.24

Index Score

28.75

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 83rdRegional: 8th

Saudi Arabia runs -6.5 against the regional average (28.7) on AI Use in Public Service. Strongest indicators: Public Sector Skills Development (34.9), Public Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems (0.0). Weakest: Public Procurement (0.0). This dimension ranks 83rd globally — behind the country's overall position (67th). 2 evidence items on file, including documented frameworks and initiatives.

Comparing Results Across Editions

Explore how country performance, scores, and governance indicators have changed between GIRAI editions.

14 indicators

Indicator2024 Edition2026 Edition
Gender EqualityNo FrameworkNo Framework
Children's RightsNo FrameworkNo Framework
Cultural and Linguistic DiversityNo FrameworkNo Framework
Fairness and Non-discriminationNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Transparency and ExplainabilityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Human Oversight and DeterminationNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Labour ProtectionsNo FrameworkNo Framework
Reskilling/Upskilling InitiativesNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Safety and SecurityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Access to Redress and RemedyNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Impact AssessmentsNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Public Sector Skills DevelopmentNo FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Public ProcurementNo FrameworkNo Framework
Government Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and GovernanceNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework

Indicator definitions changed between editions; this table compares evidence presence and status, not directly comparable scores. A — indicates the item is not applicable or was not assessed for that edition.

Compare responsible AI performance

Explore how countries and regions perform across GIRAI's governance dimensions, scores, and structural indicators.

Compare
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia

33.36

Global 67thRegional 6th
Middle East

32.07

Regional average

Dimension scores

Inclusion and Diversity
Saudi Arabia
22.0
Middle East
32.6
Ethics and Sustainability
Saudi Arabia
39.3
Middle East
31.6
Labour and Skills
Saudi Arabia
41.5
Middle East
34.7
Trust and Safety
Saudi Arabia
48.8
Middle East
36.9
AI Use in Public Service
Saudi Arabia
22.2
Middle East
28.7

Indicators

37 of 37
IndicatorSaudi ArabiaMiddle East
Inclusion and Diversity7
APGender Equality
18.225.2
APChildren's Rights
0.015.8
APCultural and Linguistic Diversity
9.130.0
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Inclusion and Diversity
0.010.8
ECEgalitarian Democracy
11.722.4
ECSocioeconomic Inclusion in Connectivity
56.162.7
ECGender Inclusion in Connectivity
97.987.7
Ethics and Sustainability6
APFairness and Non-discrimination
50.036.3
APTransparency and Explainability
59.141.0
APHuman Oversight and Determination
40.936.7
APEnvironmental Impact
46.213.7
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Ethics and Sustainability
7.716.9
ECEnvironmental Performance
2.216.6
Labour and Skills6
APLabour Protections
0.06.3
APReskilling/Upskilling Initiatives
73.949.4
APAI Literacy
45.529.8
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Labour and Skills
0.011.3
ECLabour Rights
27.228.1
ECPopulation Digital Readiness
90.182.0
Trust and Safety11
APSafety and Security
40.938.2
APAccess to Redress and Remedy
40.122.0
APImpact Assessments
34.135.7
APAI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence
43.212.0
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Trust and Safety
0.08.4
ECData Protection and Privacy
66.853.7
ECData Sharing and Access
87.557.5
ECConsumer Protection
98.380.2
ECCybersecurity
100.080.9
ECRule of Law
58.155.1
ECGlobal Peace
64.359.2
AI Use in Public Service7
APPublic Sector Skills Development
34.937.5
APPublic Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems
0.04.1
APPublic Procurement
0.017.4
CSOGovernment Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and Governance
0.019.6
ECCivil Society Oversight
21.841.0
ECPublic Service Delivery
99.980.3
ECRight to Information
31.028.5
Score adjustment
URAIUnacceptable Risk AI Systems
×0.961 government-misuse item×0.98Regional average
APAI Policy
CSOCSO Engagement
ECEnabling Conditions
Misuse Of AI

Unacceptable Risk AI Systems

Evidence related to government use of AI systems associated with unacceptable-risk categories.

Contact GIRAI
  • Mass Biometric Surveillance

    NEOM

    the document shows that NEOM’s large-scale deployment of facial recognition creates pervasive continuous surveillance that abolishes anonymity and collapses the distinction between public and private life. The system converts individuals into constantly monitored data points enabling pre-emptive behavioral control rather than accountable law enforcement. This undermines privacy autonomy freedom of expression and political subjectivity while normalizing automated governance without meaningful consent or democratic oversight. The authors argue this “negation of privacy” and data-driven governance erode individual agency and democratic deliberation replacing them with totalizing surveillance justified by efficiency and security pp.2-6

    View Trusted Source

What Drives This Performance?

A breakdown of the structural factors shaping this country's score.

AI Policy

National AI strategies, laws, and oversight mechanisms that establish formal governance structures.

Contribution to overall score

51%

Civil society engagement

Participation of academia, advocacy groups, and non-state actors in shaping governance and ensuring accountability.

Contribution to overall score

0%

Enabling conditions

Institutional capacity, rule of law, digital readiness, and labour protections that enable effective governance.

Contribution to overall score

48%

  • Strongest context signal: Cybersecurity (100.0)
  • Public Service Delivery (99.9)
  • Consumer Protection (98.3)

Evidence for Saudi Arabia

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