Digital economy targets SAR 199B with 2 new unicorn companies: 2026 Budget

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag

The 2026 budget outlines key objectives for the Kingdom’s digital economy, space, and innovation sectors, including the Saudi communications and technology market reaching SAR 199 billion by the end of the year.

The targets include the establishment of two new unicorn companies in the Saudi market by the end of 2026, a move aimed at enhancing sector competitiveness and the dynamism of the local market.

In the field of data and artificial intelligence (AI), the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence aims to position Saudi Arabia among the top 17 countries globally in this sector by 2030.

The strategy also seeks to develop national capabilities, targeting 20,000 AI and data specialists by 2030, with a 70% progress milestone to be achieved by 2026.

The budget further aims to enhance the inclusivity of digital government services through the “Tawakkalna” application, which will be transformed into a comprehensive national platform, increasing the number of services offered to 926 by the end of 2026.