Saudi businesses are leading regional AI adoption, with 81 per cent of enterprises already implementing artificial intelligence solutions tailored to their industries, according to a new survey by YouGov for SAP.
The findings were presented at the SAP NOW AI Tour Riyadh, which took place on 3 November 2025, and brought together business leaders, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss how AI is driving the Kingdom’s economic and digital transformation.
The survey revealed that almost all Saudi enterprises (96 per cent) plan to invest in data quality and consolidation over the next 12 months, highlighting the growing focus on building robust data foundations to support scalable AI solutions.
Companies are prioritising customer satisfaction (52 per cent) and revenue growth (47 per cent) as the key success measures for their AI initiatives, followed closely by cost reduction (48 per cent) and better decision-making (47 per cent). More than half (51 per cent) of respondents expect measurable returns on their AI investments within two years.
“Saudi enterprises are moving beyond experimentation and into measurable, scalable AI outcomes,” said Dr. Fahd Nawwab, Vice President, SAP Saudi Arabia.
“Our customers are not only adopting AI but integrating it deeply across mission-critical functions, from manufacturing to financial management, to drive efficiency and innovation. This reflects the Kingdom’s clear strategy to position technology as a core pillar of Vision 2030 and a catalyst for long-term competitiveness.”
The event also showcased SAP’s latest AI innovations, including agentic AI, which enables autonomous decision-making, and the SAP Business Data Cloud, developed with Databricks, which helps organisations unlock insights from structured and unstructured data.
Mohammed Alromaizan, Vice President of SAP Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia’s AI ambitions are grounded in trust, security, and national impact. Our Business AI approach focuses on reliability, relevance, and responsibility to ensure technology serves both enterprise needs and Vision 2030 goals.”
Customer case studies presented at the event included Almosafer, which is using AI to enhance travel experiences, and Red Sea Global, where AI-powered tools are transforming employee engagement.
Sultan Moraished, Group Head of Technology and Corporate Excellence at Red Sea Global, said: “From simplifying talent management to delivering intuitive support through natural conversations, SAP’s AI-powered capabilities help us attract, retain, and empower talent, which is an essential factor in supporting our long-term sustainability goals.”
SAP said the findings confirm Saudi Arabia’s leadership in AI adoption across the Middle East, underlining its growing role as a hub for digital innovation and advanced technology deployment.
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