UAE based MANTRA receives $20 million investment

UAE based MANTRA receives $20 million investment

Inveniam Capital Partners (“Inveniam”), a global leader in decentralized data infrastructure for private market assets, and MANTRA, a layer 1 blockchain focused on the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), announced a strategic technology and commercial partnership that includes a $20 million investment in MANTRA.

The partnership and investment will allow MANTRA to deliver private real-world assets (RWAs) packaged with real-time asset reporting and surveillance to DeFi and institutional capital allocators. It will enable institutional-grade private market assets with full data sovereignty, surveillance, and agentic solution sets to capitalize upon the rapidly expanding DeFi market with digitally-native smart financial instruments.

The Inveniam and MANTRA partnership will expand investment pathways to build the next generation of private market infrastructure, unlocking a $300 trillion opportunity. Inveniam and MANTRA’s strategic partnership will set a new standard for compliant tokenization, combining MANTRA’s blockchain infrastructure with Inveniam’s data and AI capabilities. Together, they aim to unlock institutional access to RWAs and accelerate the growth of decentralized finance globally.

The partnership will integrate Inveniam’s data operations management solutions and AI Agent Suite with MANTRA’s regulated Web3 infrastructure to scale private RWA solutions with, and for, asset owners, clients, and partners. It will significantly grow Total Value Locked (TVL) and transaction throughput on MANTRA Chain, aligning with Inveniam’s vision for the systematic trading of private market assets in an AI driven, agentic future.

As per the press release, the partnership underscores Inveniam’s conviction in the accelerating convergence of scalable AI, tokenization, and blockchain-powered financial infrastructure, at a time when real-world assets (RWAs) are expected to grow at a 75% CAGR, expanding from $275 billion today to $18.9 trillion by 2033.

“We have been in discussions with MANTRA for some time. As we watched third party bad actors prey upon excellent builders and founders, we leaned in. In our diligence, we have found MANTRA to be a fundamentally excellent chain with great management, regulatory clarity, institutional focus, and the right partners,” Patrick O’Meara, Chairman and CEO of Inveniam said.

He added, “This partnership provides MANTRA with the capital and throughput needed to focus upon and scale its ecosystem and further develop its position as a leading layer 1 blockchain for real-world assets. This foundational step enables trillions of dollars in private assets to operate in digital environments, thereby ushering in a new generation of products for global allocators, builders, and hyper-scalers.”

John Patrick Mullin, CEO and Founder of MANTRA noted, “We are incredibly excited about our partnership with Inveniam, and believe it will be a key driver in moving MANTRA to a significantly greater position in the global RWA marketplace. Inveniam’s investment and collaboration will allow us to better serve asset owners and capital allocators not just in the UAE, but in the United States and globally with leading decentralized infrastructure. Together, we will accelerate MANTRA’s development of a trusted, composable and scalable tokenized market for real-world assets, bringing tangible value to asset owners, investors and developers.”

Inveniam’s long-term partnership with the United Arab Emirates continues to grow. In 2024, G42 became a strategic investor in Inveniam. Inveniam has since established a corporate presence in Abu Dhabi with offices in Al Khatem Tower. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Inveniam Mid East, Ltd (إنفينيم الشرق الأوسط), is in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).


MANTRA’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MANTRA Finance FZE, is licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), which establishes a foundational framework for compliant, data-rich private market assets to be tokenized and integrated into the global DeFi ecosystem launching from the UAE. The VARA licensing includes digital asset exchange, broker-dealer, and investment services, and supports the end-to-end lifecycle of tokenized RWAs, from primary issuance to automated secondary market liquidity.
Integrated Market Infrastructure

This joint effort will leverage ADGM’s institutional framework, G42’s data and AI capabilities, and Dubai’s crypto liquidity infrastructure to deliver a complete market stack for RWAs in the UAE.

MANTRA has signed several tokenization deals after the OM Token debacle, reflecting the growth tokenization is witnessing not only in the UAE, MENA but also globally.


BitHash crypto miner unveils sites in UAE and USA

BitHash crypto miner unveils sites in UAE and USA

UAE based BitHash has unveiled new high-capacity CAPEX sites in both the UAE and the US, as the company strives to build scalable and sustainable crypto mining ecosystems powered compliant, high efficiency technology.

As per the announcement, in the UAE, BitHash has established four dedicated Bitcoin mining sites with capacities of 1.5MW, 6MW, 10MW, and 48MW, respectively. These facilities were created to serve the region’s growing appetite for digital asset infrastructure and to support investors seeking secure, full-service mining environments.

Simultaneously, BitHash is rolling out two large-scalemining facilities in the United States, offering 10MW and 20MW capacities. These plug-and-play operations are designed to allow companies to commence mining almost instantly. BitHash’s US infrastructure is being bolstered by the development of a 3.4GW solar-powered project, one of the largest renewable-energy-backed crypto mining initiatives announced to date. This commitment to green energy underlines the company’s ambition to reduce environmental impact while supporting the scalability of Web3 and blockchain ecosystems globally.

Speaking on the expansion, Abdulaziz Osman, founder and CEO of BitHash, said, “Our dual expansion into the UAE and USA reflects the growing demand for compliant, energy-efficient, and high-powered mining infrastructure. These aren’t just sites, they’re ecosystems built to power the future of crypto innovation at scale.”

DMCC Crypto Center growth numbers slow down

DMCC Crypto Center growth numbers slow down

Growth of crypto business members in DMCC Crypto Center seems to be slowing down in the past two years. In 2022 DMCC Crypto Center announced that crypto center was home to 500 crypto and blockchain entities an increase of 231% compared to 2021 when there were 151 crypto blockchain entities.

In 2023, DMCC announced it had increased the number of members with 123 new crypto and blockchain entities registering at the crypto center. By 2024, DMCC announced that they had 600 registered blockchain and crypto companies an increase at the time of 11% from the year before.

Last week in August 2025, in an X Post the DMCC Crypto Center announced that they now had 700 blockchain and crypto companies registered, which means in 12 months, only 100 more companies registered at the center. As per the post the members include blockchain, DeFi, tokenization, and digital asset entities.

There are many reasons while they could be witnessing fewer number of registered entities, especially after the UAE set up its virtual assets framework overseen by SCA ( Securities and Commodities Authority) and in Dubai with VARA ( Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority). VARA has since then set stringent rules on how VASPs can operate, market, and communicate in the UAE.

Furthermore, globally there have also been strong regulatory advancements in the United States, with more robust crypto and blockchain regulations, as well as the Genius Act for stablecoins coming into play. The same can be said for Europe with MICA, and other countries across the globe. Could this be having a negative impact on the influx of crypto and blockchain entities to the UAE or could this be a sign of more internal competitiveness within the UAE, such as DIFC, ADGM, and RAK DAO.

It might just be that the market is maturing, and so the region is witnessing a slower influx of new companies. The UAE however is still attractive especially for crypto entities who are leaving Singapore.

Regardless of the growth numbers in DMCC Crypto Center, the UAE has become the center of crypto, blockchain, and AI regionally, as Saudi Arabia enters the AI and Blockchain stage, but still shies away from crypto.

Saudi Investor leads $5 million investment in Solana blockchain startup Data Guardian Network

Saudi Investor leads $5 million investment in Solana blockchain startup Data Guardian Network

Saudi Arabian investor Hamoud Al-Rumayn, as well as droppGropu, and Hub Culture have invested $5 million in Data Guardians Network (D-GN), a decentralized platform that produces high-precision, ethical AI training data.

As per the press release, the funding will support D-GN’s transition to expand regionally and globally and scale its operations as well as develop multi-modal data pipelines, and enhance enterprise integrations. The blockchain enabled platform leverages a decentralized contributor model where users worldwide perform data-labeling tasks such as image classification, audio annotation, lip-sync verification, and human expression mapping.

Contributors are rewarded with USDT stablecoins, while Solana blockchain integration ensures transparent contribution tracking and fair compensation. The company’s model addresses growing concerns about unlicensed data usage and opaque labor conditions in AI development, offering a traceable, ethical alternative for model training.

Saudi lead investor Hamoud Al-Rumayan highlighted the strategic fit with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, statiing, “This investment supports building an ethical, transparent infrastructure for AI development that aligns with Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals.”

With the fresh capital, Data Guardians Network plans to expand operations across the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, aiming to become a global leader in ethically sourced AI datasets.

Recently, Saudi Arabia announced that of the 80,000 new business commercial licenses registered in Q2 of 2025 in Saudi Arabia most of them were in high growth industries such as Blockchain, AI, and Big data analytics. The total number of valid business records in KSA is now 1.72 million. Saudi Arabia witnessed 34% growth in AI commercial registrations, and 51% growth in Blockchain commercial registrations with over 4,000 companies now registered in the country.

UAE Digital Dirham CBDC coming out soon!

UAE Digital Dirham CBDC coming out soon!

The Central Bank of UAE is preparing itself and the UAE for the soon to launch Digital Dirham, its CBDC ( Central Bank Digital Currency) and has published a report that offers in-depth review of the key achievements to date.

As per the press release, The CBUAE is moving towards officially launching the national central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the near term.

As such the report covers the design principles and policy frameworks that have shaped the development of the Digital Dirham, ensuring it remains secure, reliable and easy to use, in line with best practices and standards issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

According to the report, the Digital Dirham will allow non- UAE residents and the unbanked to utilize its for accelerating transactions and boosting the efficiency of payment systems through features such as offline usability, smart contracts and cross-border transactions.

The digital Dirham will be will allow online and instore and commercial peer-to-peer transactions. Furthermore, the CBUAE has developed a comprehensive platform for issuing, trading, and using the digital dirham, including the digital wallet, which enables individuals and businesses to conduct financial transactions.


H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, noted, “The Digital Dirham represents one of the CBUAE’s key strategic initiatives shaping the future of financial services in the UAE and marks an important achievement in the global development of central bank digital currencies. The Digital Dirham will help ensure a secure and efficient financial infrastructure for the UAE, enhance the efficiency of our payment ecosystem, support monetary stability, expand financial inclusion, and strengthen the international standing of the UAE Dirham.”

H.E. added, “We will continue to rigorously assess the design and development of the Digital Dirham to ensure its successful rollout and transformational impact through a consistent and prudent approach.”


The CBUAE has already launched a cross-border application of the Digital Dirham and carried out a real-value retail pilot to evaluate its future design, technology and advantages as well as key digital economy use cases to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the Digital Dirham.

In March 2025 The Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE) unveiled its new symbol for the UAE’s national currency, the Dirham has committed to the launch of the Digital Dirham as a CBDC. The CBDC project launched in 2023 has witnessed huge progress and will incorporate a Digital Dirham wallet.

Qatar Financial Center report calls for global tokenization regulatory framework, stablecoins and more

Qatar Financial Center report calls for global tokenization regulatory framework, stablecoins and more

Qatar Financial Center, has published a report on the future of digital assets and underscores the need for coordinated regulatory frameworks and multi stakeholder cooperation to unlock the future of real world asset (RWA) tokenization, mentioning that Qatar will in the future work on stablecoin implementation.

The report which was created in partnership with Global Stratalogues and the Global Blockchain Business Council offers insights from global experts who all believe that the successful development of inclusive and future-ready token ecosystems hinges on cross-border regulatory alignment, strategic infrastructure investment, and public-private collaboration.

The findings highlight that tokenisation, when embedded within a coherent policy framework, can expand market access, enhance financial inclusion, and deliver tangible value across economies.

Some of the key points of consensus from the roundtable, as highlighted in the report, is that global regulatory alignment is emerging but unevenly as legal definitions and compliance requirements vary across jurisdictions.

The report also noted that there is a tendency to be pragmatic more then perfectionist as tokenization is still in formative stage.
The report mentions that infrastructure and interoperability should be prioritized.

The QFC report calls for institutional sandboxes and global standards. Qatar’s regulatory sandbox was cited as a global best practice.


Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, QFC, emphasized the need to lay strong foundations for tokenization, stating: “Tokenization can unlock real value by making assets more accessible and easier to transfer. To realize this potential, we need a clear system that combines robust regulation, secure custody, and practical application. This will create a trusted environment that enables institutional adoption and drives sustainable market growth.”

Highlighting the practical application of digital tokens, Henk J. Hoogendoorn, Chief Financial Sector Officer, QFC, said, “Tokenization must serve a purpose. It should democratize access and create real-world value. Qatar is committed to making tokenization of real-world assets a success.”

The report came out during the inaugural Digital Assets Policy Roundtable, hosted by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) in partnership
with Global Stratalogues, and the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), convened during the Qatar Economic Forum as a landmark forum for cross-border regulatory coordination and institutional dialogue.

Qatar Digital Asset strategy still excludes crypto but is open to stablecoins

Representing the QFC, Hoogendoorn outlined Qatar’s strategic approach to digital asset development, reiterating Qatar’s position on cryptocurrency restrictions. He noted that the official policy is that “Crypto is a no-go for now” as previously stated by QFC CEO” during Qatar Economic Forum this year. The focus is on RWAs. However he mentioned that in terms of future outlook there will be selective cryptocurrency adoption anticipated, likely beginning with stablecoins. In terms of regulatory coordination Hoogendoom explained that this would be a join initiative with Qatar Central Risk Authority and the Central Bank of Qatar.

Qatar Financial Center strategy is tokenization for Investment sector

The report also noted that QFC strategic vision it to apply tokenization in the investment sector, to innovate in the areas of private equity, sharia compliant digital asset mechanisms, allowing secondary market liquidity through token trading. The strategy also seeks to help venture capital with early exit opportunities for investors.

In terms of Islamic Finance tokenization applications, the report sees trade finance digitization as one of the solutions, as well as investment product tokenization, and Murabaha trading structure automation.

Recently for example the Qatar National Bank ( Singapore Branch) and DMZ Finance, a blockchain financial technology company also headquartered in Singapore received the first MENA regulated tokenized money market fund from Dubai Financial Services Authority, the regulatory body at DIFC in Dubai UAE. QNB, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, will serve as the fund’s lead originator and investment manager. DMZ Finance, acting as co-originator, providing the exclusive tokenization infrastructure powering the fund.

RWAs are increasingly recognized as a critical bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). According to a recent report by Ripple and BCG, the market for tokenized RWAs is projected to grow to USD18.9 trillion by 2033 under a midpoint scenario.

Attendees of the QFC roundtable noted that tokenization will need 5-10 years to become a standard business practice, integrating routine banking and financial operations without specialized attention. However it will be inevitable that AI and Blockchain integrated as a requirement for proactive regulatory frameworks.

UAE Phoenix Group Bitcoin and Solana treasury valued at $150 million

UAE Phoenix Group Bitcoin and Solana treasury valued at $150 million

Phoenix Group PLC (ADX: PHX), a pioneering global cryptocurrency, blockchain, and digital asset infrastructure company, today announced its Q2 2025 financial and operational results, including formalizing a digital asset treasury valued at over $150 million.

Phoenix Group became the first ADX-listed company to formalize a digital asset treasury, valued at over $150 million in Bitcoin and Solana. The group achieved $29 million revenue; mined 336 BTC in Q2 with 31% self-mining gross margin and 14% energy cost reduction. This included 214 BTC attributed to self-mining. Across the first half of 2025, the Group has mined a cumulative total of 689 BTC.

Self-mining Bitcoin revenue surged 219% over two years, rising from $13M in H1 2023 to $41.7M in H1 2025. The company continues to mine profitably, reporting a 31% gross margin on self-mining and a 14% reduction in energy costs, reinforcing its position as one of the most efficient Bitcoin miners globally.

Phoenix is almost debt-free at $16 million, enabling pursuits like its treasury and AI expansion.

The Group’s active treasury, valued at over $150 million, mainly consists of Bitcoin and Solana, with 514 BTC and more than 630,000 SOL held as part of its long-term reserve.

“Phoenix has always been more than just a mining company. We’re a conviction-led digital infrastructure group,” said Munaf Ali, CEO and Co-Founder of Phoenix Group. “Holding Bitcoin and other strategic digital assets isn’t just about exposure. It’s about alignment. We believe in the long-term value these networks represent, and our treasury strategy reflects that belief”.

Additionally, the quarter saw Phoenix’s share price rise by over 72% from April to June, placing it among the top five most traded and best-performing stocks on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The momentum has continued into Q3, with gains of 110% to date.

The Company also reported a non-cash loss of $29 million, largely due to revaluations in its digital asset portfolio and a one-time depreciation adjustment under revised accounting standards. With recent price recoveries in key holdings such as Solana, Phoenix anticipates a partial rebound in asset valuations in Q3 and beyond.

Looking ahead, Phoenix is accelerating the buildout of its AI and HPC vertical. A feasibility study is currently underway to repurpose part of its U.S. infrastructure into a dedicated multi-use compute facility. In parallel, the Company is actively evaluating several strategic locations globally to identify markets where infrastructure upgrades or redeployments could rapidly expand its AI and HPC footprint.

“We are building toward 1 gigawatt of hybrid infrastructure by 2027, and we see a clear path to get there,” added Ali. “As we move forward, we see strategic opportunities to consolidate underutilized infrastructure globally. Many smaller operators are stuck with land and power they can’t convert into meaningful compute. Phoenix’s execution speed and platform model give us a distinct edge to acquire and upgrade these assets for AI ahead of the broader market”.

In its next growth phase, Phoenix Group is focused on delivering capital-efficient expansion, scaling its AI/HPC infrastructure, and further developing its digital asset treasury, all while maintaining its leadership as the largest Bitcoin miner in the MENA region and a global leader in the industry.

Binance sees 20% growth in MENA as it strives to become financial infrastructure for GCC digital economy

Binance sees 20% growth in MENA as it strives to become financial infrastructure for GCC digital economy


In an interview with Gulf Business, Bader Al Kalooti, regional head of MEASAT at Binance noted that the crypto exchange platform has seen a 20 percent growth in MENA since 2020.

He noted to Gulf Business, “We have seen the Middle East quickly becoming an epicenter for crypto, a place where platforms and projects migrate to expand and launch their Web3 companies. Each region is different, and we can see the community adapt and attract different aspects of the industry.”

He also explained that MENA is a significant market for Binance because of its young population with 60 percent under the age of 30, who are as he notes are tech savvy.

He believe that collaboration with banks, fintech, and government bodies is vital to ensure compliance.

According to Kalooti, the new product Sharia Earn will evolve and expand and will also see expansion of token offering while adhering to Islamic finance principles.

Finally he sees a rising appetite from institutions and sovereign wealth funds as well as telecom for crypto. He cited a 2023 partnership with Beyon Money in Bahrain, and a $2bn investment from Abu Dhabi-based MGX, as clear examples of how Binance is supporting industry players. “We are actively aiming to meet institutional demand by offering tailored services based on each sector’s individual need.”
Blockchain’s most promising Gulf applications lie in areas like logistics and healthcare, according to Al Kalooti. “I’m most excited about how blockchain can bring transparency and traceability to food supply chain management and pharmaceutical logistics to ensure halal compliance, reduce counterfeiting, and build trust.”

Al Kalooti sees Binance playing a deeper role in enabling digital infrastructure across the Gulf. “We see Binance being a key player in the Gulf’s digital economy, not just as an exchange but as part of the region’s financial infrastructure,” he said. “We are focusing on institutional engagement and supporting real-world use cases like cross-border payments, digital remittances, and DeFi participation.”

Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, during his participation at Token 2049 demystified the stablecoin behind the deal that was made between UAE sovereign wealth fund MGX and Binance crypto exchange. The $2 billion investment by MGX into Binance was announced earlier this year, yet the stablecoin mentioned for carrying out the deal remained a mystery.

Algeria passes anti crypto law with fines of up to $7,700

Algeria passes anti crypto law with fines of up to $7,700

While the globe and MENA region have started to embrace cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, especially with regulations in the United States, UAE, Bahrain and others, Algeria has passed one of the world’s most comprehensive anti-crypto laws, officially criminalizing all cryptocurrency activities including exchanges and custody.

The law was enacted on July 24, 2025, Law No. 25 - 10 and prohibits the issuance, possession, purchase, sale, storage, mining, promotion, or use of digital assets. It also outlaws any services facilitating such activities, including crypto wallets and exchanges.

Algerian government has noted that this is part of a broader initiative to strengthen anti-money laundering ( AML) and counter terrorist financing (CTF) enforcement.

Under the new law, individuals convicted of crypto-related offenses face prison sentences ranging from two months to one year, and fines between 200,000 and 1,000,000 Algerian dinars (approximately $1,540 to $7,700 USD).

The law applies not only to active participants but also to passive holders and individuals who promote or disseminate information about cryptocurrencies. This includes influencers, advertisers, and content creators who may not be directly involved in trading or transacting.

Previously in 2018, Algeria’s Financial Law, banned crypto usage without clearly defining penalties or enforcement, Law No. 25 - 10 codifies specific criminal liabilities and grants authorities broad enforcement powers.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the primary motivation behind the ban is the need to protect the national economy from unregulated financial flows. Officials emphasized that cryptocurrencies are often used for fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and terrorist financing, and pose a threat to financial stability and monetary sovereignty.

Supporters of the law argue it will safeguard consumers from the volatility and speculative nature of digital assets, which have caused substantial losses for retail investors globally. The government has expressed interest in exploring regulated fintech alternatives, but no timeline has been provided for potential frameworks.

The Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region ranks as the seventh-largest crypto market globally in 2024, with an estimated $338.7 billion in on-chain value received between July 2023 and June 2024, accounting for 7.5% of the world’s total transaction volume. MENA includes two countries ranked in the top 30 of the global crypto adoption index: Türkiye (11th) and Morocco (27th), capturing $137 billion and $12.7 billion of value received, respectively. The majority of crypto activity in MENA is driven by institutional and professional-level activity, with 93% of value transferred consisting of transactions of $10,000 or above.

In the same report, Algeria was noted as being the fastest growing crypto country by assets after Saudi Arabia and Libya.

In May 2025, The Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority issued a warning against dealing with unlicensed financial entities including those marketing crypto and virtual assets. As per the notice on their website, “Unlicensed entities and online platforms operating in the field of receiving & pooling funds for investment will face legal consequences. Do not participate in subscriptions for any securities (shares and bonds) unless the Authority has explicitly approved the public offering. Exercise extreme caution and avoid investing through companies lacking the necessary licenses to receive funds for investment or platforms offering financing without authorization.”

So both Egypt and Algeria, as well as Morocco who has been in the process of issuing its crypto legislation continue to fight the crypto adoption onslaught.

Saudi Arabia ranks among 20 global nations in AI talent density

Saudi Arabia ranks among 20 global nations in AI talent density

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rank among the world’s top 20 nations for AI talent density, surpassing countries such as Italy and Russia, according to the latest Global AI Competitiveness Index. The UAE and KSA hold 0.7% and 0.4% of the global AI talent pool respectively, marking their emergence as rising powerhouses in AI innovation.

The study is a collaborative effort between the International Finance Forum (IFF) and Deep Knowledge Group (DKG). The IFF is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in October 2003 by G20 countries and international organizations including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. DKG is a leading global think tank specializing in AI research and innovation, focusing on fostering advancements in technology, healthcare, and other strategic industries.

In a groundbreaking achievement, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has entered the top 150 universities globally for producing AI talent, becoming the highest-ranked university in the Middle East. This success is a direct reflection of Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push towards establishing itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

Saudi Arabia has invested USD 20 billion in partnerships with top universities like Stanford University to build KAUST, which houses one of the world’s leading AI research labs. In addition, programs such as 10,000 Coders aim to train young Saudis, equipping them with cutting-edge AI skills.

“This report is the third in a series of reports on the Global Competitiveness Index for AI, published by the IFF. Since November, we have issued reports focusing on the development of global AI institutions, as well as AI research and innovation. Building upon the insights from the first two reports, this edition highlights talent as a key driver of algorithmic products and scientific research patents. Talent is also crucial in balancing the technological benefits and risks of AI. Our aim is to create a comprehensive understanding of the global flow of AI talent and conduct case studies on countries where AI talent is concentrated, providing valuable insights for all stakeholders in the AI industry. In future reports, we plan to explore the development of global AI markets and policy oversight, and we look forward to further in-depth analysis.” said Chu Jian, Data Expert at the IFF Research Institute.

“AI talent, in terms of human capital, is the most precious asset for all future economies, which will inevitably intensively depend on AI technology”, commented Dmitry Kaminskiy, General Partner at Deep Knowledge Group.

“Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s strategic focus on AI, their significant investments in education, infrastructure, and innovation, and their ability to attract top talent and investments are setting the stage for a new era of growth in the region. Both nations are making substantial strides toward becoming global AI leaders, with the UAE positioning itself as a major player in AI governance and technology, while Saudi Arabia is building a robust ecosystem for AI talent and applications,” added Kaminskiy.

Under Saudi Vision 2030, AI has been identified as one of the seven pillars of the Kingdom’s economic transformation. The goal is for Saudi Arabia to rank among the top 10 countries in AI research and application by 2030, attracting USD 20 billion in AI investments and creating 200,000 high-tech jobs. Saudi Arabia has established the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to drive the national AI strategy. Major AI projects benefit from an expedited approval process, with decisions typically made within 30 days.

Sovereign funds are fueling growth in AI, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) launching a USD 1.5 billion AI investment fund. The Kingdom is also investing heavily in projects like NEOM, where AI infrastructure accounts for over 30% of the USD 500 billion budget, setting a new standard for smart city development.

Saudi Arabia offers AI talent some of the highest salaries globally, with top scientists earning a median annual salary of USD 420,000, tax-free. NEOM also offers up to USD 5 million in signing bonuses for AI leaders, alongside full subsidies for their children’s education.

As part of its effort to attract the best AI minds, Saudi Arabia has introduced special residency schemes and relaxed cultural restrictions in zones like NEOM, enabling foreign experts to live and work under conditions that blend their lifestyle with the Kingdom’s cultural fabric.

NEOM’s The Line city will be the world’s first AI-controlled city, with services like transportation and energy managed entirely by AI. The city’s vast data collection and biometric monitoring will provide unparalleled opportunities for real-world AI development.

“Nations that invest in AI talent today are not just shaping their digital future; they’re securing their global competitiveness for decades to come”, concluded Professor Patrick Glauner, Coordinator of the IFF AI Committee.