Saudi Arabia public sector AI adoption ranked first globally in the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026. The index was published by UK consultancy Public First in collaboration with the Center for Data Innovation. The study compared AI use across government institutions in 10 countries. Saudi Arabia placed first overall across all measured categories.
Saudi Arabia Public Sector AI Adoption Index Methodology
The index evaluated five dimensions of AI use in government. These areas were enthusiasm, empowerment, enablement, embedding, and education. The research was based on surveys of 3,335 public sector employees. Respondents came from Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Singapore. Saudi Arabia recorded the highest combined score.
Government Workforce AI Usage in Saudi Arabia
Data from the index shows that 77 percent of Saudi public sector employees reported investment in AI tools and infrastructure. This was the highest level among all surveyed countries. Nearly half of Saudi government workers said they had used AI tools daily for more than one year. The findings indicate sustained operational use rather than short-term trials.
Training and Enablement for Public Sector AI Adoption
Saudi Arabia public sector AI adoption also ranked highest in workforce training. About 84 percent of Saudi public servants said they had received training on AI tools. Around half of those respondents stated the training focused primarily on compliance requirements. The remaining respondents reported receiving more practical or skills-based instruction.
Saudi Arabia Public Sector AI Adoption in Global Context
Saudi Arabia’s performance aligns with other international benchmarks. The Kingdom ranked first in the Government Strategy category of the Global AI Index 2024. It also ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025 published by Oxford Insights. These rankings focus on national AI strategy, implementation capacity, and institutional readiness.
The Public Sector AI Adoption Index measures how governments integrate AI into daily operations. It also evaluates policy support and workforce readiness. Saudi Arabia public sector AI adoption exceeded that of larger economies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, across multiple indicators.
Source: https://www.middleeastainews.com/p/saudi-arabia-leads-world-in-public
