Welcome to this Sunday's AI for GCC edition. The Gulf region is making bold moves in artificial intelligence, from Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar data centers to the UAE’s people-first AI policies. Each story this week reflects how the region is turning AI into a force for progress, productivity, and better living fully aligned with Vision 2030 and beyond.

Mobile attention is collapsing.

In 2018, mobile ads held attention for 3.4 seconds on average.
Today, it’s just 2.2 seconds.

That’s a 35% drop in only 7 years. And a massive challenge for marketers.

The State of Advertising 2025 shows what’s happening and how to adapt.

Get science-backed insights from a year of neuroscience research and top industry trends from 300+ marketing leaders. For free.

👉 Get the free report

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily to position itself as a global AI powerhouse, with its homegrown company Humain leading the charge. Backed by the Kingdom’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Humain is developing national data centers, AI models, and cloud systems to make Saudi Arabia the world’s third-largest AI market.

At the Future Investment Initiative, Humain announced a $3 billion partnership with Blackstone to expand data centers and launched Humain One, an AI-powered operating system that responds to voice and text commands. With partners like Nvidia, AMD, and AWS, and six gigawatts of planned AI computing capacity, Saudi Arabia is setting the stage for a massive AI transformation. CEO Tareq Amin said collaboration with regional peers like the UAE is key to “democratizing AI knowledge for humanity.”

🔗 Source: CNN – Saudi Arabia Makes an AI Play with Humain

Upgrade your organization training with engaging, interactive video content powered by Guidde.

Here’s what you’ll love about it:

1️⃣ Fast & Simple Creation: AI transforms text into video in moments.
2️⃣ Easily Editable: Update videos as fast as your processes evolve.
3️⃣ Language-Ready: Reach every learner with guides in their native tongue.

Bring your training materials to life.

The best part? The browser extension is 100% free.

Check out Guidde

At the Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama shared a powerful message — AI should serve people, not replace them. He said the nation’s goal is to use technology to enhance quality of life and build trust, rather than focus solely on productivity.

The UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, along with plans to train one million people in AI by 2027, underscores its commitment to inclusive digital transformation. The summit also spotlighted calls from Microsoft and the UN to ensure fair access to AI, bridging the gap between developed and developing nations. The UAE continues to prove that innovation and humanity can grow together.

🔗 Source: The National – Goal of AI Should Be to Improve Quality of Life, Says UAE Minister

Ready to transform artificial intelligence from a buzzword into your personal revenue generator?

HubSpot’s groundbreaking guide "200+ AI-Powered Income Ideas" is your gateway to financial innovation in the digital age.

Inside you'll discover:

Download your guide today and unlock a future where artificial intelligence powers your success. Your next income stream is waiting.

Get Your Guide

From Riyadh to Abu Dhabi, the Gulf’s AI strategy is shifting from ambition to action, redefining industries, empowering citizens, and positioning the region at the center of global innovation.

Stay tuned for next week’s edition where we announce our Google AI Certification Program, offered free for AI for GCC subscribers (worth $1000 per participant). Don’t miss your chance to upskill and shape the region’s AI future.

💡 AI for GCC – Empowering the Gulf through knowledge, innovation, and opportunity.