Saudi Arabia Launches Dedicated AI Venture Fund to Accelerate…

Team S · 2026-01-09T14:05:36.000Z

Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step toward strengthening its artificial intelligence ecosystem with the launch of a new AI-focused venture fund, formed through a strategic partnership between Red Sea Global and Bunat Ventures. The initiative is designed to support innovative startups building or leveraging AI technologies, while also positioning the Kingdom as a regional and global hub for advanced digital solutions. By combining large-scale real-world environments with venture capital expertise, the fund aims to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and commercial deployment. A key focus of the initiative is to back around 25 early- and growth-stage AI startups over the next three years, offering not only financial support but also access to testing, piloting and scaling opportunities within Red Sea Global’s large tourism and infrastructure developments. These include luxury regenerative tourism destinations, operational assets and smart infrastructure projects, giving startups a rare chance to validate AI solutions in live environments. The AI venture fund has been launched as a joint initiative between Red Sea Global and Bunat Ventures, with both organizations acting as strategic backers and ecosystem partners. The fund will invest in startups across sectors such as smart infrastructure, sustainability, digital services, automation and data-driven platforms, with a strong emphasis on long-term value creation and innovation aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national development goals. Leadership from both organizations highlighted that the fund is intended to empower founders, attract global talent and support the commercialization of AI solutions that can scale beyond Saudi Arabia. The initiative also aligns closely with the Kingdom’s broader push under Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification, technology leadership and the growth of non-oil sectors. As global competition for AI leadership intensifies, this move underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become not just a consumer of advanced technologies, but a creator and exporter of AI-driven innovation, supported by capital, infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

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Saudi Arabia Launches Dedicated AI Venture Fund to Accelerate… | Newnex