Saudi Arabia’s energy giant Aramco has acquired a 49 per cent stake in artificial intelligence company HUMAIN in a $2.6 billion investment aimed at accelerating the kingdom’s ambitions to become a global AI powerhouse.
The transaction, completed through Aramco’s wholly owned subsidiary, leaves Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) with a controlling 51 per cent stake in HUMAIN.
Under the agreement, Aramco will contribute approximately $2.6 billion (SAR 9.9 billion) in cash during 2026, alongside artificial intelligence, computing and digital assets.
The partnership will also combine the companies’ technological capabilities and talent to expand HUMAIN’s AI infrastructure, develop industrial applications and support its plans to establish 3 gigawatts of AI data centre capacity by 2030.
Aramco and PIF Combine Resources to Expand HUMAIN
The transaction brings together two of Saudi Arabia’s most influential economic institutions to strengthen HUMAIN’s position in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry.
While Aramco acquires a 49 per cent ownership stake, PIF retains 51 per cent, ensuring its continued control of the company.
Beyond the financial investment, both shareholders will contribute AI assets, technological capabilities and specialised talent to support HUMAIN’s development.
The arrangement is designed to accelerate the company’s growth by combining Aramco’s industrial technology expertise with PIF’s investment resources and HUMAIN’s AI infrastructure ambitions.
According to PIF Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments Yazeed A. Al-Humied, the partnership will create significant opportunities for technological development and innovation.
“Bringing PIF and Aramco’s AI portfolio of investments together under HUMAIN creates a powerful synergy that fuels talent growth, technological advancement, and intellectual property creation,” Al-Humied said.
He added that the transaction would accelerate HUMAIN’s development into a global industry leader while expanding private-sector participation and advancing cutting-edge technologies in Saudi Arabia.
Targeting 3GW AI Data Centre Capacity by 2030
Launched in May 2025 by PIF, HUMAIN is developing an integrated artificial intelligence ecosystem designed to serve businesses, governments and other organisations seeking advanced computing capabilities.
Its operations span four major areas: next-generation data centres, high-performance computing and cloud platforms, advanced AI models, and industry-specific AI applications.
The company is also developing ALLaM, an advanced multimodal Arabic large language model designed to process Arabic language and other forms of information.
HUMAIN’s broader ambition is to establish 3 gigawatts of AI data centre capacity by 2030, positioning itself to meet growing regional and international demand for computing infrastructure.
The expansion is expected to support organisations seeking the computing power required to develop, train and deploy AI systems without necessarily building their own extensive infrastructure.
The company ultimately aims to become a major exporter of AI capabilities, providing infrastructure and services to customers beyond Saudi Arabia.
Aramco to Deploy AI Across Industrial Operations
Aramco’s investment in HUMAIN is expected to strengthen its ability to apply artificial intelligence across its energy and industrial operations while creating opportunities to generate additional financial value from its digital capabilities.
The company plans to leverage HUMAIN’s infrastructure and services to expand AI applications across its operations, potentially supporting improvements in operational performance, industrial efficiency and technology deployment.
Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser described the transaction as an important development in the company’s technology strategy, building on its experience deploying advanced digital systems across the oil and gas industry.
“Since 2023, Aramco has achieved $11.3 billion in Technology Realized Value, with a significant portion coming from AI solutions,” Nasser said.
The company expects the partnership to strengthen its technological capabilities while enabling faster, more integrated and scalable deployment of AI systems.
Aramco also anticipates benefiting financially from HUMAIN’s growth through its shareholder position and strategic partnership, including opportunities to generate revenue from its existing AI and digital assets while complementing its core energy business.
Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Economic Diversification
The transaction forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to develop its technology industry, attract investment and reduce reliance on traditional economic sectors.
Through PIF, the kingdom has been investing in emerging industries and building businesses capable of competing internationally.
The partnership with Aramco aligns with PIF’s 2026–2030 strategy, which seeks to strengthen integration across economic ecosystems, expand private-sector opportunities and support the growth of national companies into globally competitive businesses.
By combining Aramco’s financial resources and industrial expertise with PIF’s investment capabilities, HUMAIN is expected to benefit from stronger access to technology, infrastructure and specialised professionals.
The partnership also reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambition to attract global talent and investment while developing domestic capabilities in advanced computing and artificial intelligence.
For HUMAIN, the investment provides additional resources to expand its infrastructure and develop AI services for both public- and private-sector organisations.
Partnership Positions
HUMAIN for Global AI Competition
The agreement is expected to strengthen HUMAIN’s ability to compete in the international AI market by combining financial investment, infrastructure development and industrial technology expertise.
With Aramco and PIF supporting its expansion, HUMAIN intends to build an integrated AI ecosystem covering computing infrastructure, advanced models and practical applications for different industries.
The company’s planned data centre expansion will be central to its ambition to serve regional and global demand for AI computing, while its AI models and industry-specific solutions are expected to support organisations seeking to deploy artificial intelligence at scale.
For Aramco, the partnership offers an opportunity to expand its technology business and apply AI more extensively across its operations. For PIF, it strengthens efforts to develop a globally competitive Saudi technology company.
Ultimately, the transaction represents a strategic investment in Saudi Arabia’s emerging AI industry, with HUMAIN positioned to become a major provider of artificial intelligence infrastructure and services as the country seeks to establish a stronger presence in the global digital economy.
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