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Saudi Arabia’s AI Surge: Leading The Charge In Women’s Empowerment And Job Growth

Saudi Arabia has cemented its position as a rising powerhouse in artificial intelligence, securing the top global ranking for women’s empowerment in AI, according to Stanford University’s AI Index Report 2025. The Kingdom is also making waves in AI job growth, talent attraction, and cutting-edge model development—key indicators of its broader push to dominate the global AI landscape.

AI Talent And Job Growth: A Strategic Push

Saudi Arabia’s aggressive investment in AI is paying off. The Kingdom now ranks third worldwide in AI job growth for 2024 and fourth in developing leading AI models. It stands alongside the United States, China, France, Canada, and South Korea as one of only seven nations producing advanced AI models—an impressive feat for a country rapidly scaling its digital economy.

A Rising AI Hub: Attracting Global Talent

Ranked eighth globally in AI talent attraction, Saudi Arabia is becoming a magnet for top-tier professionals. Strategic initiatives, a robust research ecosystem, and a business-friendly regulatory framework make the Kingdom an increasingly attractive destination for AI experts seeking opportunities in a fast-growing market.

Women At The Forefront Of AI

Perhaps the most striking achievement is Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in empowering women in AI, with the highest female-to-male ratio in the sector. This milestone is the result of targeted national policies that foster inclusion, skills development, and leadership opportunities for women in technology. Programs like “Elevate,” a partnership with Google Cloud designed to train over 25,000 women in AI and tech, are shaping a new generation of female AI leaders. Additional initiatives, including specialized training camps and capacity-building programs, are reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to gender diversity in STEM fields.

Saudi Arabia’s AI Vision: Scaling To Global Leadership

At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s AI dominance is the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), which is spearheading national efforts to drive AI adoption. SDAIA’s strategy focuses on enhancing digital infrastructure, developing policy frameworks, and accelerating AI investment to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence. These moves align seamlessly with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-driven economy powered by innovation.

As Saudi Arabia continues its AI expansion, the message is clear: the Kingdom is not just participating in the AI revolution—it’s setting the pace.

Cyprus Tourism Revenue Edges Higher In June, But First-Half Decline Persists

Cyprus posted a marginal increase in tourism revenue in June 2026, ending a three-month run of declines. But the broader picture for the first half of the year remains subdued, with earnings from the sector down 11.4%, according to data released Monday by the Statistical Service.

June Returns To Growth

Based on the Passenger Survey, tourism revenue reached €423.1 million in June, up 0.2% from €422.3 million in the same month of 2025. The increase was modest, but it marked a return to positive territory after three consecutive months of contraction.

First-Half Performance Still Weak

Despite the improvement in June, the six-month trend remains negative. Tourism receipts for the January-June 2026 period stood at €1.2213 billion, compared with €1.3781 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

That represents a drop of €156.8 million year on year, underscoring the pressure facing one of Cyprus’s most important sectors.

Spending Per Visitor Rises

On a per-capita basis, tourist spending in June 2026 increased to €863.62, up 2% from €847.01 a year earlier. The data suggest that while arrivals and revenues have been uneven, visitor value remains relatively resilient.

Key Markets Continue To Shape The Sector

The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’s largest source market in June, accounting for 33% of total arrivals. British visitors spent an average of €103.98 per day.

Israel was the second-largest market, with a 16.4% share of total arrivals. Israeli tourists recorded the highest average daily spend, at €174.27.

Poland ranked third, representing 7.3% of arrivals, with an average daily expenditure of €84.37 per visitor.

What The Numbers Signal

The latest figures point to a tourism industry that is stabilizing month to month, but has yet to recover fully over the year. For policymakers and operators alike, the challenge is no longer only attracting visitors, but sustaining higher-value demand across the season.

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