Deloitte Middle East and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bring together the AI Institute and Kaust research ecosystem in the Middle East to launch a new collaboration to advance the role of artificial intelligence across the kingdom and region.
The agreement aims to create a platform where AI's scientific breakthroughs can meet business applications. Through this partnership, Deloitte and Kaust will collaborate on developing projects that address the most complex AI challenges, focusing on preparing the next generation of AI talent through lectures, workshops, internships and exchange opportunities.
At the heart of collaboration is the idea that innovation only makes sense when it is shared. The two entities are working on knowledge transfer through joint seminars and conferences, with their ambition to commercialize the new AI models and intellectual property coming out of the project. The focus will also be on policy and governance, carefully looking at the ethical implications of AI technology and its social impacts in the kingdom.
Deloitte brings the global experience of AI research institutes, already established as a hub for AI innovation in other parts of the world. By specifically adapting this model to Saudi Arabia, Deloitte will work with Kaust to ensure that the collaboration is consistent with Saudi Vision 2030 national priorities.
Sultanbek Khunkaev, a partner at Deloitte Middle East, said: “At Deloitte, we believe that artificial intelligence is not only restructuring industries, but also creating a whole new way of thinking about the future of work, education and society, focusing on ensuring that the transformational power of AI works for real social and economic outcomes.”
Professor Gianluca Setti, dean of the Department of Computer, Electrical and Mathematics Science and Engineering at Kaust, said, “This agreement with Deloitte reflects Kaust's commitment to a partnership that expands our research and innovation scope, priorities.”
Partnerships are not limited to labs or classrooms. Industry-specific solutions are developed in areas where AI can instantly make a difference through health, finance, energy, logistics and benchmarking work, helping to create best practices for adoption. The initiative's families are committed to growing out of the MOU and developing strategies that allow both partners to expand beyond the kingdom.
The Deloitte AI Institute is established globally as a centre where research and real-world business applications intersect, and the agreement represents the first step to bringing Saudi Arabia the same formula that fits the scale and ambitions of Vision 2030. For Kaust, it is a way to bring its academic strength, its research capabilities and culture of scientific excellence closer to the kingdom's goal of economic transformation.
As Saudi Arabia turns to the next phase of Vision 2030, this partnership between Kaust and Deloitte exists as a practical example of how science, business and education can join together not only to advance AI, but to ensure that its benefits are felt throughout society. The MOU's signature is just the beginning of a shared journey. It aims to combine global expertise with local vision and create new opportunities for research, innovation and those who advance this work.
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