Saudi Arabia saw a 52% increase in robotics registrations, reaching over 2000 in Q2

Saudi Arabia's robotics industry is experiencing remarkable growth, with a growing number of technology companies seeking registration to conduct commercial operations in the country. According to a recent summary bulletin from the Minister of Commerce, the second quarter of 2023 witnessed a 52% surge in the number of registered robotics firms in the Kingdom, reaching a total of 2,344. This marks a significant increase from the 1,537 registered firms during the same period in the previous year.

The city of Riyadh led the pack in registrations, with 1,387 robotics firms, followed by Makkah with 491, the Eastern Province with 269, Madinah with 76, and Qassim with 32, as indicated in the bulletin. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has also seen a substantial rise in the number of companies registering to provide artificial intelligence solutions. In the second quarter of the year, there was a 49% increase, with a total of 4,229 firms registering, compared to 2,823 in the corresponding period in 2022.

Again, Riyadh took the lead in issuing registrations, with 2,563 AI solution providers, followed by Makkah with 843, the Eastern Province with 475, Madinah with 130, and Qassim with 62, as reported in the bulletin. The growth of the AI sector in Saudi Arabia is expected to have a significant economic impact, contributing over $135.2 billion to the economy by 2030, equivalent to 12.4% of the Kingdom's gross domestic product, according to estimates by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In October 2022, Ahmed Baharoon, an AI consultant and co-founder of Inc Robotics, a Saudi-based robotics provider, spoke to Arab News about the Kingdom's efforts to promote the adoption of robotics across various industries. Despite the progress, challenges in automating operations still exist. Speaking at that time, Baharoon said: “The government is driving initiatives such as the automation of 4,000 manufacturing plants within the next five years, and the Kingdom’s logistical strategy launched last year lists the use of robotics and AI in smart cities, including NEOM and The Line.”

Baharoon emphasized that robotics could play a pivotal role in reducing costs across sectors and allowing human labour to be utilized for more meaningful purposes. Baharoon added: “Having a robot can enhance the customer experience and create great moments that can be used to enhance brands and present them in a fun way.”