Under the deal, the partners will launch joint initiatives in four key areas: research collaboration targeting complex AI challenges, talent development via workshops and internships, knowledge transfer via seminars and conferences, and the commercialisation of AI models and intellectual property. Governance, ethics, and policy work will feature as integral components in the partnership.
According to Deloitte, the alliance is structured to align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes technology, sustainability and human capital as pillars of national transformation. The project aims to ensure that AI breakthroughs do not remain confined within academic circles but find pathways into industry and public services.
Sultanbek Khunkaev, a partner at Deloitte Middle East, remarked: “By partnering with KAUST, we are combining global expertise with local knowledge to accelerate innovation in Saudi Arabia. This MoU marks the beginning of a series of collaborations we intend to build across the region, each one focused on ensuring that the transformative power of AI is put to work for real societal and economic outcomes.”
Professor Gianluca Setti, dean of KAUST’s Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, observed: “This agreement with Deloitte reflects KAUST’s commitment to building partnerships that extend the reach of our research and innovation. By joining forces, we aim to accelerate the development of responsible AI solutions and create new opportunities for talent and knowledge exchange.”
This collaboration will target sectors with high potential for AI impact—including healthcare, energy, logistics and finance. The partners intend to benchmark AI deployment standards and establish best practices for scaling successful models.
In terms of immediate execution, early phases are expected to involve scoping pilot projects, forming academic-industry teams, launching knowledge transfer programmes, and defining governance frameworks. Over the medium term, the MoU envisages efforts to commercialise intellectual property and replicate successful deployments across the Kingdom.
The MoU, signed on 6 October 2025 in Jeddah, signals Deloitte’s ambition to establish AI innovation hubs regionally, adapting its global AI Institute model to local contexts. For KAUST, the partnership reinforces its role as a research leader while strengthening its ability to translate scientific advances into social and economic outcomes.
Topics
Saudi Arabia