Tech Meets Oil: Inside Saudi Arabia’s $90B US Push

Riyadh targets US energy, AI, chemicals, and finance as part of Vision 2030 industrial modernisation push.

19 May 2025

Saudi Arabia has announced a $90bn investment programme in the United States, combining energy, chemicals, artificial intelligence and finance as part of its Vision 2030 economic strategy.

The initiative involves new partnerships with US technology groups including Nvidia and Qualcomm, alongside fresh investments in energy and financial sectors. Saudi officials said the moves are intended to accelerate the digital transformation of the kingdom’s industrial base while maintaining its presence in traditional markets.

A significant portion of the funds will be directed towards modernising Saudi Arabia’s downstream energy operations by introducing artificial intelligence, robotics and private 5G networks. Among the headline deals, Nvidia will supply AI systems for predictive maintenance to help operators anticipate equipment failures and reduce costly production stoppages. Qualcomm will deploy private 5G networks to support industrial applications such as digital twins, which are virtual replicas of machinery used to optimise performance and identify faults in real time.

While precise productivity targets were not disclosed, industry experts expect efficiency gains through reduced downtime and more streamlined refinery and petrochemical operations.

Amin Nasser, chief executive of the Saudi state energy company, described the investment programme as a “cornerstone” of the kingdom’s broader economic reforms. “Technology is unlocking new levels of performance and sustainability across industries,” Nasser said at an industry forum.

The investment package also includes liquefied natural gas supply agreements, expansion in petrochemicals and financial sector partnerships, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to strengthen industrial and technological ties with the US.

Analysts have described the scale of the programme as significant for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. However, they noted risks around cybersecurity and the need for workforce retraining. Despite these challenges, many observers see the initiative as enhancing Saudi Arabia’s role in both energy markets and digital innovation.