According to CNBC, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser revealed that Saudi Arabia will leverage its abundant cheap natural gas and renewable energy to become a global AI data center leader. The kingdom aims to become the world’s third biggest AI player behind only the U.S. and China through its national AI champion Humain, which launched in May. Aramco disclosed in late October that it plans to acquire a significant minority stake in Humain, while Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF holds majority ownership. Nasser said data centers powering AI will consume almost four times the electricity of the global electric vehicle fleet by 2030, primarily fueled by gas but also renewables. Aramco is targeting capital expenditures of $52 billion to $58 billion this year, with significant spending going toward boosting natural gas production by more than 60% by 2030.
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<h2 id="energy-advantage”>The energy advantage play
Here’s the thing about AI – it’s incredibly power hungry. Those massive data centers needed to train and run AI models require absolutely staggering amounts of electricity. And Saudi Arabia’s bet is basically that they’ve got the cheapest energy game in town. Nasser wasn’t shy about it either – he straight up said “if you want renewable, you will find the lowest cost renewable” and “if you want gas, you will find the lowest cost gas” in the kingdom.
But here’s what’s really interesting about their strategy. They’re not just talking about renewables – they’re heavily leaning into natural gas expansion too. Aramco plans to boost gas production by more than 60% by 2030 specifically to meet this demand. So while everyone else is scrambling for power, Saudi Arabia is essentially saying “we’ve got this covered.” It’s a pretty compelling pitch when you think about it.
The big bets behind the vision
The Aramco investment in Humain isn’t just some side project – it’s clearly positioned as Saudi Arabia’s national AI champion. When you’ve got both the world’s largest oil company and one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds backing the same horse, you know they’re serious.
And the timing here is crucial. While Aramco is making these big AI moves, Nasser is also doubling down on the traditional oil and gas business. He’s predicting demand growth of 1.1 to 1.3 million barrels per day this year and nearly the same in 2026, driven by emerging economies. So they’re essentially playing both sides – funding their AI ambitions with their oil revenues while positioning for the energy transition.
The reality check
Now, becoming the third AI superpower behind the U.S. and China? That’s an incredibly ambitious goal. We’re talking about leapfrogging established tech ecosystems in Europe, Japan, and other regions that have been building their AI capabilities for years.
But think about it – if you’re trying to attract AI companies and build massive data centers, cheap reliable energy is probably your single biggest advantage. The question is whether energy costs alone can overcome other challenges like talent acquisition, regulatory environment, and existing tech infrastructure. Still, when you’ve got virtually unlimited cheap power and massive financial backing, you’ve got to take the bet seriously.
What’s clear is that Saudi Arabia isn’t just dipping its toes in the AI waters – they’re going all in. And they’re using their traditional energy strengths to fund what could become their future economic engine. It’s one of the most fascinating energy-tech convergence stories playing out right now.
