PIF and Aramco Complete HUMAIN Deal as Saudi Arabia Expands Its AI Business

Aramco's acquisition of a 49% stake brings additional capital, computing assets and industrial experience to HUMAIN, which plans to deploy 3 GW of AI data center capacity by 2030.

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Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Aramco have completed a transaction that brings their artificial intelligence investments and capabilities together under HUMAIN. Aramco has acquired a 49% stake in the company through a wholly owned subsidiary, while PIF retains majority ownership at 51%. Under the agreement, Aramco will contribute approximately SAR 9.9 billion ($2.6 billion) in cash during 2026 and transfer key AI, computing and digital assets to HUMAIN.

Launched in May 2025, HUMAIN is developing a business that covers data centers, high-performance computing infrastructure, cloud platforms, advanced AI models and industry-specific applications. Both shareholders will contribute assets, capabilities and talent as the company expands its operations and works towards serving customers in regional and international markets. Aramco's involvement also brings experience from a major industrial operation, where digital technologies and AI are already being used across the energy business.

Aramco's AI experience and HUMAIN's commercial plans

Aramco has spent several years developing and deploying AI technologies across its operations, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

"The HUMAIN deal is very important to Aramco, building on the company’s long track record of innovation and technology. We are proud of our achieved progress in developing and deploying advanced digital and AI technologies to enhance performance across the oil and gas sectors. Since 2023, Aramco has achieved $11.3 billion in Technology Realized Value, with a significant portion coming from AI solutions. This partnership with PIF strengthens Aramco’s position as a global technology leader and AI powerhouse, while laying the foundation for localizing the AI industry and enabling faster, more integrated, and scalable deployment of AI systems. AI will therefore play a vital role in the future of business. We are delighted to collaborate with PIF to help shape the future of AI regionally and globally." Said Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser

HUMAIN's infrastructure is expected to support Aramco's industrial AI applications, while the energy company's affiliates will also benefit from access to its services as shareholders and strategic partners. The partnership is expected to create opportunities for revenue growth and attractive margins by helping Aramco generate further value from its existing AI and digital assets, while supporting its wider strategy and core energy business.

Aramco's experience across large-scale industrial operations could also help HUMAIN develop applications for businesses with similar requirements. Companies in sectors such as energy often need AI tools that can work with operational data and address specific business challenges. This experience gives HUMAIN a practical reference point as it develops its own solutions, although the company will also need to attract customers beyond Aramco and its affiliates as it expands into regional and international markets.

Data centers, ALLAM and the 2030 target

HUMAIN plans to deploy 3 gigawatts of AI data center capacity by 2030 as demand for computing resources grows across regional and global markets. Its infrastructure business includes next-generation data centers, high-performance computing and cloud platforms, which will support its wider AI services. Building this capacity will require investment in facilities and computing resources, alongside the infrastructure needed to serve customers. Attracting businesses that can make use of this capacity will also be important to the company's plans.

Alongside infrastructure, HUMAIN is developing advanced AI models, including ALLAM, its multimodal Arabic large language model. The company is also working on AI applications and solutions for public- and private-sector organizations. Its operations cover several parts of AI development, from the infrastructure needed to run advanced systems to the models and applications businesses can use. HUMAIN wants to become one of the leading exporters of AI globally, with its technology and services reaching customers beyond Saudi Arabia.

PIF's 2026-2030 strategy provides another part of the context behind the transaction. The fund aims to strengthen integration across economic sectors, expand private-sector opportunities and help Saudi companies become globally competitive.

"Bringing PIF and Aramco’s AI portfolio of investments together under HUMAIN creates a powerful synergy that fuels talent growth, technological advancement, and intellectual property creation. Fully aligned with PIF’s strategic objectives, this transaction accelerates HUMAIN’s growth into a global leader in the sector, strengthening AI as an enabler of PIF’s six ecosystems and further expanding private sector participation across our portfolio while advancing the development of cuttingedge technologies in Saudi Arabia." Said PIF Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments Yazeed A. Al-Humied

Saudi Arabia has been working to develop advanced data and AI technologies while attracting investment and talent. Bringing PIF and Aramco together as HUMAIN's shareholders adds financial resources, existing technology assets and industrial experience to those efforts. The partnership also supports PIF's plans to expand private-sector participation and develop national companies with international reach.

HUMAIN now has a substantial expansion program ahead, supported by PIF's majority ownership and Aramco's investment and technology contributions. Delivering its infrastructure projects, developing AI models and applications, and attracting customers beyond its shareholders will determine how successfully the company can build its business in international markets.

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