Databricks to Invest $300M in Saudi Arabia

At LEAP 2025, Databricks, the data and AI company, announced a $300 million investment in Saudi Arabia over the next five years. This investment aims to support the Kingdom’s growing digital economy by enabling businesses to integrate data, analytics, and AI through the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. The company is also forming strategic partnerships to upskill Saudi talent in data engineering and AI, reinforcing its commitment to Vision 2030.

Databricks revealed a new training partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, making it the first Databricks-authorized training partner in Saudi Arabia. This initiative will provide dedicated training facilities and certification programs, helping professionals develop advanced data and AI expertise. The announcement follows the opening of Databricks’ Riyadh office in December 2024 and the appointment of Mohammad Alzaubi as General Manager to lead local operations.

During LEAP 2025, Databricks’ Chief Information Officer, Naveen Zutshi, introduced the Data Intelligence Platform, emphasizing its role in democratizing access to data and AI. Built on an open-source foundation, the platform enables businesses to accelerate AI adoption, optimize costs, and reduce risks. It is already being used worldwide to detect diseases like cancer earlier, combat climate change, prevent financial fraud, and advance pharmaceutical research. Zutshi highlighted how the platform can help enterprises in Saudi Arabia bring generative AI solutions to market faster, boosting innovation across industries.

H.E. Haytham Alohali, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, welcomed Databricks’ expansion, stating that its investment and training partnerships will contribute to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s technology ecosystem. Supported by MCIT, the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) has recognized Databricks’ Data Engineer certifications, while the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) will reimburse successful test-takers, further fostering local talent development in data engineering.

With this $300 million investment, strategic training programs, and AI-driven initiatives, Databricks is set to play a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for data and AI innovation.