Somalia and Saudi Arabia Collaborate to Advance AI and Space Technology

On September 4, 2025, Somalia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established a collaboration framework to strengthen cooperation in the regulation and development of Artificial Intelligence(AI) and space technologies. The agreement was established during discussions between the Director-General of Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA), Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, and the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Haitham Alohaly.

The meeting took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-25). Key topics included the development of regulatory frameworks, establishing shared standards, and enabling collaboration in infrastructure for emerging technologies. The agreement seeks to develop a cooperative framework for the regulation of AI and space technology sectors that are rapidly growing in developing economies.

Collaboration Areas

Through this partnership, Somalia and Saudi Arabia will collaborate on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the formulation of policies that promote innovation while safeguarding the responsible application of emerging technologies. Central to the initiative is the creation of regulatory systems to guide the advancement of AI and space projects in ways that deliver societal benefits and mitigate potential risks. Officials also indicated that the two sides will consider opportunities for infrastructure sharing and broader digital cooperation, with the aim of accelerating technological progress in both countries.