Jordan Partners With Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN to Advance Arabic AI Models

Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence firm HUMAIN. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the LEAP 2026 conference in Riyadh, marks a formal shift in Jordan’s national strategy from being a consumer of artificial intelligence to an active participant in the development of sovereign AI technologies. By aligning with HUMAIN, the Jordanian government aims to bolster its domestic digital economy through targeted investments in infrastructure, talent, and specialized computing capabilities.

The partnership is designed to integrate Jordanian professionals and enterprises into a broader regional ecosystem, specifically focusing on the development of Arabic-language large language models. This collaboration is expected to provide Jordanian entities with access to advanced AI platforms and computing resources, facilitating the deployment of scalable solutions across public and private sectors. The initiative aligns with the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, who has prioritized positioning Jordan as a central hub for technology and innovation within the Middle East.

A central pillar of the agreement is the joint development of advanced AI models tailored for the Arab world. As members of the Arabic AI Models Alliance, Jordan and HUMAIN will collaborate on the expansion of the ALLAM model family. These large language models are specifically engineered to enhance Arabic language processing capabilities, ensuring that AI tools are culturally and linguistically relevant for regional users. By pooling resources and expertise, the partners intend to accelerate the deployment of these models across various sectors, including government services and private industry.

The collaboration emphasizes the importance of sovereign AI, ensuring that data localization and development strategies remain consistent with regional legislative frameworks. By focusing on the ALLAM architecture, the partners aim to create a robust foundation for Arabic-centric AI that can compete with global alternatives. This effort is seen as a critical step in reducing reliance on foreign-developed models that may lack the nuance or linguistic depth required for effective regional application.

Beyond model development, the MoU addresses the critical need for specialized computing infrastructure. The partnership will explore mechanisms to provide Jordanian companies and researchers with access to the high-performance computing resources necessary for training and deploying complex AI systems. This infrastructure support is intended to lower the barrier to entry for local startups, allowing them to innovate without the prohibitive costs typically associated with large-scale AI development.

Eng. Sami Smeirat, Vice Chairman of Jordan’s National Council for Future Technology and Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, highlighted the necessity of this infrastructure in his remarks during the signing ceremony. He emphasized that the government’s role is to facilitate an environment where Jordanian talent can thrive. By securing access to these advanced tools, the Ministry hopes to foster a self-sustaining ecosystem where local companies can build, test, and scale their own AI-driven products for both domestic and international markets.

The agreement places a significant emphasis on the development of local expertise through training, upskilling, and talent exchange programs. Recognizing that the success of any AI strategy depends on a skilled workforce, the partnership will establish fellowships and practical training initiatives designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. These programs are intended to ensure that Jordanian professionals are equipped to lead in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

"This partnership represents an important step in Jordan’s journey from adopting artificial intelligence technologies to actively contributing to their development," said Eng. Sami Smeirat. "Our focus is on investing in talent, supporting practical AI use cases, and ensuring that Jordanian companies and professionals are part of the global ecosystem shaping the future of artificial intelligence." This commitment to human capital is viewed as a long-term investment in the Kingdom’s economic resilience, aiming to create high-value jobs and retain local talent within the country.

In addition to private sector growth, the MoU outlines a roadmap for the integration of AI into government operations. The partnership will identify priority sectors within the public sphere where AI can deliver the most significant impact, such as administrative efficiency, data management, and public service delivery. By developing scalable AI solutions, the government intends to modernize its infrastructure and improve the quality of services provided to its citizens.

This initiative is part of the broader mandate of Jordan’s National Council for Future Technology, which is tasked with translating the Kingdom’s technological ambitions into tangible outcomes. By leveraging the expertise of HUMAIN, the Ministry aims to bypass traditional development hurdles and implement proven AI strategies that have been successful in other regional contexts. The focus remains on creating a cohesive digital economy that can adapt to the demands of the future while maintaining the Kingdom’s unique strategic position.

The implementation of the MoU will be overseen by the National Council for Future Technology, which will coordinate with HUMAIN to launch the initial phases of the collaboration. While specific timelines for the deployment of new computing infrastructure or the launch of new training fellowships were not disclosed, the agreement establishes a framework for ongoing cooperation. The success of this partnership will likely be measured by the number of Jordanian startups that successfully integrate these new AI tools and the progress made in the adoption of the ALLAM model family across government agencies.

As the partnership moves forward, the focus will shift toward identifying specific investment opportunities and finalizing the technical requirements for the shared computing environment. The collaboration serves as a test case for regional cooperation in the AI sector, potentially setting a precedent for similar agreements between other Arab nations. The ability of Jordan and HUMAIN to execute these objectives will be critical in determining whether the Kingdom can achieve its goal of becoming a leading regional hub for artificial intelligence.