$4 billion Adobe investment expands Saudi AI access for 27 million citizens
Adobe launched a $4 billion program in Saudi Arabia to provide free AI creative tools to over 27 million residents, featuring a locally developed model.
Adobe announced at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh a partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and state-backed company HUMAIN. The initiative provides more than 27 million eligible citizens and residents with annual access to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features, valued at over $4 billion. Access begins by the end of 2026 for users aged 13 and above. A key component is HUMAIN Image 1, a jointly developed image-generation model within the Adobe Firefly Foundry framework specifically tuned for Saudi cultural context and Arabic-language prompts. This system reflects local visual references alongside Modern Standard Arabic right-to-left support across desktop, web, and iOS platforms including typography, text editing, and interface controls. Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Alswaha stated the goal is to broaden access to advanced AI tools.
