Sovereign Data

Saudi Arabia is pursuing “data embassies”—foreign‑located data centers that remain under Saudi law—to secure AI compute capacity while retaining jurisdiction, following Estonia’s 2017 model. The plan, outlined in a draft Global AI Hub Law, aims to make the kingdom a cost‑effective, data‑export hub despite water‑scarcity and reliance on fossil‑fuel electricity, raising ESG concerns. Bilateral treaties will be needed, but no universal legal framework exists. Experts warn that legal, technical and geopolitical challenges could hinder the model’s mainstream adoption.