In a groundbreaking move, Watad Energy and Communications has announced the signing of a joint cooperation agreement with HPC-AI Tech, a global leader in artificial intelligence. This partnership aims to develop the region’s first specialized Arabic large language model (LLM), standing out as one of the most substantial dedicated foundational models in the field. Built with seven billion parameters, the model is trained on comprehensive regional and localized Arabic datasets to ensure high linguistic fidelity and contextual understanding.
Developing an Arabic Solution with Colossal-AI
The agreement encompasses the development of a conversational application akin to ChatGPT, powered by Colossal-AI technology. Model training will utilize cutting-edge enterprise server infrastructure from Supermicro and NVIDIA. These high-performance compute clusters will be hosted at Global Data Hub facilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Anticipated Impact and Strategic Benefits
This milestone marks a significant achievement that directly advances the AI ecosystem across Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and the wider Arab world. Dedicated large language models provide practical, high-accuracy solutions to the linguistic nuances and business challenges unique to our region, supporting organizations that increasingly depend on intelligent automation.
Empowering Arabic Technological Sovereignty
Fostering innovation across regional tech talent remains paramount. This partnership provides substantial momentum for Arab researchers and AI engineers, elevating the region’s profile on the global technology stage and delivering tailored capabilities for local and regional enterprise needs.
Statement from Mohammed Al-Mutairi, Managing Director of Watad
“This agreement to develop a foundational language model marks our first step toward delivering tailored linguistic AI solutions across a spectrum of enterprise use cases. As the region’s premier Arabic-specialized foundational model, Watad is proud to spearhead this effort with strong backing from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). Their sustained support empowers small and medium-sized enterprises to navigate hurdles and drive homegrown innovation.”
Statement from Tarek Al Ashram, CEO of Global Data Hub
“Our facility will deliver resilient hosting infrastructure, specialized data center environments, and high-density compute clusters in Jeddah. We strongly believe in the vital role these emerging technologies play in accelerating the digital economy and contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.” Watad Energy and Communications is a Saudi ICT enterprise specializing in next-generation solutions across cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, industrial automation, and smart city architectures.
