Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Qualcomm, through its subsidiary Qualcomm Technologies International , Ltd. , Saudi Aramco, through the Saudi Innovation Accelerator Lab ( aramcoSAIL ), Humain , a Public Investment Fund portfolio company, and the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority ( RDIA ), today announced the names of the startups selected for the second edition of the Designed in Saudi Arabia with Artificial Intelligence ( DISAI 2026) program.

The AI-powered “Designed in Saudi Arabia” program, launched at the LEAP 2025 conference, aims to support startups specializing in deep technologies that design innovative AI-powered solutions in the Kingdom. Building on the success of its first edition, the 2026 cycle of the program attracted over 124 applications from across the Kingdom, reflecting the growing momentum in AI, IoT, and advanced wireless communication technologies within the Kingdom’s national startup ecosystem.

The program provides support to high-potential startups, from the idea stage to commercial marketing, through practical guidance that includes product design and development and the promotion of intellectual property rights protection strategies.

This year, the program expands its technical offerings, enabling startups to design and build prototypes on an expanded range of platforms, including the newly launched Arduino® UNO™ Q and Arduino VENTUNO™ Q platforms, as well as leveraging Qualcomm AI accelerators such as the AIC200 and AI industrial gateway platforms.

Participating startups will have the opportunity to benefit from Qualcomm Technologies’ technical guidance and intellectual property mentoring, along with industry expertise from the Saudi Accelerated Innovation Lab and strategic guidance from the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, supporting product readiness, commercialization pathways and the development of the rapidly growing technology ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.

The Designed in Saudi Arabia with Artificial Intelligence (DISAI 2026) program can be joined after fulfilling the requirements and conditions, including local registration for selected startups .

The 2026 edition features the program's collaboration with Humane, a leading national AI company in the Kingdom, to enhance access to AI infrastructure and development resources. This may include cloud computing credits, hosting larger models on Humane's infrastructure, and facilitating access to accelerated AI support and accompanying technical support .

The list of selected startups included :

• Circula is a Saudi startup that provides an AI-powered circular economy platform to automate industrial waste recovery and promote environmental compliance .
• Deqa AI   A Saudi startup launches an enterprise automation platform that facilitates AI-powered decision-making to enhance operational efficiency .
• Digital Petroleum   A Saudi startup has developed a centralized, AI-powered, peripheral industrial sensor that replaces multiple traditional sensors and simplifies digitization within the framework of Industry 4.0 .
• Electronic Photonics is a Saudi startup that provides a digital traffic twin powered by LiDAR and AI technologies for smart intersections and mobility analytics .
• Finix Systems   A Saudi startup offers a standardized terminal controller for the Industrial Internet of Things to upgrade legacy equipment and enable smart monitoring .
• Nommas.ai is a Saudi startup that has developed a smart manufacturing brain that enables quality inspection, proactive maintenance, and enhanced safety at the terminal level .
• SDM is a Saudi startup that provides an AI-powered platform to support early detection and analysis of medical imaging .
• Tawkeed is a Saudi startup that provides a local artificial intelligence platform for on-site document processing, primarily in Arabic, while taking into account Saudi data sovereignty requirements .
• Crosscal is a French startup offering powerful AIoT tracking devices for 450MHz industrial networks and worker safety networks .
• Dexabot is a Canadian startup specializing in industrial security and surveillance using drones and drone fleets .

On this occasion, Aramco's Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation, Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, said: "The Designed in Saudi Arabia AI (DISAI 2026) program embodies the extent of collaboration and attention that Aramco, in partnership with Qualcomm and the Saudi Research, Development and Innovation Authority (SRI), is giving to creating an integrated environment that drives innovation and advanced AI technologies in the Kingdom. We are delighted to graduate the first cohort of this program in 2025, and we welcome Humine to the second edition of this program as a national leader in this field. The program reflects our efforts to support and empower outstanding and technologically advanced startups, with a focus on attracting global startups and innovators from around the world to work on enabling technological solutions that address real challenges in the fields of AI tailored to the manufacturing sector, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced communications, building a sustainable and globally competitive future."

In the same context, Wassim Shurbaji, President of Qualcomm Middle East and Africa and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said: “Saudi Arabia is building one of the most ambitious deep-tech ecosystems in the world, and we are proud to support this direction through the AI-designed program in Saudi Arabia, now in its second year. As the Kingdom confidently moves forward in achieving the goals of Vision 2030 and declares 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence, these strategic initiatives play a pivotal role in translating national ambitions into tangible innovations. For our part, in collaboration with Saudi Aramco, Humane, and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, we support innovators on their journey to transform pioneering ideas into practical applications on the ground, combining world-class engineering, high-quality edge AI platforms, advanced data centers, and promising pathways to commercialization.”

Qualcomm's Vice President of Engineering, Sudipto Roy, said: "We welcome Saudi startups to the DISAI 2026 AI-driven Saudi Arabia program and hope that the AI solutions this group will develop will enhance privacy and increasingly support multimedia, indicating a new level of technological maturity and enabling seamless redesign of business ecosystems across various sectors. Intellectual property remains a key pillar for enhancing long-term value, and we are pleased to see the strong momentum in this area, supported by advanced IP training programs available in Arabic through L2ProSaudiArabia.com."

For his part, Dr. Yasser Al-Anizan, Executive Vice President and Head of Data and AI Models at Humane, said: “This program reflects our close collaboration with Saudi Aramco, Qualcomm, and the Saudi Research, Development and Innovation Authority as key strategic partners in the innovation ecosystem. The Designed in Saudi Arabia AI (DISAI 2026) program contributes to supporting the development of globally competitive technologies by enabling startups to design and deploy advanced AI solutions with a local footprint. Strengthening partnerships between global technology leaders and emerging entrepreneurs is essential to unlocking the region’s full potential in AI and deep technologies.”

For his part, Dr. Yazid Al-Askar, Deputy Governor for Innovation Ecosystem Development at the Saudi Research, Development and Innovation Authority (SRDA), said: “The Designed in Saudi Arabia with AI (DISAI 2026) program reflects the excellence of Saudi talent and the impact of strategic partnerships in developing innovation, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. The program also reflects the Kingdom’s leadership in enabling AI-powered solutions that address real-world challenges in priority sectors, from industry and energy to healthcare and sustainability. Furthermore, the program highlights the importance of building integrated capabilities, starting from the initial idea and design stage and progressing to prototyping and commercialization, within a comprehensive and collaborative support system. At SRDA, we remain committed to empowering startups to scale advanced technologies and transform them into high-impact, globally competitive solutions, while enhancing national capabilities, transferring knowledge, and building a sustainable, innovation-driven economy in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

This iteration of the program will run until November 2026, culminating in a closing event where startups will showcase their prototypes and services. Throughout the program, participants will receive expert mentorship from Qualcomm and Saudi Aramco, access to technological platforms and tools, training in entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and patents, as well as networking opportunities with potential investors and industry partners .

Concurrently with this program, Qualcomm launched a free online educational program available on the L2ProSaudiArabia.com platform to equip startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and researchers with the skills necessary to protect and monetize intellectual property rights. The program aims to enhance intellectual property awareness and practical knowledge to boost economic value and support the national innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia .

-I finish-

#Company Data

Disclaimer regarding the content of press releases
The content of this press release is provided by a third-party provider. We do not assume any responsibility for, nor do we have any control over, such content. This content is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis and is not edited in any way. Neither we, nor our affiliates, will be liable for the accuracy, endorsement, or completeness of any opinions, views, information, or materials contained in this content.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only; the content does not constitute legal, investment, or tax advice, nor does it offer any opinion on the suitability, value, or profitability of any particular portfolio or investment strategy. Neither we nor our affiliates will be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions you take based on that content. You expressly agree and acknowledge full responsibility for your use of the information contained in this press release.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Refinitiv, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, relevant shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors (collectively, the 'Refinitiv Parties') shall not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages; This includes, but is not limited to, losses of profits, savings, or revenues, whether due to negligence, tort, contract, or other theories of liability, even if the parties to Refinitiv were advised of the possibility of any such damages or losses occurring or actually anticipated them.