RIYADH: As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepares for his official visit to the White House on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the US technology landscape is taking center stage.

The Kingdom is increasingly influencing innovation not through traditional oil and energy deals, but via strategic investments in cutting-edge companies like Lucid Motors, Uber and a growing roster of artificial intelligence startups.

At the heart of this trend is the Public Investment Fund, whose capital and strategic vision are driving innovation, job creation and knowledge exchange across continents.

A prime example is Lucid Motors, the luxury electric vehicle manufacturer that has become a flagship for Saudi–US collaboration.

With PIF support, Lucid has established its first international manufacturing plant in King Abdullah Economic City, reflecting a deep commitment to expanding both production and consumer adoption in the region.

Faisal Sultan, president of Middle East operations for Lucid Motors, talked to Arab News about the transformative impact of these initiatives.

“Look, a lot of progress has already been made since the last two years with the formation of EVIC, the electric vehicle infrastructure company from PIF,” he said.

“We are collaborating closely to identify where consumers live and where infrastructure is needed. While Lucid provides home-charging solutions, EVIC is leading public infrastructure development. Private companies are joining in as well, which means consumers will have many options in the next two to three years.”

Sultan detailed Lucid’s efforts to make EV adoption seamless, including installing 22-kilowatt AC chargers in hotels such as the Four Seasons, Hilton and Shangri-La in Jeddah, as well as several public parking lots.

“They’re free to use, and any EV can attach to them. This is going to solve a lot of issues and encourage adoption,” he said.

The company’s presence was also on prominent display at the recent Riyadh EV AutoShow, where its latest models on show included the Gravity seven-seater SUV.

The event highlighted Saudi Arabia’s push to embrace electric mobility and strengthen the local ecosystem for EV infrastructure, signaling that the kingdom is serious about leading the transition to clean energy transportation.

Among the participants at the recent Biban 2025 entrepreneurship forum in Riyadh was AgerPoint, a US technology company specializing in AI and data solutions for agriculture and natural asset management.

CEO Kevin Lang described it as “an exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia” and told Arab News: “We think it’s really important to be at Biban. It’s our first time in the Kingdom, and it’s such an exciting moment to contribute to Vision 2030 goals — especially around food security and the management of critical resources like water.”

Lang added that the forum’s collaborative atmosphere offered valuable opportunities to meet entrepreneurs, government representatives and investors eager to implement technology-driven solutions.

“If we can find proof-of-concept or pilot projects that allow us to showcase what we can do, we can evolve our technology alongside the challenges being addressed here in Saudi Arabia and across the Arabian Peninsula,” he said.

These developments align with the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims for 30 percent of new car sales in the kingdom to be electric vehicles.

“Riyadh is taking the lead, but other cities will follow,” Sultan said. Lucid is already selling thousands of vehicles in Saudi Arabia, and the Riyadh EV AutoShow provided a tangible demonstration of how Saudi investments are accelerating consumer interest in EVs.

Beyond vehicles and AI solutions, Saudi investment in US technology signals a broader shift in bilateral relations — from traditional trade toward high-tech collaboration.

As Sultan noted, Lucid’s growth is just the beginning: “We’re not going to be the only player in the market. But with ongoing innovation and collaboration, both Saudi Arabia and the US are benefiting from a robust, forward-looking partnership in technology.”

The story of Lucid Motors, AgerPoint, and other US tech companies illustrates a larger trend: Saudi capital is no longer just fueling energy projects abroad; it is powering the next generation of global technology, setting the stage for deeper economic and technological ties ahead of the Crown Prince’s White House visit.