Scale AI, the San Francisco-based AI company backed by Amazon, plans to open a new office in Saudi Arabia by the end of 2025 as part of its broader regional expansion into the UAE, a company spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg.
Founded in 2016, Scale AI provides data infrastructure for AI systems, including chatbot development, with major clients such as OpenAI and Microsoft. The company relies on a large network of contractors for data cleaning and labeling.
Scale AI was valued at $13.8 billion in 2023 following a $1 billion funding round that included Amazon, Meta, and other backers. In 2024, it reported $870 million in revenue, and Bloomberg reported it is now in talks for a tender offer that may nearly double its valuation.
Trevor Thompson, global managing director at Scale AI, stated:
“Outside of the US and China, I think this is really the fastest growing region for AI adoption.”
This expansion aligns with Gulf governments’ drive to diversify their economies by heavily investing in technology, AI startups, data centers, and computing infrastructure. Countries like Saudi Arabia are increasingly inviting global tech firms to establish regional hubs and hire local talent.
Scale AI recently signed a five-year agreement with the Government of Qatar to improve digital government services, and announced a partnership with G42’s Inception in the UAE.
