As Saudi Arabia accelerates its ambitions to lead the AI-driven global economy, Humain CEO Tareq Amin is preparing for his first official visit to South Korea — a trip that could mark a turning point in AI diplomacy between the two nations. His visit, anchored around the global startup event COMEUP 2025, reflects how rapidly AI cooperation is evolving from strategic dialogue to tangible infrastructure partnerships.
Industry observers are watching closely as Amin’s meetings in Seoul bring together Korea’s top AI leaders — Naver, SK Telecom, and government ministries — signaling a new phase in the intersection of data, innovation, and investment between Asia and the Middle East.
Saudi’s State-Backed AI Vision Meets Korea’s Deep-Tech Strength
Tareq Amin, who leads Humain, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned AI company funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will visit Korea from December 9 to 11, 2025. This marks the first high-level engagement of Humain in East Asia and is expected to set the tone for broader bilateral collaboration.
Humain has been rapidly expanding its global footprint with major initiatives such as a 500MW AI data center project in partnership with xAI and NVIDIA, announced earlier this month. The company plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s national AI strategy, overseeing generative AI development, computing infrastructure, and sovereign data initiatives.
In Korea, Amin will hold official meetings with Han Seong-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups, and Bae Kyung-hoon, Minister of Science and ICT. Discussions are expected to center on joint AI R&D programs, deep-tech startup cooperation, and bilateral data infrastructure projects.
A government source told local media,
“Saudi Arabia is expanding AI infrastructure investment at an unprecedented global scale. This visit could broaden the technological cooperation horizon between the two nations.”
Tareq Amin’s Private Meetings: Building AI Bridges Across Sectors
Amin’s schedule includes a series of meetings with Korea’s top AI players and investors. He is expected to meet Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon to explore cooperation based on HyperCLOVA X, including potential development of generative AI services tailored to Middle Eastern markets. Naver has been strengthening its presence in the region, aiming to become a major AI platform bridging Asia and the Middle East.
In addition, Amin will meet with SK Telecom’s AI CIC leadership to discuss collaboration on large language model (LLM) development and participation in the company’s global AI alliance initiative.
He will also meet with key venture capital firms such as Korea Venture Investment Corp (KVIC), Atinum Investment, and IMM Investment, focusing on potential pathways for Korean deep-tech and AI startups to expand into Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region.
Amin is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the COMEUP 2025 opening ceremony, outlining Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy, its global collaboration model, and the vision for sovereign AI infrastructure — reinforcing COMEUP’s growing reputation as a global convergence point for innovation diplomacy.
Humain Korea: Expanding the Saudi–Korea AI Connection
According to local reports, Humain is planning to establish a Korean subsidiary, Humain Korea, as part of a long-term strategy to anchor its presence in Northeast Asia. The new entity aims to serve as a base for collaboration with Korean AI startups, data centers, and semiconductor technology firms.
This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader goal to build “sovereign AI” — national-level AI infrastructure that leverages regional partnerships to secure autonomy in computing power and data governance.
An investment industry insider commented,
“The scale of Saudi Arabia’s AI funding is beyond imagination. If Humain Korea is established, it could significantly expand market access for Korean AI and deep-tech startups seeking entry into the Middle East.”
COMEUP 2025: Korea’s Gateway to Global Innovation
Set to ignite Korea’s next venture boom, this year’s COMEUP 2025 is also emerging as a key stage for global innovation diplomacy, bringing together government leaders, investors, and founders from across the world.
Saudi Arabia’s participation through Humain symbolizes the shift of COMEUP from a startup festival to a platform shaping international AI cooperation.
The alignment between Saudi Arabia’s capital-driven expansion and Korea’s technology-driven innovation could open new opportunities for joint R&D, data infrastructure projects, and AI-driven industries spanning both markets.
Humain CEO Tareq Amin’s First Korea Visit: Beyond Deals, Toward Digital Sovereignty
Tareq Amin’s provides a strong signal that the AI race is entering a new geopolitical phase. Korea and Saudi Arabia are not only building technological bridges but testing how innovation can serve as a foundation for global partnerships in data, computing, and ethics.
If both nations succeed in connecting Korea’s technical expertise with Saudi’s capital and strategic ambition, they could establish a new model for responsible AI leadership that balances technological advancement with national sovereignty.
In that sense, COMEUP 2025 may be remembered as the moment when the Saudi–Korea AI partnership began to reshape how nations collaborate in the age of intelligent infrastructure.
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