• 亿邦公众号
    • APP下载

中东土豪 扫货AI

作者:王满华 文章来源:投中网

2026-09-20 08:32

作者:王满华 文章来源:投中网

2026-09-20 08:32

邦小白快读

EN
全文速览

这篇文章核心披露了中东国家以主权资本为核心大举押注AI产业、将中国作为重要合作方的行业新动态,能帮普通读者快速看懂这波中东AI投资潮的本质、关键信息与潜在机会。

1. 事件本质:中东集体布局AI是摆脱石油依赖的国运级转型,并非短期炒作,从沙特“2030愿景”开始,多国都将AI列为后石油时代的经济底盘,设定了明确的GDP贡献目标。

2. 核心标志性事实:沙特王储亲自挂帅的国家级AI公司HUMAIN,推出的沙特历史上首个阿拉伯语大模型,底座采用中国企业MiniMax的开源旗舰模型,侧面印证中国大模型技术已成为部分国家构建本土AI能力的重要选项。

3. 关键数据与参考方向:2025年海湾国家主权基金的AI投资占全球主权基金同类投资的43%,2026年单笔投资已达数十亿美元级,覆盖全AI产业链;中东发展AI存在本土研发能力弱、供应链不全、应用方案不足的短板,与中国AI产业互补性强,相关从业者可重点关注中东方向的机会。

这篇文章披露的中东举全国之力押注AI转型、深度联动中国AI产业的趋势,能为科技类、数字化服务类品牌商布局中东市场、迭代产品、搭建本地化渠道提供重要参考。

1. 明确的区域市场趋势:中东多国将AI作为后石油时代的核心经济抓手,沙特提出2030年AI贡献12%以上GDP,阿联酋提出2031年AI贡献40%GDP,区域内政务、金融、能源、医疗、教育等领域的AI化、数字化需求集中爆发,是确定性极高的高增长赛道。

2. 产品研发的本地化方向:中东本土AI大模型研发成本高、周期长,当前其国家级大模型已采用中国开源模型做底座,品牌研发面向中东市场的AI相关产品时,可结合本地阿拉伯语特征、文化习俗、行业数据做本地化适配,大幅降低研发门槛。

3. 品牌建设与渠道搭建路径:中东主权资本不仅直投中国AI企业,还可通过合资方式为合作方提供本地政府关系、土地储备、项目入口等资源,比如阿布扎比资本集团就与小库科技签署合资协议对接本地项目,品牌可通过这类合作快速建立本地信任。

这篇文章清晰呈现了中东AI市场的爆发性增长机会、多元合作路径与潜在风险,是AI相关产品、服务卖家开拓增量市场的重要决策参考。

1. 高确定性的增长市场信号:2025年海湾主权基金的AI投资占全球主权基金同类投资的43%,2026年单笔合作金额已达数十亿美元级,中东从算力基建、大模型研发到AI应用、机器人落地的全产业链都有旺盛的采购与合作需求;其中沙特阿美旗下基金2024年投资智谱的2.13亿元,目前浮盈已近35亿元,印证中东资本布局的实际回报,后续投入确定性极强,是当前全球少有的高投入、低内卷的AI增量市场。

2. 可直接落地的合作方式:卖家可选择三类路径切入,一是输出模型技术与适配服务,比如MiniMax靠开源模型成为沙特国家级大模型的技术底座;二是对接中东主权基金的直投、合资渠道,获取本地政府关系、项目入口等资源支持;三是对接中东资本与国内VC合作的联合投资平台,获得资本与场景对接机会。

3. 必要的风险提示:中东发展AI面临芯片获取受地缘政治掣肘、本地人才储备不足、数据中心冷却耗水量大等问题,卖家落地时需提前评估配套风险,优先选择有本地政府或资本背书的项目合作。

这篇文章披露的中东AI全产业链布局计划,为国内AI硬件、算力配套、机器人相关生产工厂指明了新的订单方向与数字化转型参考。

1. 清晰的产品生产与设计需求:中东正大规模推进AI算力基建,当地太阳能发电成本不到1美分/千瓦时,工业电价仅为英国的1/5到1/7,且沙漠广阔、区位联通亚非欧,非常适合建设超大规模数据中心,需要大量服务器、液冷设备、光模块、储能、光伏供电等配套产品,同时AI场景拓展也带来具身智能、服务机器人的采购需求。

2. 确定性的商业机会:中东本土没有完整的算力基建供应链,中国是全球相关供应链最完善的国家,工厂可针对性开发适配中东高温、少水环境的节能型算力配套产品,以及适配阿拉伯语使用场景的机器人产品,对接中东国家级AI基建项目的大额订单。

3. 务实的转型启示:中东资本已广泛投资中国AI上下游企业,工厂可借力中东资本的资金与场景支持,推进自身生产环节的AI化、数字化改造,同时借中东的区位优势辐射亚非欧广阔市场。

这篇文章拆解了中东AI产业的布局节奏、现存短板与中国产业的互补空间,为To B、To G类AI服务商提供了清晰的业务拓展方向与客户痛点参考。

1. 明确的行业发展趋势:中东多国以主权基金为核心,已完成AI全价值链的布局卡位,从底层算力中心搭建、AI基金平台设立到全球头部模型公司股权投资实现全覆盖,未来3到5年将进入AI场景落地的高峰期,政务、能源、金融、医疗、教育领域的服务需求将集中释放。

2. 清晰的核心客户痛点:中东本地发展AI存在三方面明显短板,一是自研大模型成本高、周期长,缺乏适配阿拉伯语与本地文化的成熟模型能力;二是算力基建虽有资金、电力、土地优势,但缺乏成熟的建设、运维解决方案,还面临数据中心冷却耗水、芯片获取受限等问题;三是本地AI人才储备不足,缺乏成熟的应用落地团队。

3. 可落地的解决方案方向:服务商可针对性输出三类服务,一是基于中国开源大模型提供本地化训练、适配服务,二是输出节水型算力中心建设运维、配套供应链整合服务,三是提供AI场景落地的联合运营、人才培养服务,可通过对接中东本地投资机构快速获客。

这篇文章呈现的中东资本联动中国AI产业的趋势,为各类科创服务平台、跨境合作平台、AI产业平台的业务布局、招商运营、风险防控提供了明确参考。

1. 清晰的多边市场需求:当前中东AI产业处于快速扩张期,一方面有对接中国AI模型、算力供应链、应用企业的采购与合作需求,另一方面中东主权资本、产业资本有对接中国优质AI初创项目的投资需求,同时中国AI企业也有借中东资本、场景落地海湾市场的诉求,平台可成为三方对接的核心枢纽。

2. 可落地的运营与招商方向:平台可重点招引三类主体入驻,一是大模型、算力配套、机器人领域的中国AI企业,二是中东主权基金、产业投资机构,三是有中东本地资源的合资服务主体;可参考卡塔尔Rawdat Capital和创新工场的合作模式,推出联合投资、项目优先跟投、联合孵化等服务,也可对接中东国家级AI项目的采购需求,为入驻企业提供订单支持。

3. 明确的风向规避提示:平台在对接相关合作时,需注意地缘政治对芯片等敏感技术流通的限制,重点推动模型本地化适配、算力基建供应链、民用AI应用等合规领域的合作,规避敏感领域的政策风险。

这篇文章详实记录了海湾国家以主权资本为核心集体押注AI产业的新动向,为AI产业全球化、后发国家数字转型相关研究提供了丰富的事实素材与研究切入点。

1. 核心产业新动向:传统依赖石油经济的海湾国家正将AI作为后石油时代的核心转型抓手,2025年海湾主权基金的AI投资占全球主权基金同类投资的43%,形成了差异化布局路径:沙特、阿联酋以数百亿美元级基金直投全球头部AI企业、搭建本土算力与模型体系,卡塔尔、科威特等国通过LP出资卡位细分赛道,整体已覆盖AI全价值链;中国AI企业已成为中东本土AI能力建设的重要供给方,沙特首个国家级阿拉伯语大模型就采用中国MiniMax的开源模型作为底座。

2. 值得研究的新问题:海湾国家几乎无制造业基础、错过互联网浪潮,却凭借资金、能源、区位优势试图切入AI产业高地,其面临的人才不足、芯片受限、耗水约束等短板,以及中国与中东在模型、算力供应链、应用场景的互补合作模式,为后发国家产业跃迁、全球AI分工研究提供了新样本。

3. 相关启示参考:中东主权资本“直投+LP+合资”的多层投资模式、依托低成本能源卡位算力赛道的竞争逻辑,为国内AI产业政策制定、中国企业全球化布局提供了有价值的参考。

声明:快读内容全程由AI生成,请注意甄别信息。如您发现问题,请发送邮件至 run@ebrun.com 。

我是 品牌商 卖家 工厂 服务商 平台商 研究者 帮我再读一遍。

Quick Summary

This article unpacks the emerging industry trend of Middle Eastern countries making large-scale, sovereign capital-led bets on AI, with China positioned as a core cooperation partner, to help general readers quickly grasp the nature, key details, and potential opportunities of this regional AI investment wave.

1. Core nature of the trend: The collective AI push across the Middle East is a national-level transformation to reduce oil dependence, rather than short-term hype. Starting with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, multiple countries in the region have designated AI as the economic foundation of the post-oil era, with set, explicit targets for AI’s contribution to GDP.

2. Key landmark development: HUMAIN, the Saudi national AI company chaired directly by the Crown Prince, launched the country’s first Arabic large language model (LLM), which is built on the open-source flagship model of Chinese firm MiniMax. This development serves as tangible evidence that Chinese LLM technology has become a critical option for countries building domestic AI capabilities.

3. Key data and opportunity signals: In 2025, AI investments by Gulf sovereign wealth funds accounted for 43% of all sovereign fund AI investments globally; by 2026, single deals in the region have reached multi-billion-dollar levels, covering the entire AI industry chain. The Middle East faces structural gaps in domestic R&D capacity, complete supply chains, and tailored application solutions, creating strong complementarity with China’s AI sector. Relevant industry practitioners are advised to prioritize opportunity tracking in the Middle Eastern market.

This article outlines the trend of Middle Eastern countries devoting national-level resources to AI transformation and forging deep ties with China’s AI industry, providing critical strategic reference for technology and digital service brands looking to enter the Middle Eastern market, iterate products, and build localized distribution channels.

1. Clear regional market trajectory: Multiple Middle Eastern countries have positioned AI as a core economic growth driver in the post-oil era. Saudi Arabia targets AI contributing over 12% of its GDP by 2030, while the UAE sets a target of 40% AI contribution to GDP by 2031. Concentrated demand for AI and digital transformation is surging across sectors including government services, finance, energy, healthcare, and education, making the region a high-certainty, high-growth market.

2. Localization direction for product R&D: Domestic LLM development in the Middle East is constrained by high costs and long development cycles. As evidenced by the national Saudi LLM adopting a Chinese open-source model as its base, brands developing AI products for the Middle East can significantly lower R&D barriers by building on Chinese open-source models and conducting localized adaptation aligned with Arabic linguistic features, local cultural norms, and industry-specific data.

3. Brand building and channel development pathways: Middle Eastern sovereign capital not only makes direct investments in Chinese AI firms, but also provides partners with access to local government relations, land reserves, and project pipelines via joint ventures. For example, Abu Dhabi Capital Group signed a joint venture agreement with Xiaoku Technology to connect the firm to local projects. Brands can leverage such partnerships to rapidly build local trust and market presence.

This article clearly maps the explosive growth opportunities, viable cooperation pathways, and potential risks of the Middle Eastern AI market, serving as a key decision-making reference for sellers of AI-related products and services seeking new incremental markets.

1. High-certainty growth market signals: In 2025, Gulf sovereign wealth funds accounted for 43% of global sovereign fund AI investment, and by 2026, single cooperation deals in the region have reached multi-billion-dollar levels. Robust procurement and partnership demand spans the full AI industry chain, from computing infrastructure and LLM R&D to AI applications and robotics deployment. For context, the 213 million RMB investment Saudi Aramco’s fund made in Zhipu AI in 2024 has generated nearly 3.5 billion RMB in unrealized gains, validating the tangible returns of Middle Eastern capital’s AI bets. The strong certainty of follow-on investment makes the region one of the few high-investment, low-competition incremental AI markets globally.

2. Actionable market entry pathways: Sellers can pursue three core entry routes: first, exporting model technology and adaptation services, as exemplified by MiniMax becoming the technical base for Saudi Arabia’s national LLM via its open-source model; second, connecting with direct investment and joint venture channels of Middle Eastern sovereign funds to access resources including local government connections and project entry points; third, partnering with joint investment platforms set up by Middle Eastern capital and domestic Chinese VCs to access capital and scenario-matching opportunities.

3. Critical risk considerations: Middle Eastern AI development faces constraints including geopolitical restrictions on chip access, insufficient local talent pools, and high water consumption for data center cooling. Sellers should conduct pre-entry risk assessments for supporting conditions, and prioritize cooperation on projects backed by local government or capital partners.

This article’s disclosure of the Middle East’s full AI industry chain layout plans points to new order streams and digital transformation references for domestic Chinese manufacturers of AI hardware, computing infrastructure components, and robotics.

1. Clear product manufacturing and design demand: The Middle East is rolling out large-scale AI computing infrastructure buildout. Local solar power costs are below 1 cent per kWh, industrial electricity prices are just one-fifth to one-seventh of those in the UK, and the region’s vast desert landmass and geographic connectivity linking Asia, Africa, and Europe make it highly suitable for hyperscale data center construction. This creates demand for large volumes of servers, liquid cooling equipment, optical modules, energy storage systems, photovoltaic power supply products, and other supporting components. Expansion of AI application scenarios is also driving procurement demand for embodied intelligence and service robots.

2. Certain commercial opportunities: The Middle East lacks a complete domestic supply chain for computing infrastructure, while China holds the world’s most mature supply chain for relevant products. Manufacturers can develop energy-efficient computing infrastructure products adapted to the Middle East’s high-temperature, water-scarce environment, as well as robot products tailored for Arabic-language use cases, to target large-value orders from national-level Middle Eastern AI infrastructure projects.

3. Practical transformation insights: Middle Eastern capital has made widespread investments across China’s upstream and downstream AI ecosystem. Manufacturers can leverage the funding and scenario support from Middle Eastern capital to advance AI-enabled and digital upgrades of their own production processes, while using the region’s geographic advantages to expand reach across the broader Asian, African, and European markets.

This article breaks down the rollout pace of Middle Eastern AI industry development, existing structural gaps, and areas of complementarity with China’s AI sector, providing clear business expansion directions and client pain point references for B2B and B2G AI service providers.

1. Defined industry development trajectory: Centered on sovereign wealth funds, multiple Middle Eastern countries have already secured positions across the full AI value chain, covering underlying computing center construction, AI fund platform establishment, and equity investments in global leading model firms. The next three to five years will see a peak period of AI scenario deployment, with concentrated demand for services across government, energy, finance, healthcare, and education sectors.

2. Core client pain points: Middle Eastern AI development faces three prominent gaps: first, high costs and long cycles for in-house LLM development, with a lack of mature model capabilities adapted to the Arabic language and local culture; second, despite advantages in capital, power, and land for computing infrastructure, there is a shortage of mature construction and operation and maintenance (O&M) solutions, alongside challenges including high water consumption for data center cooling and restricted chip access; third, insufficient local AI talent reserves and a lack of mature teams for application deployment.

3. Actionable solution directions: Service providers can target three core service offerings: first, localized model training and adaptation services built on Chinese open-source LLMs; second, water-efficient computing center construction and O&M services, plus supporting supply chain integration; third, joint operation and talent training services for AI scenario deployment. Providers can accelerate client acquisition by partnering with local Middle Eastern investment institutions.

The trend of Middle Eastern capital forging links with China’s AI industry outlined in this article provides clear references for various sci-tech innovation service platforms, cross-border cooperation platforms, and AI industry platforms in terms of business layout, investment attraction and operation, and risk mitigation.

1. Clear multi-stakeholder market demand: The Middle Eastern AI industry is currently in a rapid expansion phase. On one side, there is procurement and cooperation demand to connect with Chinese AI model firms, computing supply chains, and application enterprises. On the other, Middle Eastern sovereign and industrial capital seeks investment access to high-quality Chinese AI startups, while Chinese AI firms aim to enter Gulf markets via Middle Eastern capital and local deployment scenarios. Platforms can position themselves as the core hub connecting these three groups.

2. Actionable operation and investment attraction directions: Platforms can prioritize onboarding three categories of stakeholders: first, Chinese AI enterprises operating in LLMs, computing infrastructure components, and robotics; second, Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and industrial investment institutions; third, joint venture service entities with local Middle Eastern resources. Platforms can reference the cooperation model between Qatar’s Rawdat Capital and Sinovation Ventures to launch services including co-investment, priority co-investment rights for projects, and joint incubation, while also connecting onboarding enterprises to procurement demand for national-level Middle Eastern AI projects to provide order support.

3. Clear risk avoidance guidance: When facilitating relevant cooperation, platforms should account for geopolitical restrictions on the flow of sensitive technologies such as chips, prioritize cooperation in compliant areas including localized model adaptation, computing infrastructure supply chains, and civilian AI applications, and mitigate policy risks associated with sensitive sectors.

This article provides a detailed account of the new trend of Gulf countries making collective, sovereign capital-led bets on the AI industry, offering rich empirical material and research entry points for studies on AI globalization and digital transformation in latecomer economies.

1. Core industry developments: Gulf states traditionally dependent on oil economies are positioning AI as the core driver of post-oil transformation. In 2025, AI investments by Gulf sovereign wealth funds accounted for 43% of global sovereign fund AI investment, with a differentiated layout approach: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are deploying tens of billions of dollars in funds to make direct investments in leading global AI firms and build domestic computing and model systems, while countries such as Qatar and Kuwait are taking LP positions to gain exposure to niche segments, collectively covering the full AI value chain. Chinese AI firms have become a key supply source for the Middle East’s domestic AI capacity building, as seen in Saudi Arabia’s first national Arabic LLM adopting Chinese firm MiniMax’s open-source model as its technical base.

2. Emerging research questions: Gulf states have almost no manufacturing base and missed the internet wave, yet are attempting to move into high-value AI industry segments leveraging their capital, energy, and geographic advantages. Their structural constraints including talent shortages, chip access restrictions, and water consumption limits, alongside the complementary cooperation model between China and the Middle East across models, computing supply chains, and application scenarios, provide a new case sample for research on latecomer economy industrial leapfrogging and the global AI division of labor.

3. Relevant policy and strategic insights: The multi-layered investment model of Middle Eastern sovereign capital, combining direct investment, LP commitments, and joint ventures, as well as its competitive logic of securing a position in the computing sector via low-cost energy, provides valuable reference for domestic AI industry policy formulation and global expansion strategies for Chinese enterprises.

Disclaimer: The "Quick Summary" content is entirely generated by AI. Please exercise discretion when interpreting the information. For issues or corrections, please email run@ebrun.com .

I am a Brand Seller Factory Service Provider Marketplace Seller Researcher Read it again.

新能源之后,来自中东的资金又将目光投向了AI。

MiniMax又火了一把,起因是沙特阿拉伯发布的一个大模型。

近日,沙特公共投资基金(PIF)旗下AI公司HUMAIN正式推出了大语言模型HUMAIN M3,这是沙特历史上第一个阿拉伯语大模型,而HUMAIN的董事长,正是沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼。

不过,该模型真正引发国内关注,是官方随后披露的一个细节:HUMAIN M3的底座,是MiniMax在2026年6月发布并开源的那款旗舰模型MiniMax M3。

一个主权基金出资、王储亲自挂帅的国家级AI项目,底座却是来自中国的大模型公司,这事儿听起来多少有点黑色幽默,却也侧面说明中国大模型正在成为一些国家构建本土AI能力时绕不开的技术选项。

抛开这层戏剧性,过去两年中东地区在AI上的投入的确是实打实的。最典型的仍是PIF,这个管理规模约1万亿美元的主权基金,早在2024年就计划创建一支规模约400亿美元的AI基金。此外,阿布扎比的MGX刚刚以490亿美元关账了有史以来最大的AI专项基金;卡塔尔投资局则与Brookfield组建了200亿美元的AI基础设施合资基金……从利雅得到阿布扎比再到多哈,整个海湾都在往同一个方向下注。

中国无疑是这轮“扫货”里绕不开的一站。随便翻开智谱、MiniMax、地瓜机器人、千寻智能等AI公司的资方列表,都能看到中东资本的身影。其中,沙特阿美旗下Prosperity7基金对智谱的2.13亿元投资,按如今3608亿港元的市值计算,对应价值已经达到43亿港元(折合人民币约37亿元),相当于本金的17倍上下。

新能源之后,来自中东的资金又将目光投向了AI。

从算力到模型:中东把AI全栈投了一遍

中东押注AI的决心有多强?一组数据可以说明——据主权财富基金研究机构Global SWF今年1月发布的年度报告,去年全年,全球主权财富基金向人工智能及数字基础设施的投入约为660亿美元。其中,以沙特、阿联酋、科威特、卡塔尔等作为绝对主力的海湾基金,投资占比高达43%。

进入2026年,中东资本的动作明显又上了一个台阶——单笔投资金额开始以数十亿美元起跳。

沙特无疑是这个量级跃升的主要推手。2026年1月达沃斯论坛期间,HUMAIN与沙特国家基础设施基金(Infra)签署了高达12亿美元的战略融资框架协议,用于扩建沙特境内的人工智能及数字基础设施;2月,HUMAIN宣布参与xAI的E轮投资,金额达30亿美元,成为后者的重要少数股东。

最新的注脚发生本月初的第五届LEAP大会期间,HUMAIN又宣布达成了超过150亿美元的项目合作协议,其业务渗透到整个技术栈的各个层面,从电力和数据中心到模型和硬件。

阿布扎比的AI专项基金MGX,出手节奏同样密集。1月,其参投了马斯克旗下xAI的E轮融资;2月,又领投了Anthropic的300亿美元融资;3月,领投了OpenAI一笔1220亿美元的融资;紧接着5月,又出现在Anthropic估值9650亿美元的650亿美元融资轮中。至此,这家2024年才成立的机构,已成为全球极少数同时持有OpenAI、Anthropic和xAI三家AI巨头股份的机构。

值得一提的是,凭借手中持有的优质AI资产组合,MGX也赢得了投资者的信任票。7月1日,MGX首期基金以490亿美元关账,超过450亿美元的原定目标,成为有史以来最大的AI专项基金。

沙特和阿联酋之外,其余海湾国家出资体量相对较小,虽然没有“扫货”能力,却各自卡住了一个生态位。

比如卡塔尔投资局(QIA)在去年底成立了国家AI公司Qai,并随后与布鲁克菲尔德签下200亿美元的合资平台,专注AI基础设施;科威特投资局则是通过做LP投资邻国的AI基金完成布局:它既是布鲁克菲尔德AI基金的出资方,也是AI Infrastructure Partners的出资方之一——这个由MGX、贝莱德、GIP与微软等共同参与的平台,目标募集300亿美元投向数据中心和AI算力。

总结而言,这些国家的路径不同,但把动作叠在一起恰好构成了一条完整的AI价值链——从底层的算力与数据中心搭建,到成立AI公司与基金平台,再到拿下模型公司股权,牌桌上该有的位置,中东基本都占齐了。

智谱、MiniMax背后的“中东买家”

在中东资本的“扫货”名单上,中国同样是绕不开的一站,而入股AI企业,正是它们进入中国最直接的方式。

其中最典型的当属石油巨头沙特阿美旗下的基金Prosperity7。

2024年中,Prosperity7领投了智谱的C轮融资,投后估值约30亿美元,公司由此成为当时国内估值率先突破200亿元人民币的大模型独角兽,也是中国大模型公司拿下的第一笔中东资本投资。

随着智谱成功登陆二级市场,这笔投资也迎来了收获期。招股书显示,Prosperity7当时实际出资额为2.13亿元,持股约1.2%。按9月17日收盘的3608亿港元市值计算,对应价值已达43亿港元(折合人民币约37亿元),浮盈近35亿元。

除了智谱,Prosperity7的中国AI版图上还有一连串名字:向量数据库Zilliz、光电混合算力芯片企业曦智科技,以及AI制药平台英矽智能,覆盖了基础设施与模型层的关键环节。

更值得关注的是其在应用层的提前布局。早在具身智能尚未火出圈的2022年,Prosperity7就投资了节卡机器人与傅利叶智能;近两年又相继出手千寻智能、穹彻智能和地瓜机器人。截至目前,Prosperity7在中国AI领域的布局已涵盖了基础设施、模型层、应用层等产业链上下游。

与智谱同期上市的MiniMax背后,同样出现了中东资本的身影。在公司IPO期间,阿布扎比投资局(ADIA)以6500万美元参与了基石投资,是14家基石投资者中认购金额最高的机构之一。

除上述案例外,阿联酋磊石资本则领投了深圳众擎机器人2亿元人民币Pre-A轮,并在后续轮次继续增持;阿布扎比资本集团(ADCG)与小库科技签署合资协议,提供皇室关系网络、土地储备与政府项目入口等资源。

直投之外,中东资本正越来越多地以LP身份,出现在中国VC基金的出资人名单中。

今年5月,阿布扎比的阿拉伯海湾投资集团与盈港资本宣布,设立首期规模5亿美元的全球投资基金,据悉,该基金主要瞄准的,正是人工智能和机器人领域的Pre-IPO、IPO及PIPE投资机会。

紧接着7月,卡塔尔风险投资公司Rawdat Capital也宣布与创新工场签署了独家联合投资合作协议,由此获得了创新工场优质项目的优先跟投权,并联合孵化人工智能初创企业;同时,它还与零一万物签署合作协议,推动后者的大模型解决方案在海湾地区落地。

这无疑是一个积极信号。过去几年,中东资本一直是国内一级市场关注的重点,特别是募、投、退三重受阻的2023年,“去中东淘金”成为一股热潮,但热闹归热闹,真正拿到中东钱的GP并不多。

如今,当投资方向从新能源切到了它并不完全熟悉、但必须参与的AI市场时,局面或许会发生松动。

一场关乎“国运”的结构转型

某种程度上,中东国家集体撒钱押注AI,背后是挥之不去的生存焦虑。

时间回拨到2016年4月25日,沙特内阁批准了一份名为"沙特2030愿景"的国家转型规划,主导者为穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼。当时摆在他面前的处境并不体面:国际油价刚从2014年的暴跌中缓过神来,而沙特的财政收入,长期高度依赖地底下的那口井。

这份文件里有一句被反复引用的自我描述——沙特要戒掉“石油瘾”。它设定的路径也很明确:在石油卖完之前,把国家的经济结构换掉,转型的抓手有好几个,AI被放在了最靠前的位置。

随后不久,面临同样转型压力的阿联酋、卡塔尔、阿曼等,也各自推出国家战略,将发展AI,列为后石油时代的经济底盘。它们的目标定得也很硬:沙特要到2030年让AI贡献12%以上GDP;阿联酋2031战略也提出了AI贡献40%GDP的目标;阿曼“2040愿景”则是要把数字经济占GDP比重从2021年的2%提到10%……

当然,这些目标并非拍脑袋。除了雄厚的资金,中东在能源、土地和区位上确有其独特禀赋。

众所周知,AI数据中心是电老虎,推理成本里电力占比极高,这意味着,谁拿到最便宜的电,谁就能把Token卖得更便宜。一个可比数据是:沙特Al Shuaibah太阳能项目发电成本不到1美分/千瓦时,约为英国Hinkley Point C核电项目的二十分之一;海湾工业电价约0.05至0.07美元/千瓦时,是英国的1/5到1/7。

与此同时,沙漠广阔、人口稀少,非常适合摊开建超大规模数据中心,而海湾六国地处亚非欧交汇处,本就是全球海底光缆的重要枢纽,天然具备连接全球主要市场的网络优势。

复旦大学全球人工智能创新治理中心研究员江天骄在接受媒体采访时就曾指出:“从技术角度看,此轮AI引领的技术革命独立于此前的工业革命基础,使得几乎没有制造业基础、错过互联网浪潮的海湾国家也可以‘空降’插队,成为全球技术新高地,甚至成为联通欧亚非三大洲的重要节点。”

当然,优势之外,中东地区发展AI的短板也很明显:数据中心冷却耗水惊人、芯片获取受地缘政治掣肘、本地人才储备不足——这些都不是光靠钱能立刻解决的。而这,恰恰为中国提供了几个合作的切口:

首先,模型底座与本地化。HUMAIN M3基于MiniMax M3,就是一个明确信号——中东自研大模型成本高、周期长,中国开源模型可以成为底座,再由中东用本地语言、文化和数据做后训练。

其次,算力基建供应链。中东有电、有地、有钱,但数据中心建设、服务器、液冷、光模块、储能、光伏、电网等供应链,中国是全球最完整的。

第三,应用于机器人。中东金融、政务、能源、医疗、教育数字化需求大,中国AI应用和具身智能已有成本与工程优势。与此同时,中国公司也可以借中东资本和场景,做本地化落地。

现下,中东正在用石油换来的钱,买一张AI时代的入场券。中国不一定是这张券的唯一卖家,但很可能是最重要的共建者之一。

注:文/王满华,文章来源:投中网(公众号ID:China-Venture),本文为作者独立观点,不代表亿邦动力立场。

【版权提示】亿邦动力倡导尊重与保护知识产权。未经许可,任何人不得复制、转载、或以其他方式使用本网站的内容。如发现本站文章存在版权问题,烦请提供版权疑问、身份证明、版权证明、联系方式等发邮件至run@ebrun.com,我们将及时沟通与处理。

已点赞

+1

{{ praise_text }}

好文章,值得被更多人看到

FAQ回顾

中东主权基金为什么要大规模布局AI产业?

中东国家长期高度依赖石油财政,为摆脱“石油瘾”实现后石油时代经济结构转型,将AI列为核心发展抓手,其中沙特目标2030年AI贡献超12%GDP,阿联酋目标2031年AI贡献40%GDP,叠加自身低电价、充足土地、联通亚非欧的区位优势,因此斥资全栈布局AI产业链。

中东资本在AI领域主要投资了哪些方向?

中东资本对AI的投资覆盖全产业链:上游布局算力、数据中心等基础设施,参投xAI、OpenAI、Anthropic等全球AI头部企业;中游投资大模型企业,推出本土阿拉伯语大模型;下游覆盖具身智能、AI制药等场景,同时也投资了中国多家AI赛道企业。

中国AI企业在中东AI发展中可以发挥什么作用?

中国是中东发展AI的核心合作方之一,如沙特首个阿拉伯语大模型HUMAIN M3就采用中国MiniMax的开源模型作为底座;中国拥有全球最完整的算力基建供应链,在AI应用、具身智能领域具备成本与工程优势,可对接中东各行业数字化需求,中国企业也可借中东资本与场景落地本地化业务。

中东资本投资中国AI企业取得了怎样的回报?

中东资本投资中国AI企业已获得可观回报,典型如沙特阿美旗下Prosperity7基金2024年出资2.13亿元人民币投资智谱,按智谱上市后3608亿港元的市值计算,对应持股价值约37亿元人民币,浮盈接近35亿元,投资回报约17倍。

广告

下一篇

丰谷酒业的“技术流”困局:手握“低醉酒度”18年 却走不出四川

丰谷酒业的发展历程中就有年轻管理层创造的奇迹,业界也期待少壮派的谌超能带领其走出迷局。

品牌故事 未来零售 白酒

2026-09-20 08:27:39