Adobe has expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and government-backed AI company HUMAIN as the kingdom seeks to accelerate the development of its artificial intelligence and creative sectors.

Free Access for More Than 27 Million People

Under the expanded partnership, more than 27 million eligible Saudi citizens and residents aged 13 and above will receive 12 months of free access to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features.

Adobe said the free access will begin rolling out by the end of 2026. The company values its commitment under the programme at more than $4 billion.

New AI Model Tailored to Saudi Culture

A major part of the partnership is the development of a new image-generation model tailored to Saudi culture.

The model is being jointly developed by Adobe and HUMAIN and is designed to understand Saudi cultural context, visual references and creative requirements. Users will be able to generate culturally relevant images using Arabic-language prompts.

Greater Support for Arabic

Adobe is also expanding Arabic-language capabilities in Adobe Express.

Modern Standard Arabic right-to-left support will cover typography, text editing and interface controls, alongside a collection of templates designed around Saudi cultural themes.

Partnership With HUMAIN

HUMAIN is an AI company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and focuses on areas including advanced AI models, data centres, high-performance computing infrastructure and AI applications.

The partnership with Adobe is intended to combine Adobe’s creative technology with HUMAIN’s regional and cultural expertise.

Support for Startups

The initiative will also provide benefits to Saudi startups and early-stage entrepreneurs.

From early 2027, eligible startups participating in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s Center of Digital Entrepreneurship and The Garage will receive one year of free access to selected Adobe creative tools, expertise and training.

Skills Development for Young People

Adobe will also support skills development through the Adobe Digital Academy.

The initiative is designed to help young people and entrepreneurs develop the ability to use AI-powered creative tools to produce digital content, develop ideas and build new businesses.

Boosting Saudi Arabia’s Creative Economy

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and technology as it seeks to diversify its economy.

Greater access to AI-powered creative tools could benefit students, small businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals working in the creative sector.

Strategic Opportunity for Adobe

The partnership could also help Adobe expand its AI user base in Saudi Arabia.

The company is operating in an increasingly competitive creative software market, where AI-focused products and smaller technology companies are seeking to gain market share. Expanding access to its AI tools could therefore provide Adobe with a significant opportunity for long-term user growth.

Announcement at LEAP 2026

Adobe announced the expanded partnership at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh.

The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia continues to promote the development of its technology, digital and AI sectors as part of its broader economic transformation strategy.

Conclusion

Adobe has expanded its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and HUMAIN to provide more than 27 million eligible citizens and residents with 12 months of free access to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features.

The initiative, valued at more than $4 billion, goes beyond free software access. It includes a Saudi culture-focused AI image model, expanded Arabic-language capabilities, startup support and skills training. The programme is expected to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s creative economy while giving Adobe an opportunity to expand its AI user base in the region.