The map·Saudi Arabia·Accelerators & incubators

SDAIA GAIA Program

GAIA — the generative-AI accelerator launched by SDAIA and NTDP with New Native (Aug 2023; $160M investment vehicle announced for the first batches, targeting 120 early-stage companies).

What
Access to a $160M AI investment vehicle.
Who
Early-stage generative-AI startups, local and international.
Cost
Equity
Status
Dormant

sdaia.gov.sa/en/Investment/Pages/BusinessAcceler · How we check ↗

Website ↗On the map →

In detail

SDAIA GAIA Program is a government AI accelerator in Saudi Arabia. GAIA — the generative-AI accelerator launched by SDAIA and NTDP with New Native (Aug 2023; $160M investment vehicle announced for the first batches, targeting 120 early-stage companies). Last traceable cohort intake: March 2024 — no 2025 or 2026 cohort published.

Amount
$160M vehicle announced at launch (2023) — per-startup terms not published
Terms
Programme-dependent
Eligibility
Early-stage generative-AI startups, local and international
Sectors
Generative AI, Large Language Models, AI-powered enterprise
Status
Dormant-watch — last cohort intake March 2024

Closing soon on the map

Cultural Development Fund (CDF)

Grant · Saudi Arabia
Up to SAR 500,000 non-repayable per project, capped at 20 projects total.
No equity — grant
29 Sep 2026closes

Finspire

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash.
Equity via SAFE, capped at 5%
4 Oct 2026closes

QSTP Incubation

Accelerator · Qatar
In-kind support: Doha workspace and housing for a four-week Sprint, talent and investor access.
Equity — 1.5% deferred SAFE-style stake
1 Nov 2026closes

All published deadlines →

More accelerators & incubators in Saudi Arabia

Antler MENAP

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
$180,000 via SAFE for 11% equity, plus up to $320,000 uncapped follow-on.
Equity — about 11% via SAFE
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CODE — Center of Digital Entrepreneurship

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
Access to 7 CODE labs and a 20-partner innovation network.
No equity — accelerator programme
—

Finspire

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash.
Equity via SAFE, capped at 5%
4 Oct 2026closes

inspireU by stc

Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
General track (3 months) or Advanced track (6 months, invitation-only).
No equity — corporate accelerator
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All accelerators & incubators in Saudi Arabia →  ·  Across the Gulf →

Sources

Primary source · sdaia.gov.sa/en/Investment/Pages/BusinessAccelerators.aspx · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/sdaia-ksa