Wyld VC, a venture capital firm based in Saudi Arabia, has launched a US$50 million fund to invest in AI startups in the Middle East and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Backed by the family office of US billionaire Lawrence Golub, the firm will focus on early-stage companies to promote collaboration between Gulf nations and the US.

Wyld VC plans to finalize its initial investments following US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East.

Founder Tala Hasan Al Jabri said the firm aims to connect Middle Eastern startups with US talent and resources.

Wyld VC is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and plans to open offices in the UAE and Silicon Valley.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ The Middle East is positioning AI as “the next oil” with massive economic projections

The new $50 million Wyld VC fund aligns with a broader regional strategy to transform Gulf economies through AI investment.

McKinsey estimates that generative AI could contribute between $21 billion and $35 billion annually to GCC economies, representing a 1.7% to 2.8% boost to their non-oil GDP 1.

PwC projects an even larger impact, with AI expected to contribute up to $320 billion to the Middle East economy by 2030, with Saudi Arabia gaining $135.2 billion and the UAE seeing AI contribute approximately 14% of its GDP 2.

This economic transformation is backed by substantial infrastructure development, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE planning to double their data center capacity, supported by over $100 billion in funding for AI and semiconductors 3.

The concentration on AI reflects a strategic pivot as these nations seek to diversify beyond petroleum, with annual growth contribution from AI estimated to range between 20-34% in the coming years 2.

2️⃣ US-Middle East tech diplomacy is evolving beyond traditional relationships

The timing of Wyld VC’s launch highlights how venture funds are becoming instruments of tech diplomacy between the regions.

The UAE has strategically positioned itself as a US tech partner, with its AI sector projected to significantly enhance its economic relationship with the US, already valued at $1 trillion 4.