At LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, Adobe announced an expanded partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and HUMAIN, a PIF company. The collaboration includes plans to provide more than 27 million eligible Saudi citizens and residents with free access to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features for one year. Adobe values the overall commitment at more than USD 4 billion and says the initiative will help advance the Kingdom’s creative economy.
Expanding Access to AI Creative Tools
Under the plan, Adobe intends to offer eligible Saudi citizens and residents aged 13 and above 12 months of free access to Firefly Standard and Express Premium features by the end of 2026. Firefly is Adobe’s AI creative studio for generating and editing images, video, audio and design assets. Express is a simpler creation application for producing social posts, presentations, posters and other digital materials.
Arabic Language Support and Cultural Relevance
Adobe is also broadening Arabic language access on a global scale. Modern Standard Arabic right-to-left support is now available on Adobe Express desktop, web and iOS, including typography, text editing and interface controls. The update also includes a special collection of professionally designed templates shaped specifically around Saudi culture and creative preferences.
Joint Image Model Built with HUMAIN
Adobe and HUMAIN will soon launch a jointly developed image generation model created with Adobe Firefly Foundry. The model is designed to produce high-quality imagery informed by the cultural context, visual references and creative needs of Saudi citizens and creative teams. It will allow users to generate culturally aligned Saudi-authentic visuals through Arabic-language prompts.
Supporting Startups and Skills Development
The partnership extends beyond consumer access into Saudi Arabia’s startup ecosystem. Beginning in early 2027, eligible startups and early-stage entrepreneurs participating in the Ministry’s Center of Digital Entrepreneurship and The Garage will receive one year of free access to selected Adobe creative tools, expertise and training. Adobe and MCIT Future Skills are also working to provide free practical learning courses through the Adobe Digital Academy with a focus on creative, marketing and AI skills.
Leadership Perspectives
Minister of Communications and Information Technology H.E. Eng. Abdullah Amer Alswaha said the Kingdom is working to ensure the Intelligence Age becomes an age of opportunity for everyone. Adobe Chair and CEO Shantanu Narayen stated that combining Adobe’s creative tools and Firefly Foundry models with local expertise and cultural intelligence will accelerate the growth of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy. HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin added that AI should understand the context in which it operates and that the partnership brings greater cultural relevance to image generation.
Strategic Significance
For Saudi Arabia, the agreement adds another layer to national investments in AI infrastructure, talent and locally relevant applications. It gives startups and creators access to established commercial tools while the Kingdom develops its own AI capabilities through companies such as HUMAIN. For Adobe, the expansion creates a large new user base for its AI products and deepens its relationship with a market investing heavily in digital transformation.
This collaboration builds on the strategic partnership announced by Adobe and HUMAIN at the U.S. and Saudi Investment Forum in November 2025. The immediate milestone is the rollout of free access by the end of 2026, while the longer-term test will be whether broad access translates into sustained adoption and stronger AI skills. The upcoming HUMAIN and Adobe image model and startup support programs will be important indicators of how effectively the partnership supports Saudi Arabia’s creative and digital ambitions.