Saudi Engineer at OpenAI Allegedly Spied for Saudi Royal, Court Filing Reveals

A Saudi engineer employed by OpenAI was repeatedly urged by a Saudi royal to prioritize Saudi Arabia's artificial intelligence initiatives, with the royal stating, "Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!" according to a federal court filing. Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, who is in federal custody on charges of attempting to bug confidential OpenAI meetings, allegedly received these messages on WhatsApp in 2025 and 2026, including as recently as October 5, just four days before his arrest.

Prosecutors are seeking to detain Alfozan without bail, arguing he poses a flight risk due to his "ample resources" and "considerable support" from the Saudi government. They claim the Saudi royal repeatedly attempted to recruit Alfozan for an AI initiative in Saudi Arabia. Alfozan, however, reportedly indicated he would not leave OpenAI until his stock vested. In May 2026, he responded "100" when the royal stated Saudi Arabia needed him more than the U.S., prosecutors said.

Alfozan, who joined OpenAI in July 2025 with a salary of $325,000, later increased to $385,000, is a partner at Raed Ventures, a Saudi venture capital firm, and lives near the San Francisco airport. Prince Khalid bin Bader Al Saud joined Raed Ventures as a partner in 2025, though the filing did not name him or specify his connection to Alfozan. The filing also did not state whether the unnamed royal instructed Alfozan to install recording devices in OpenAI's conference rooms.

Federal prosecutors stated that the Saudi government had booked a flight to Saudi Arabia for Alfozan, his wife, and their infant son. Following Alfozan's arrest, his wife and baby reportedly departed for Doha, Qatar, on October 10, on a business-class flight paid for by a member of the Saudi military.

Alfozan's defense attorney, William Pernik, requested his client's release under home detention with GPS monitoring, supported by an undertaking from the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pernik argued that Alfozan's nationality was not evidence of flight risk and that his planned travel was for family and immigration reasons, with the one-way ticket being a cost-saving measure. Alfozan faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release if convicted.

OpenAI confirmed Alfozan's termination following his arrest, which occurred after a "surreptitious audio recording device" was discovered hidden in a conference room. Alfozan was captured on surveillance footage near the device shortly after its discovery. Prosecutors noted that OpenAI executives had met with government officials in the same conference room around the time the device was installed, raising national security concerns.

Evidence presented includes a deleted note on Alfozan's phone from September 2026 containing links to various recording devices, including those similar to the one found. His iPhone also reportedly contained images of other concealed devices and electronic panels in OpenAI buildings. A search of his residence uncovered similar electronic devices, and another recording device was found in a bag he left in a printer room.

Alfozan, a legal permanent U.S. resident who had applied for citizenship, was planning to take parental leave but had also noted an intention to extend his leave, according to the filing. His wife allegedly told FBI agents that she intended to permanently return to Saudi Arabia with their son, and that Alfozan planned to join them. Pernik countered that Alfozan's 15 years in the U.S., employment history, and attendance at social events did not indicate he was preparing to flee.

An OpenAI spokesperson stated that there was no indication Alfozan had accessed or exfiltrated model weights, source code, or customer data. The company emphasized its commitment to protecting its technology and data against various threat actors, including nation-states, and noted that its security program is designed to address such sophisticated threats.