Paris-based AI startup Mistral is expanding its focus beyond general-purpose AI with the launch of Mistral Saba, a custom-trained large language model (LLM) designed specifically for Arabic-speaking countries.

Unlike Mistral’s usual LLMs, Saba is fine-tuned to excel in Arabic-language interactions, making it a strategic move to strengthen the company’s presence in the Middle East. With 24 billion parameters, it is comparable in size to Mistral Small 3 but reportedly outperforms it in handling Arabic content.

Interestingly, Mistral Saba also demonstrates strong performance in South Indian languages like Tamil and Malayalam, due to cultural and linguistic overlaps between the Middle East and South Asia.

The model is expected to enhance conversational AI and content generation in Arabic, offering businesses an off-the-shelf solution while also allowing fine-tuned adaptations for specific use cases. It is available via Mistral’s API and can be deployed on-premise, making it a viable option for industries handling sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and energy.

With Saba, Mistral is signaling a strategic push into the Middle Eastern market, potentially positioning itself as a major player in region-specific AI solutions.