Speaking at the United Nations, His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, affirmed the prestigious position the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has attained in the global digital landscape, emphasizing its pivotal role in leading international efforts to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable future for artificial intelligence technologies. These remarks highlighted the significant strides the Kingdom has made in international indicators, reflecting the success of its national digital transformation strategies.
Global leadership in digital indicators
During his speech, Al-Swaha highlighted the Kingdom's recent record-breaking achievements, particularly its ranking fourth globally, first regionally, and among G20 countries in the Digital Services Index of the United Nations E-Government Development Report. This achievement is not a coincidence, but rather the result of massive investments and a robust digital infrastructure established to serve the people and improve their quality of life, making the Saudi model a model to be emulated in the speed of development and efficiency of digital government performance.
Bridging the AI gap: A global responsibility
In discussing global challenges, the minister focused on the “artificial intelligence gap,” which threatens to widen the divide between developed and developing countries. He explained that the Kingdom, given its leading position, is adopting an approach aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence to serve all of humanity, not just a select few. He called on the international community to join forces to ensure that these modern technologies are accessible to everyone, emphasizing that artificial intelligence should be a tool for inclusive economic and social empowerment, not a cause of increased inequality.
Vision 2030: The primary driver of innovation
These achievements cannot be separated from the broader context of Saudi Vision 2030, whose architect, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has established innovation and technology as fundamental pillars for diversifying the national economy. Since the Vision's launch, the Kingdom's communications and information technology sector has witnessed unprecedented growth, transforming Saudi Arabia into a regional technology hub connecting three continents. Through the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and other entities, the Kingdom is working to develop ethical governance frameworks for artificial intelligence, thereby enhancing trust in these technologies and encouraging their global adoption.
The importance of the event and its future impact
The word “tourism” at the United Nations takes on particular significance at this time, as the world witnesses a fierce race toward technological advancement. The Kingdom’s emphasis on “the inclusiveness of artificial intelligence” positions it among the leading technological decision-makers and strengthens its soft power diplomatically and economically. These initiatives are expected to attract more global technology investments to the Saudi market, in addition to fostering international partnerships aimed at developing innovative solutions to global challenges in the fields of health, the environment, and education.
