Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah Al-Swaha, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's participation in the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, represents a pivotal milestone, reflecting the Kingdom's prestigious standing and its central role in shaping the future of the digital economy and artificial intelligence on the international stage. This participation comes with the direct support and empowerment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, embodying the Kingdom's leading role in developing collaborative solutions and strengthening global dialogue on sustainable growth.
The importance of the World Economic Forum and the context of participation
The World Economic Forum in Davos is the premier international platform that brings together world leaders, decision-makers, and leading economists to discuss pressing global challenges. The Kingdom's participation in the 2026 edition is of particular importance, coming at a time of rapid technological transformation worldwide. This makes Saudi Arabia's presence a cornerstone in guiding the global direction towards responsible and sustainable investments. The Kingdom's participation is no longer limited to traditional diplomatic or economic engagement; it has evolved into an influential force, offering strategic visions in advanced technology fields, leveraging its political and economic weight as an active member of the G20.
Transferring the Saudi experience in digital transformation
The minister explained in his statement that the Kingdom aims, through this international presence, to share its pioneering national experience in transitioning to the smart era and to showcase the qualitative achievements it has made in building a competitive, knowledge-based, and technology-driven economy. The Kingdom seeks to share its success stories in developing digital infrastructure and adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, making it a regional and global role model. The participation also aims to broaden the horizons of international cooperation and open new avenues for strategic partnerships with major technology companies and private sector leaders worldwide, in order to attract more foreign direct investment to the Saudi technology sector.
A global center for innovation and future foresight
Al-Swaha emphasized that the Kingdom continues to solidify its position as a global hub for digital innovation, based on the ambitious Vision 2030 led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This vision is founded on investing in high-quality technologies and building an integrated ecosystem for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, contributing to a comprehensive and sustainable future for humanity. Focusing on artificial intelligence is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity to enhance economic efficiency and diversify income sources away from oil, something the Kingdom has successfully achieved through significant progress in relevant international indicators.
Alignment with global priorities
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the alignment of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives with the World Economic Forum's directions reflects the harmony between national priorities and global objectives. This alignment embodies the Kingdom's commitment to playing an active and responsible role in shaping the future of the global economy, driving international dialogue towards strategic partnerships that contribute to shared prosperity, and building a more inclusive and sustainable digital future that ensures all people worldwide benefit fully from the opportunities offered by technology.
