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Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority outlined the Kingdom’s commitment to artificial intelligence development during the opening of the UNESCO forum which Saudi Arabia is hosting in partnership with the United Nations agency and the International Centre for AI Research and Ethics. The event which runs through mid-September has drawn more than 1 200 participants and 100 speakers across 30 sessions and workshops focused on advancing AI governance ethics and international cooperation. According to Al-Ghamdi the forum coincides with an exceptional year for the Kingdom following the Council of Ministers’ designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence in March.
The Year of Artificial Intelligence initiative builds on Saudi Vision 2030 by positioning advanced technologies at the center of national transformation and global competitiveness according to the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority. SDAIA data shows the designation aims to inspire society across sectors to explore AI potential while empowering national talent to shape its future. Objectives include establishing global leadership in the field advancing smart technology adoption to boost efficiency and productivity and fostering innovation for sustainable development.
Al-Ghamdi highlighted that the Kingdom recognized early on that engaging with artificial intelligence requires building an integrated national ecosystem encompassing institutions regulatory frameworks human and technical capabilities and international partnerships. In line with this approach Saudi Arabia launched the national framework for AI risk management this year providing a comprehensive methodology for identifying assessing treating and monitoring risks a SDAIA assessment found. The authority also introduced AI ethics labels to evaluate compliance of products and entities with ethical principles encouraging responsible and trustworthy practices.
Capacity building has formed a core element of these efforts with the national SAMAI initiative exceeding its target by training more than 1.2 million Saudis in AI fundamentals and responsible use according to SDAIA figures released at the forum. The program has expanded into a second phase targeting specialized skills in key sectors including energy health industry education and agriculture in collaboration with 11 ministries. A separate SDAIA review placed the total number of beneficiaries from all its training programs and awareness campaigns above 1.5 million including thousands of specialists and government leaders.
The Kingdom has achieved notable global standings through these initiatives ranking sixth worldwide in the United Nations e-Government Development Index and among the top 14 countries in the Global AI Index SDAIA data from recent international assessments show. It also secured first place regionally in AI sector growth and third globally in AI job growth per the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence report. Such progress aligns with the National Strategy for Data and AI which targets ranking among the top 15 nations in artificial intelligence attracting 75 billion SAR in investments and creating more than 300 AI startups.
International collaboration remains central to Saudi Arabia’s approach with the forum serving as a platform to transition from AI ethics principles to practical applications on a global scale Al-Ghamdi told participants. The International Centre for AI Research and Ethics established in Riyadh in 2023 has been designated a UNESCO Category 2 center supporting worldwide efforts in governance and risk mitigation. These steps according to the authority reinforce the Kingdom’s role in harnessing AI for humanitarian benefit and sustainable development goals.
