Saudi Arabia Becomes Connector Economy Leader In AI At WEF 2026

Saudi ministers used the World Economic Forum 2026 Annual Meeting to outline how Saudi Arabia is reshaping trade, tourism, technology and industry. They stressed international cooperation, predictable regulation and innovation, aiming to position the Kingdom as a central partner in global economic development and future supply chains.

Alongside the policy discussions, new initiatives were launched to deepen cross-border innovation. The Global Innovation Platform, a strategic partnership between Saudi HoldCo and GoldenPoint Global, announced the Saudi–US Innovation Partnership, designed to speed joint work in life sciences, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing between Riyadh and Austin.

Commerce, industry and economic planners linked Saudi Arabia’s geographic position with current changes in global trade. During a session titled "Many Shapes of Trade," Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi said the Kingdom is ready to benefit from changes in supply chains and from a more rules-based global trading system.

Al-Kassabi stressed that Saudi Arabia is aiming to act as a "connector economy." Using its natural resources, logistics infrastructure and location between key regions, the Kingdom seeks to operate as a core transport and logistics hub that bridges markets in Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions.

Tourism prospects were presented as a major pillar of future growth. In the session "The New Geography of Travel: Elevating Destinations, Expanding Opportunity," Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb referred to UN Tourism forecasts that international tourist arrivals could reach two billion by 2030, which is 500 million more than current levels.

Al-Khateeb described these projections as highly positive for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem. The minister said the expected rise in travellers opens fresh opportunities for hotel operators, investors and digital service providers, reinforcing tourism as a high-potential contributor within the Kingdom’s wider economic diversification plans.

World Economic Forum 2026 Saudi Arabia technology and finance agenda

Technology policy and financial stability were also central themes. Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan underlined that policymakers must first provide a stable, predictable setting for business. He said Saudi Arabia is working to build economic resilience, while giving the private sector consistent rules and confidence for long-term investment decisions.

Speaking at the "Converging Technologies to Win" session, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha discussed core technical limits facing large-scale artificial intelligence. Alswaha said Saudi Arabia is engaging with the "energy wall" and "memory wall" challenges, and urged global technology leaders to focus on successful AI adoption, not speed alone.

Alswaha presented the Kingdom as a partner for international companies that want strong digital infrastructure and policy support for AI projects. During the meeting, Amplifai Health was also named as a winner in the second cohort of the World Economic Forum’s MINDS - AI Global Alliance initiative, highlighting AI’s growing practical applications.

World Economic Forum 2026 Saudi Arabia minerals and global partnerships

Mining and new economic partnerships featured in several sessions. In "A Collective Voice on the Future of Minerals: Aligning Policy, Investment and Supply," Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Saudi Arabia supports multilateral cooperation and aims to build strategic platforms that enable shared planning across the global mining value chain.

Alkhorayef highlighted the Future Minerals Forum as a leading international meeting point now linking governments, financial institutions, academic organisations and technology providers. In a separate session, "Redefining Economic Partnerships: From Dialogue to Delivery," Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim called for an approach where every country can unlock economic potential while keeping dialogue channels open.

Alibrahim described the current global context as a "blank canvas," arguing that this creates a rare opening for countries to design a more inclusive economic order together. Across the World Economic Forum 2026 sessions, Saudi officials linked these themes to Vision 2030 goals, stressing cooperation, innovation and stability as core elements of the Kingdom’s international role. -- SPA 14:38 Local Time 11:38 GMT 0027

With inputs from SPA