Saudi Arabia's Transformative Growth Experience Shapes Davos 2026 Agenda

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim stated that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos reflects the Kingdom’s central role in shaping the global economic agenda. Alibrahim linked this role to the Kingdom’s experience under Saudi Vision 2030, which has focused on structural change and diversified, sustainable growth.

Alibrahim stressed that the Kingdom’s presence in Davos goes beyond symbolic attendance and involves an active role in discussions on cooperation and resilience in the global economy. He said Saudi Arabia seeks to balance expanding development with responsible innovation policies, while promoting knowledge exchange that supports stronger competitiveness and more stable economic systems.

The minister noted that the 2026 gathering takes place in the first half of the year and builds on work achieved during the special World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh in 2024, held under the theme "Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development." That meeting brought together heads of state, senior officials, experts, and representatives from multiple sectors.

According to Alibrahim, the earlier Riyadh meeting included participants from public institutions, private companies, international organisations, and academic bodies. These discussions, he explained, laid important groundwork for the Davos 2026 agenda, which will continue focusing on cooperation tools that can support development objectives and address shared global economic risks.

Alibrahim explained that the Davos forum is expected to highlight themes aimed at institutionalising international cooperation through participatory economic models. These models, he said, are designed to sustain transformative growth by encouraging joint action between countries, investors, and institutions, and by promoting frameworks that help manage change in a more inclusive and predictable manner.

The minister added that achieving effective global economic transformation requires close collaboration that improves productive efficiency. This, he said, involves wider adoption of digital solutions and artificial intelligence, alongside continuous investment in human capital. Such measures are seen as necessary to raise productivity, support innovation, and maintain momentum in both advanced and emerging economies.

Saudi Arabia global economic agenda under Saudi Vision 2030

Referring to progress under Saudi Vision 2030, Alibrahim said the Kingdom has succeeded in developing new engines of growth. He pointed to efforts to build a stronger and more productive economic base, driven by investment in strategic sectors and activities that deliver high-quality economic returns and diversify income sources beyond traditional revenue streams.

Alibrahim noted that non-oil sectors have recorded broad-based gains during the past five years. Out of 81 non-oil economic activities, 74 posted average annual growth above 5%, while 38 of these activities achieved growth exceeding 10%. He said these figures signal real expansion in the Kingdom’s productive base rather than narrow, sector-specific improvements.

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Saudi Arabia global economic agenda, innovation and integration

The minister stated that radical innovation and the redesign of development policies focused on growth form a strategic route to deeper economic integration. Such an approach, he argued, supports more stable trade balances and contributes to building a resilient global economic system able to handle shocks while sustaining prosperity, especially in fast-growing emerging markets.

Alibrahim emphasised that Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen its position as a leading contributor to global economic dialogue on sustainable models. By building on Saudi Vision 2030 outcomes and its role in the World Economic Forum, the Kingdom seeks to enhance national competitiveness and help establish a more durable global economy capable of facing future challenges.

With inputs from SPA