Saudi Arabia's selection to host UNESCO AI ethics forum highlights growing role

Saudi Arabia is steadily progressing toward becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence, according to Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha. Speaking at the LEAP 2026 conference in Riyadh, the Communications and Information Technology Minister highlighted that the Kingdom is advancing confidently on the path to AI leadership, working in partnership with major companies, innovators, and investors worldwide.

Al-Swaha emphasized that Saudi Arabia's digital transformation is underpinned by robust infrastructure, computing capabilities, and a pool of national talent. He noted that the launch of AI and advanced technology projects, investments, and partnerships at the conference—amounting to more than $15 billion (56.64 billion riyals, SAR)—are facilitated and enabled by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The minister explained that Saudi Arabia has set a global precedent for transforming technological ambitions and commitments into concrete results, relying on adaptability, stability, and swift implementation. He stressed that the Kingdom's progress in AI is driven by technology, national talent, particularly the youth, and is supported by the essential elements of computing power, capital, customers, energy, chips, infrastructure, and advanced models.

Al-Swaha outlined Saudi Arabia's goal of becoming the most trusted partner in providing the AI world with energy and capabilities, and of being the most enabling country for innovators and investors in artificial intelligence. He stressed the importance of expanding the global benefits of AI, referencing the Kingdom's commitment that AI should serve humanity universally and leave no one behind, in collaboration with the Digital Cooperation Organization and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The LEAP 2026 conference, which opened on Monday in Riyadh under the theme "Into New Worlds," brought together technology and AI leaders, investors, and innovators. The event saw the announcement of major launches, investments, and partnerships worth over $15 billion, bolstering Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure and advanced computing capabilities, and reinforcing its position as a global hub for technology investment.