Al-Eqtisadiah to launch inaugural annual forum on AI economy in Riyadh

The inaugural Al-Eqtisadiah Annual Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday, centered on exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on Saudi Arabia's economy and business landscape. The inaugural event will convene on Monday at King Salman Science Oasis, under the theme "Our Economy and Artificial Intelligence." The forum, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and exclusively sponsored by The Family Office, brings together prominent local and global authorities in AI, future insights, and strategic business planning.

As Saudi Arabia has declared 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence," the forum accentuates the transition from AI's potential to its practical implementation within organizations.

Mohammed Al-Bishi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Eqtisadiah and the forum's chairman, emphasized that the event aligns with the newspaper's role beyond news reporting, fostering discussions among business leaders and executives about new economic drivers, namely AI tools. He stressed that while numerous AI-focused conferences have primarily addressed technology, investment, infrastructure, and related requirements, there remains ample room to discuss AI as a tool to enhance Saudi Arabia's business sector.

Al-Bishi noted that the forum will delve into practical uses of AI to decrease costs, boost profits, optimize revenue generation, and develop human capital, rather than merely focusing on AI as a technical or investment domain.

The royal decree designating 2026 as the "Year of Artificial Intelligence" underscores the kingdom's commitment to leading in this field, as highlighted in the Shoura Council's address to the Shoura Council. Al-Bishi affirmed that Al-Eqtisadiah's role as a media institution is to support these goals through specialized economic dialogues and content.

He added that the forum will present real-world instances and case studies from participating speakers, particularly Saudi experts from banking, technology, and logistics, who have harnessed AI in their operations. These insights will be shared with a broad audience of business leaders. Over 250 CEOs, economic influencers, and international experts are expected to attend, with notable attendees including Alex Osterwalder, creator of the Business Model Canvas, Joachim De Vos, founder of TomorrowLab, and a representative from Belgium’s imec center.

The forum will cover the future of AI and business, AI management and business model development, AI in the economy, and the transformation of AI from assistive tools to autonomous systems and its role in redefining business models. Through this forum, Al-Eqtisadiah aims to extend its role from reporting economic developments to actively facilitating dialogue, sharing practical experiences, and exploring the impact of technological advancements on companies and the economy.