Saudi Arabia witnesses leadership participation in Davos Forum and announces hosting of Global Summit in April
Saudi Arabia concluded its active participation in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026, held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, by announcing that the Kingdom will host a WEF international meeting on cooperation and growth, titled “Building Common Ground and Enhancing Growth,” in the city of Jeddah on April 22 and 23.
The high-level Saudi delegation, headed by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in several influential dialogue sessions and oversaw the launch of key initiatives aimed at addressing global challenges and seizing available opportunities.
During the meeting, the Saudi delegation reaffirmed the Kingdom’s call for constructive dialogue, practical cooperation, and collective action as the foundations for transformative growth, stability, and sustainable prosperity. Delegation members participated in a range of public and private dialogue sessions, bilateral meetings, and interviews with international media in Davos.
The high-level delegation included several ministers and prominent leaders, most notably: Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United States; His Excellency Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi; His Excellency Minister of Tourism Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb; His Excellency Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih; His Excellency Minister of Finance Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan; His Excellency Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha; His Excellency Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef; and His Excellency Minister of Economy and Planning Mr. Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim.
Delegation members participated in key dialogue sessions, including “Global Economic Outlook,” “A Look at the Saudi Economy,” “Quality of Life 2030 and Beyond: Cities Shaped by Innovation,” “Future Economies: Accelerating the Landscape Toward 2050,” “From Reform to Implementation: Applying Change at Scale,” and “The Human Code: Designing Capability Systems.”
As part of the Kingdom’s participation, the Ministry of Economy and Planning organized the “SAUDI HOUSE” pavilion initiative for the second consecutive year as part of its largest program since its launch. It included a series of influential dialogues called “NextOn,” hosting several experts and thought leaders from around the world. The pavilion also hosted several Highnesses, Excellencies, international business leaders, and global thought leaders who participated in more than 20 dialogue sessions.
The pavilion’s activities focused on six main pillars aligned with Saudi Vision 2030: (An Ambitious Vision, Data for Impact, People and Human Capability Development, Quality of Life, Investment and Cooperation, and Welcome to the World). Sessions were held under the umbrella of several government entities and national programs, such as the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Invest Saudi, Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Vision 2030, Quality of Life Program, Human Capability Development Program, and Saudi Data Platform.
The “SAUDI HOUSE” pavilion saw participation from various public and private sector entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Cultural Fund, the Kingdom’s Embassy in the United States, the Presidency of COP16 (UNCCD), Misk Foundation, Diriyah Company, NEOM, Aramco, ACWA Power, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, SWAT, Intelmatix, Saudi Digital Medicine Center, Lean Technologies, Fathom.io, and Amplifai Health.
Over the course of the week, the “SAUDI HOUSE” pavilion attracted more than 10,000 visitors—double the number from the previous edition—who learned about the Kingdom’s unprecedented social and economic transformation journey under Vision 2030, the available investment opportunities, and Saudi Arabia’s tourism and cultural aspects.
The delegation’s participation witnessed the announcement of several distinguished initiatives and agreements. “HUMAIN” and the National Infrastructure Fund “Infra” announced the signing of a strategic financing framework agreement worth up to $1.2 billion to support the expansion of AI and digital infrastructure projects in the Kingdom. The agreement outlines non-binding financing terms for HUMAIN to develop up to 250 megawatts of Hyperscale AI data center capacity.
The Presidency of the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) launched the “Business4Land” Forum Pioneers Council, a high-level alliance bringing together CEOs, sustainability leaders, investors, and policymakers to accelerate land restoration efforts, combat degradation, and enhance drought resilience.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the launch of the “Lighthouse Operating System” in cooperation with the World Economic Forum. This national framework will accelerate the pace of transformation in the Kingdom’s manufacturing sector. Developed in partnership with the WEF’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Production, the initiative aims to diversify the economy, build strong non-oil industries, and establish the Kingdom as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and logistics.
The Quality of Life Program Center, in cooperation with UN-Habitat, announced the outcomes of the Quality of Life Initiative, a global platform supporting an approach that places people at the heart of urban development.
For its part, “SADAM” announced the signing of a partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine – Cornell University in the field of “Future Sciences for Human Health,” part of a Saudi-American collaboration focusing on space research aimed at developing innovative technologies in space research and computational biology, and supporting research related to human health.
It was also announced that the Kingdom will host the “First Global Coral Reef Summit” this year, bringing together global leaders, scientists, and investors to drive solutions for protecting and restoring coral reef ecosystems. The summit will address key challenges, policy gaps, science-based solutions, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
The “Global Innovation Platform,” which brings together the Saudi Holding Company and Golden Point Global, announced the launch of the “Saudi-US Innovation Partnership” initiative. This platform serves as a national pillar aiming to accelerate bilateral cooperation in life sciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global center for technical leadership, commercialization, and innovation. The partnership is based in Riyadh and Austin, linking two of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
It was also announced that Amplifai Health won a place in the second cohort of the World Economic Forum’s “MINDS Global AI Alliance,” reflecting the growing presence of innovative companies in international initiatives concerned with developing AI applications on a global scale.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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