Saudi Arabia Participates in ‘Summer Davos,’ Launches an Innovative Challenge

The opening ceremony of the 14th annual meeting of the New Champions, known as Summer Davos, in northern China. (EPA)
The opening ceremony of the 14th annual meeting of the New Champions, known as Summer Davos, in northern China. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Participates in ‘Summer Davos,’ Launches an Innovative Challenge

The opening ceremony of the 14th annual meeting of the New Champions, known as Summer Davos, in northern China. (EPA)
The opening ceremony of the 14th annual meeting of the New Champions, known as Summer Davos, in northern China. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia intends to launch an innovative challenge for the participants of the 14th edition of the annual meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos Summer.

Summer Davos opened in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday.

The Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning said it would officially announce ten winners of the creative challenge to enhance food security and improve the supply of healthy and nutritious foods in arid regions.

Last January, the Ministry launched the Food Ecosystems and Arid Climates Challenge in collaboration with UpLink, the WEF open innovation platform, to crowdsource transformative solutions to enhance food security in countries impacted by low rainfall, drought, and desertification.

The challenge is a global call for food entrepreneurs, start-ups, social ventures, and small-medium-sized enterprises to submit solutions incorporating low or high technologies.

The winning cohort will be eligible to access CHF100,000 to scale and implement their venture in regions with arid climates while enhancing their visibility and access to networking opportunities.

The Saudi delegation, which includes six ministers and six deputy ministers, is led by Minister for Economy and Planning Faisal al-Ibrahim, and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Swaha.

About 1,500 Participants from business, government, international organizations, and academia confirmed their participation in the event themed "Entrepreneurship: The Driving Force of the Global Economy."

On the sidelines of the conference, Ibrahim will hold several high-level bilateral meetings with senior officials participating to discuss boosting economic ties, issues of common interest, and the latest economic developments at a global level.



Al Khateeb: Tourism Sector Tops Agenda at WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
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Al Khateeb: Tourism Sector Tops Agenda at WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb stressed on Monday that Saudi Arabia's participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, underscores its steadfast commitment to shaping the global dialogue on travel and tourism as key drivers of economic growth and cultural exchange.

Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al Khateeb highlighted that tourism is a central focus at this year’s forum, with Saudi Arabia showcasing its achievements and fostering partnerships to drive the sector’s global growth.

He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented expansion under Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program, positioning the Kingdom as a leading global destination with an ambitious goal of welcoming 150 million tourists annually.

The minister noted that tourism currently contributes 5% to Saudi Arabia's GDP, with projections to double to 10% by 2030. This growth is fueled by strategic investments in groundbreaking projects such as the Red Sea Project, Diriyah, and Qiddiya, alongside numerous private-sector initiatives that are boosting tourism across the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is leveraging its natural and cultural assets to establish a global benchmark for tourism-led economic development, he added.

Al Khateeb also highlighted tourism's vital role in the global economy, citing the 2023 Economic Impact Report (EIR) by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which revealed that the global travel and tourism sector contributed 9.1% to global GDP—a 23.2% increase from the previous year.

He described Saudi Arabia's participation in Davos as an opportunity to amplify its achievements through collaboration with global leaders, strengthen public-private partnerships, and reinforce its role as a hub for international cooperation.