Saudi Infrastructure Expo: Transforming the Kingdom into Leading Destination for AI

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Eng. Ali Rajhi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Eng. Ali Rajhi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Infrastructure Expo: Transforming the Kingdom into Leading Destination for AI

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Eng. Ali Rajhi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Eng. Ali Rajhi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government is seeking to transform the Kingdom into a destination for artificial intelligence, by relying on modern technologies and innovative practices in the field of infrastructure.

In this context, the Saudi Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition were launched in Riyadh on Monday in the presence of more than 275 local and international companies from 20 countries.

Speaking during the event, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities Eng. Ali Rajhi said the contracting sector, especially infrastructure, was an essential pillar in projects and assumed a pivotal role within the initiatives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

He added that the summit was an opportunity to learn about the latest regulatory and administrative legislation, stressing that the ministry would continue to provide facilitations for investments and businesses within this vital sector.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Contractors Authority Engineer Zakaria Al-Abdulqader emphasized the importance of the event, which he said was based on three main objectives, starting with transforming the Kingdom into a destination for artificial intelligence by relying on modern technologies and innovative practices in the field of infrastructure.

The second objective, according to Abdulqader, is to bring together investors and decision-makers from around the world to discuss challenges and opportunities in the field of information technology and to benefit from local and global expertise.

The third goal is to create an interactive platform for stakeholders from legislative and regulatory bodies, in addition to contractors and interested companies, suppliers, and local and international experts, to share their experiences, encourage creativity and innovation and spread awareness in several fields.

The Saudi Infrastructure Exhibition, which covers various sectors of the infrastructure industry, brings together local and international exhibitors for three days, to showcase products and provide innovative solutions, with the aim of transforming the infrastructure landscape in the Kingdom.

This year’s edition features pavilions for eight countries, including Egypt, China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Italy, Türkiye, Germany and India.



Norway Says Plans to Raise Financial Support for Ukraine

Ukrainian rescuers evacuate patients from a damaged clinic following a drone attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 01 March 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV
Ukrainian rescuers evacuate patients from a damaged clinic following a drone attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 01 March 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV
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Norway Says Plans to Raise Financial Support for Ukraine

Ukrainian rescuers evacuate patients from a damaged clinic following a drone attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 01 March 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV
Ukrainian rescuers evacuate patients from a damaged clinic following a drone attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 01 March 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV

The Norwegian government will soon ask that parliament increases its financial backing for Ukraine, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told public broadcaster NRK on Saturday.

"I can say today that we will go back to parliament in the near future with a proposal to increase the support," Stoere told NRK, according to Reuters.

Norway's parliament late last year agreed to spend a total of 35 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.12 billion) on military and civilian support for Ukraine in 2025 and a total of 155 billion crowns in the years from 2023 to 2030.

Stoere will meet with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in London on Sunday.

Zelenskiy's meeting with US President Donald Trump ended in disaster on Friday, after the two leaders clashed in an extraordinary exchange before the world's media at the White House over the war with Russia.